Who We Are

Outward Bound USA (OBUSA) is a national non-profit educational organization in the United States, in operation for more than 60 years. Outward Bound’s mission is to change lives through challenge and discovery. While ambitious and bold, our vision is a more resilient and compassionate world, with more endurance in response to change and more courage in the face of challenge. 

Outward Bound programs provide increased access for today’s youth to develop social-emotional skills and build their capacity to navigate the future with confidence, compassion, and curiosity. Programs are far-reaching – inside city and suburban classrooms and outside in rugged backcountry settings – lasting anywhere from one day to an entire semester. Outward Bound staff are positive, fun, passionate, mission-driven change makers who uphold a high standard of quality and commitment to our students.  

We strive to provide educational experiences that are inclusive and relevant for all participants and are committed to organizational improvement in support of an equitable and just society. 

Position Impact

Outward Bound USA aims to support, amplify, and grow the capacity of our regional schools, where students are prepared with 21st-century skills to be ready for work, life, and civic leadership in an evolving world. Our work is guided by an unwavering commitment to our students, equity, adventure, and safety. 

Guided by a strategic Vision for Impact 2030 between 2023 and 2030, OBUSA supports this work through targeted initiatives designed to: create new and expanded capacity in regional schools by positioning OB as an educational partner to parents, schools, and corporations; accelerate access to the outdoors for underrepresented communities; provide a leading-edge research and development engine that will continuously improve program outcomes; and cultivate a workplace that attracts, develops, and retains the best outdoor educators and administrative professionals in the US. 

Reporting to the Chief Development Officer, the Development Data and Research Manager will oversee and optimize the operational processes that support the organization's fundraising efforts. This role is pivotal in managing the Salesforce CRM system, conducting donor research, building a strong donor pipeline, and ensuring the smooth transition of donors from annual giving to major gifts. The ideal candidate will have a strategic vision for data management and metrics essential for a robust and efficient donor pipeline. 

Our Culture 

As a leading non-profit educational organization, Outward Bound is designed to embrace challenge. We engage in organization-wide continuous improvement and cultivate a workplace that attracts top talent—like you. This role becomes part of a collaborative organization that is rich with talent, connection, and teamwork contributing to the expansion of our mission nationwide. Thriving here takes compassion, a learning mindset, and a deep desire to do meaningful work to achieve our goals. At Outward Bound, we are crew, not passengers. Everyone is on the crew, and we all contribute. We share success and view challenges as opportunities. From the office to the wilderness, we grow together. You belong here.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

 Salesforce CRM & Data Management 

• Oversee all aspects of the CRM, Salesforce.
• Generate and analyze reports to monitor fundraising performance, donor trends, and key performance indicators (KPIs). 
• Provide data-driven recommendations to optimize fundraising performance and donor engagement. 
• Maintain the integrity and accuracy of donor data within Salesforce, ensuring best practices for data entry, gift processing, and acknowledgment.
• Develop and oversee data management processes, including pipeline tracking, donor segmentation, and system upgrades.
• Lead data hygiene initiatives and train staff on CRM best practices to enhance efficiency and data quality.

Prospect Development & Pipeline Management

• Identify and qualify new donor prospects to expand the fundraising pipeline, with a focus on major donor growth. 
• Increase the major donor pipeline annually through strategic prospecting and engagement efforts. 
• Implement systems for tracking donor progress, ensuring strategic movement through the pipeline from annual giving to major gifts.
• Collaborate with fundraisers and cross-functional teams to support targeted solicitation efforts and provide regular pipeline updates.

Donor Engagement & Cross-Functional Support

• Ensure timely and personalized acknowledgment of all donor contributions. 
• Lead quarterly alignment meetings with Finance, Communications, and Program teams to strengthen donor engagement and fundraising collaboration. 
• Oversee donor stewardship efforts, ensuring timely and personalized acknowledgment, communication, and engagement strategies.
• Work closely with Finance, Communications, and Program teams to align fundraising efforts, reconcile contributions, and ensure compliance.
• Support special events, campaign initiatives, and CRM-related troubleshooting to optimize fundraising operations.

Competencies

• Self-Management: You can set and follow through on goals independently, anticipate roadblocks, and support others in managing their commitments. 
• Communication: You are skilled in developing messaging that connects with a wide range of stakeholders, from community members to decision-makers, fostering engagement and long-term relationships. 
• Cultural Competence – You recognize and appreciate cultural differences and commonalities.
• Collaboration – You can work effectively within a federated system, collaborating with various teams (e.g., Development, Marketing, Communications) to align strategies and achieve organizational goals.
• Conflict Management – You can manage and resolve conflict independently even in high-stakes situations.
• Self-Management- You can set and follow through on goals and commitments independently.
• Analytical Skills: You have proficiency in analyzing donor data and key metrics to inform decision-making and enhance fundraising strategies. This includes the ability to track performance and identify areas for improvement.
• Project Management: You can manage multiple workstreams associated with a program, analyze data, and iterate accordingly. Work to improve existing processes and build new ones that support the strategic vision of the organization 
• Problem-Solving: You can identify, understand, analyze, and solve all types of problems independently
• Situational Adaptability: You can adapt in routine and complex situations independently. 

Education and Work Experience

• 3+ years’ experience in non-profit, revenue generation (sales/fundraising), or a related field is essential. 
• 3+ years of experience leveraging data and feedback to refine approaches, measure effectiveness, and drive continuous improvement in engagement efforts. 
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, Word, Teams
• Strong proficiency in CRM Salesforce. 

Location and Physical Requirements

• Permanent work authorization in the United States is required to apply for this position. We welcome applicants from AZ, CO, CT, FL, IN, NY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, NC, NM, OR, PA, VT, and WA. 
• Up to 5% of work time may be spent traveling.
• Ability to work at a desk and on a computer most of the day. Repetitive motions, such as typing on a keyboard, may be part of the daily tasks. 
• While the role is generally not physically demanding, the ability to lift and carry light objects may be required occasionally. Strong visual acuity is essential for reading and analyzing data on a computer screen.

Compensation & Benefits

• We are committed to transparency in our hiring process. The full salary range for this position is $65,000 - $75,000 annually. Based on the skills and experience of the selected candidate, the starting salary will fall within the hiring range of $65,000-$70,000. 
• This is a full-time, remote, exempt position.
• OBUSA offers a competitive benefits package, including health/dental/vision insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, and life insurance, plus a 403(b)-retirement plan with an employer match.  
• OBUSA offers PTO, a combined sick and vacation bucket which accrues to a total 15 days a year, with an additional day a year added for each year of service. We offer ten federal holidays and paid time off for the last week of the year. 

Application

• Submit cover letter and resume to Julia Farmer, Chief Development Officer 
• Application anticipated to close April 6, 2025

Please reach out to vkerr@outwardbound.org if there is any accommodation you might need when applying or if asked to be interviewed.  

Outward Bound USA (OBUSA) is an equal opportunity employer and values the inclusion and collaboration among employees of diverse backgrounds and experiences. OBUSA prohibits discrimination against, and harassment of, any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, gender, pregnancy, genetic information, ethnic or national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, familial status, military or veteran status, qualified individuals with a disability on the basis of the disability, or any other category which may be protected under applicable state or federal law. Outward Bound USA also promotes respect for all people and will not tolerate harassment based on any of these characteristics nor on differences based on gender identity or expression. Read our equity statement.