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Senior Director of Development

THE OPPORTUNITY

The NFF seeks an experienced and strategic inidual to strengthen and expand the NFF’s unrestricted giving program, including philanthropic support from iniduals, foundations, and corporations. Reporting to the President and CEO, this position will serve as a front-line fundraiser developing the NFF’s major donor program and as a supervisor of a thriving team tightly focused on raising unrestricted funds from multiple sources in alignment with their mission. The position will coordinate closely with all C-suite members, the Director of Conservation Partnerships, and others throughout the organization to foster the strongest possible culture of philanthropy at the NFF. Among the various sources of unrestricted funds, this position will chiefly identify, cultivate and solicit inidual donors.

As a committed, innovative leader, the Senior Director of Development will be responsible for the following:

Fundraising

• Create and execute a comprehensive annual unrestricted fundraising plan that articulates the strategies and actions needed to sustain a large base of inidual donors, foundations, and corporations and ensure steady growth and sustainability of the organization over the next 3-5 years.
• With the President & CEO, establish short- and long-term philanthropic objectives for the NFF, matching inidual prospect interests to institutional priorities for budget-relieving opportunities if unrestricted is not possible.
• Maintain a portfolio of 100 prospects with a focus on Trailblazer Club Members (inidual, unrestricted major donors) and other five- and six-figure unrestricted opportunities.
• Strengthen donor acquisition efforts and achieve retention and renewal targets.
• Lead monthly Major Gifts Strategy meetings with the President and key staff present. Ensure the mid-level giving program provides a consistent pipeline of major giving opportunities.
• Ensure a robust stewardship program for iniduals tailored for various giving levels.
• Regularly review donor lists with development staff to identify new prospects for the unrestricted development pipeline.
• Engage and provide support to Board members who secure funds and leverage their connections in the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of inidual gift prospects.
• In partnership with the Director of Conservation Partnerships, collaborate across departments to strengthen the NFF’s growing culture of philanthropy.
• Encourage and support staff across the NFF to become proficient in and excited about unrestricted fundraising.
• Strategically partner with the Chief Marketing Officer to identify meaningful ways marketing can contribute to the development and engagement of the unrestricted pipeline of donors.
• Support the NFF’s brand voice in visual representation and editorial style to ensure consistent messaging in alignment with brand guidelines.
• Represent the NFF’s mission, vision, and impact to various constituencies as opportunities arise.

Fiscal Management

• Collaborate with the President & CEO on the preparation of annual operating plans and long-term financial strategy to support strategic activities.
• Strategize and foster cohesion among all aspects of unrestricted fundraising to be able to project year-over-year growth from various sources.
• Work closely with the finance team to keep the organization’s budget current at all times, reflecting all expected and received funding.
• Develop and manage budgets for all fundraising initiatives and ensure that expenses are within budget.
• Ensure fundraising policies and procedures maintain compliance with ethical standards and legal requirements.

Team Management

• Inspire, retain, and recruit a small unrestricted development team.
• Establish, measure and monitor annual and long-term goals and work plans.
• Provide necessary training and guidance, and review performance objectives and goals on a regular basis.
• Engage the team in establishing strong working relationships and networks with internal and external stakeholders.

EXPERIENCE & ATTRIBUTES

Ideal candidates will have a background and resume that reflect the following:

• Ten years’ experience in nonprofit fundraising, including annual giving, prospecting, cultivation, proposal development, stewardship practices, and working with Board members.
• Demonstrated track record of successful direct solicitation of gifts of five figures or more.
• Strong supervisory experience, including a history of coaching and mentoring to lead staff to greater effectiveness.
• Exceptional communication skills, including strong persuasive written and verbal abilities.
• Excellent judgment and discretion, including the ability to quickly earn the trust and confidence of the NFF’s most important donors.
• Proven ability to collaborate with different departments and bridge different goals/strategies within the organization.
• Skilled in effectively setting priorities, while managing various projects and tasks to successful completion.
• Ability to respond quickly to last-minute needs and changing priorities.
• Detail-oriented, organized, motivated, and creative team player.
• Demonstrated proficiency in common office procedures and software, including Microsoft 365 and Office Suite, which attention to PowerPoint, Word, and Excel.
• Experience and comfort with sophisticated CRM systems, preferably donor databases.
• Passion and commitment for public lands and/or outdoor experiences.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) Certification
• Experience with raising funds to support conservation issues.
• Proven track record in soliciting and securing seven-figure unrestricted gifts.

TRAVEL

• Extensive travel to meet with current and prospective donors and conservation staff will be required. (Approximately 50-75% of U.S.-based travel)

LOCATION

• The location for this position is flexible throughout the United States. This position is remote/work-from-home and requires reliable internet access and a dedicated home workspace.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

The salary range for this position is $126,700- $177,400 annually, with an anticipated starting salary dependent upon the qualifications and experience of the hired candidate. In addition, the National Forest Foundation offers an outstanding benefits package including:

• Medical and dental insurance paid at 75% by the organization for the employee and any dependents.
• Vision insurance paid at 50% by the organization for the employee and any dependents.
• Health savings account (HSA) with employer contributions between $1,878-$3,750 per year.
• Generous paid time off ranging from 35-45 days of combined vacation, sick days, personal leave, and holidays.
• Family and medical leave for up to sixteen (16) weeks with up to four (4) weeks paid.
• 403(b) retirement plan with a 5% employer match after one (1) year of service.
• Health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts (FSA).
• Basic life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance at no cost, with voluntary life insurance options.
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance at no cost to the employee.
• Employee assistance program (EAP) at no cost to the employee.
• Professional development reimbursement for up to $1,000 per year.