DIRECTOR OF INSTITUTIONAL GIVING

REPORTS TO:

Senior Vice President of Development and Business Strategy

ABOUT THE POSITION:

The Director of Institutional Giving will work closely with Chesapeake Conservancy leadership and program teams to build institutional partnerships in support of the Conservancy’s mission to conserve and restore the natural and cultural resources of the Chesapeake Bay watershed for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations.

As a member of the development team, this individual will be responsible for achieving annual revenue goals by developing and executing a comprehensive plan for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding foundation, government, corporate, and other institutional funders in support of priorities to advance our conservation goals.

This position will report to the Senior Vice President of Development and Business Strategy and will not have any direct supervisory responsibilities.

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Working in coordination with the SVP Development and Program team(s), design and execute the annual and long-term fundraising plan for institutional giving.  
  • Manage a portfolio of foundation donors, developing solicitation and stewardship strategies, and maintain a schedule of contacts with institutional donor representatives.
  • Coordinate donor meetings and identify opportunities to gather intelligence, strengthen relationships with key institutional donors and champions, and represent Chesapeake Conservancy to identify and cultivate new partnerships.
  • Oversee the writing and editing of grant proposals and reports, and work with the Conservancy’s finance team on the preparation of proposal budgets and financial documents. Collaborate with Conservancy staff to pursue new institutional fundraising opportunities, including government entities.
  • Work with the SVP and CFO to maintain institutional donor revenue projections. Oversee data management on institutional donor contacts, relationships, and their giving histories in our CRM (DonorPerfect).
  • Collaborate with the Development team to create customized communications and other written materials that prepare Conservancy leadership and staff for meetings with institutional donors.
  • Ensure compliance with all reporting requirements with assistance from the Compliance & Reporting Administrator and Development staff.
  • Ensure plans support the growth of opportunities in identified areas of need: annual, endowment, and capital campaigns. 
  • Work closely and collaboratively with other members of the Development team, as well as the Communications and Administration & Finance teams, to ensure internal processes run smoothly.
  • Manage a small list of current and prospective individual major gift donors.
  • Other duties as assigned.

BENEFITS

  • Salary will be determined according to a salary scale which takes into account years’ experience and other factors, but is expected to be $90,000-$105,000.
  • We have a generous benefits package, including health, dental, and vision insurance; employer-paid life and disability insurance; 15 paid vacation days to start, with an increase after five years; 4 weeks of sick leave per year; 13 paid holidays per year; and participation in and employer contributions to a 403b retirement savings plan.
  • Opportunities for advancement and professional development are also available.

WE ARE COMMITTED TO BEING A DIVERSE & WELCOMING WORKPLACE:

Chesapeake Conservancy is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, color, age, sex, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, refusal to submit to a genetic test or to make available genetic test results, or any other legally protected characteristic.  

Chesapeake Conservancy understands that protecting and restoring the natural and cultural resources of the Chesapeake Bay watershed requires intentional commitment to inclusive practices and narratives within the conservation movement. Through our work we celebrate and elevate the people, places, and cultures of the region, especially by engaging underrepresented communities. Committing to the values of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice is critical to achieve our vision of a Chesapeake that is healthy, accessible to everyone, and a place where people and wildlife thrive. To that end, we commit ourselves to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice both in our programmatic priorities and our internal organizational development through inclusive recruitment of staff and board members, and fostering a diverse and inclusive culture.

Qualifications
  • Minimum 5 years of frontline institutional fundraising experience;
  • A Bachelor’s degree;
  • Demonstrated experience and success in cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding gifts from a variety of funders;
  • Proven track record of successful fundraising and strong relationship-building;
  • Preference for candidates with existing relationships with Corporate, Foundation and/or City, State and Federal Government;
  • Significant experience in grant research, writing and editing;
  • Organization, efficiency, and timeliness in project management and delivery, meeting preparation, and facilitation;
  • Ability to communicate complex issues, discuss funding opportunities with donors, and relay information to a variety of stakeholders;
  • Broad-based experience and knowledge in the core areas of fundraising utilized by the Conservancy: Annual Fund, major donors, grants (government and private), endowment, and capital campaign;
  • Experience with DonorPerfect (CRM);
  • Understanding of public-private partnerships;
  • A strong understanding of and deep commitment to environmental issues, particularly in the Chesapeake Bay watershed;
  • Existing knowledge and network in philanthropy targeting environmental and social change;
  • Strong writer with exceptional communication skills;
  • Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with a diverse staff;
  • An energetic, enthusiastic, proactive, and inquiring personality;
  • A confident, self-starter with strong entrepreneurial spirit;
  • Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice and a thorough appreciation of the power of gratitude as an essential skill to change the world;
  • Ability to travel on occasion to achieve stated objectives when conditions allow.