THE CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION
Established in 1967, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) is the largest regional nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to saving the Chesapeake Bay, its rivers and streams, and the wildlife that call it home through education, advocacy, litigation, and restoration. Since 2010, CBF has engaged in a focused effort to defend and implement the Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint, a binding federal and state collaborative agreement aimed at reducing pollution to the science-based, legally-affirmed levels established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Blueprint is expected to be fully implemented by 2025. If the states and the federal government achieve Blueprint goals, the Bay will finally—after decades of failed efforts—be removed from the Clean Water Act’s impaired waters list. Successfully implementing the Blueprint depends on a well-informed, engaged, active, and diverse constituency of members, advocates, and volunteers who speak up and take action to save the Bay.
CBF has a staff of approximately 190 employees working in offices in Annapolis, Maryland; Richmond and Virginia Beach, Virginia; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and Washington, D.C. as well as 15 field education program locations. Our staff and volunteer corps work throughout the region educating students and adults, advocating for clean water policies, restoring waterways, and litigating when necessary.
CBF’s headquarters office in Annapolis, Maryland is the Philip Merrill Environmental Center, the world’s first U.S. Green Build Council’s LEED platinum building. In 2014, CBF opened the Brock Environmental Center—one of the world’s most energy efficient, environmentally smart buildings—in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
CBF has an annual budget of approximately $26 million and is supported by more than 275,000 members and e-subscribers. For more information on CBF, please visit cbf.org.
CONTEXT OF THE POSITION
Maximize financial gift support to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) by seeking private funding. The Director of Major Giving will significantly expand the donor base in Pennsylvania with an emphasis on individuals giving $5,000 or more annually and small family foundations and corporations with grant making ability up to $25,000. The Director of Major Giving functions as a collaborative member of the Development team and, within Development, the Major Gift team as well as the Corporate, Foundation & Grants team.
Essential functions include:
Seek private funding support for annual operating needs and campaign initiatives.
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Manage a portfolio of approximately 125-150 prospects and suspects capable of making major gift commitments with a focus on qualifying new donors. Approximately 60 percent of the Director’s time will focus on conducting discovery calls/visits to qualify potential donors and determine the capacity and inclination to give.
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Visit approximately 15 donors/donor prospects every month to fully engage CBF donors in appropriate areas of Pennsylvania.
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Identify suitable matches between CBF programs and a donor’s funding objectives.
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Engage donors and prospects in events and field activities as part of the engagement process. Conceive of and lead the planning of events that would lead to major gifts.
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Serve as an effective and recognized representative of CBF in Pennsylvania.
Engage CBF program staff, volunteers, and trustees in the development process.
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Work closely with colleagues in CBF’s Pennsylvania, Washington, DC, Virginia, and Maryland offices, engaging them in cultivating and stewarding donors.
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Work with CBF volunteers to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors.
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Collaborate with other CBF Development team members to: shape fundraising strategies for specific donors; report on progress with assigned donors as part of regularly scheduled prospect management meetings; and provide accurate revenue projections for progress toward key team goals.
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Help to develop CBF’s membership and overall base of support throughout the Pennsylvania, particularly within the watershed region.
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Facilitate outreach events in Pennsylvania working with appropriate Development staff. Events are to educate and cultivate prospects and steward members and donors.
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Promote local CBF activities and accomplishments to donors and prospects to strengthen the CBF brand.
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Develop an understanding of local and state environmental concerns and be able to articulate CBF’s position and statement of need.
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Assist in identifying and vetting potential members of the CBF Pennsylvania Advisory Council and the CBF Board of Trustees.
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Collaborate with CBF Pennsylvania and Membership staff on creative programs and fundraising opportunities for CBF members in the Commonwealth.
Other duties as assigned.
