Who we are looking for:

We are seeking an experienced philanthropic professional who excels at building relationships and is dedicated to connecting with individuals and businesses passionate about supporting Cuyahoga Valley National Park. We are searching for a philanthropic professional with expertise and interest suited to be a senior leader with the ability to sustain and build a strong portfolio of donors.

Qualities of a successful Philanthropy Director Candidate:

• Passionate and knowledgeable philanthropic professional who can oversee and implement multiple projects at once.
• Experience in successfully managing multi-million-dollar capital campaigns.
• Excellent organizational and inclusive leadership skills with the ability to work with a broad ecosystem of stakeholders.
• Strong analytical and decision-making skills
• Ability to work with individuals of all backgrounds and skills, able to prioritize relationships and develop a positive team culture and work collaboratively in a way that brings together and achieves goals held by diverse stakeholders.
• A strong leader who is willing to work toward transformational change.
• A team player who is collaborative by nature.

What you will do:

Essential Duties & Responsibilities (other duties as assigned):

• Develop and implement a comprehensive philanthropy strategy to support the Conservancy’s mission and goals.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with individual donors, corporations, foundations, and other stakeholders.
• Manage the day-to-day operations of the philanthropy team, providing guidance and support to achieve fundraising targets.
• Plan and execute fundraising events and campaigns.
• Collaborate with the marketing and communications team to create compelling fundraising materials and messages.
• Work alongside the Institutional Giving/Grants Manager, Vice President of Philanthropy and CEO/President on new and ongoing funder relationships.  
• Support the management and growth of the membership program, including new member recruitment, retention, upgrading and appropriate analysis. 
• Partner with the Operations and Research Managers to develop and maintain a structured approach for identifying major gift prospects, resulting in a robust prospect and donor pool. 
• Manage and maintain the Corporate Partners Program in consultation with the Vice President of Philanthropy. Recruit and manage corporate and business sponsors.
• Oversee the planning, execution, and evaluation of special events in close collaboration with the Park Projects Director, event consultants and/or event committees.
• Provide direction and oversight for the design and implementation of major philanthropic initiatives, including fundraising appeals and cultivation and stewardship outreach.
• Lead the formulation and management of the Philanthropy budget.
• Strive to consider the people, places, and cultures that might be missing from your work and look for opportunities to increase inclusivity in all the work you do.
• Support the mission and vision of the Conservancy in all interactions with colleagues, members and stakeholders.

Status/Pay/Benefits: Full-Time, exempt, salary starting at $70,000 annually commensurate with experience. Excellent benefits package including medical, dental and vision coverage, a fully vested 403(b) retirement plan, and generous leave time.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in, communications, marketing, nonprofit management, business, or English. Five to ten years’ experience in philanthropy, fundraising and/or marketing with proven success in raising funds and managing a successful philanthropy department.
• Proven success in philanthropy for a medium-sized or larger non-profit organization.
• Experience in successfully managing multi-million-dollar capital campaigns.
• Previous experience in raising funds from individuals, corporations and foundations.
• Previous experience in planning, leading and managing philanthropy and marketing projects, including coordinating with peers to achieve desired outcomes, and tracking and reporting on progress to senior management.
• An entrepreneurial spirit with proven success in taking the initiative.
• Personal skills and success with deepening relationships with donors and an ability to forge new relationships.
• Skilled in creating powerful, compelling written and oral communications and an ability to convey complex ideas through brief, simple materials.
• Effective at working with others to reach common goals and objectives.
• Experience with convincing others to accept ideas, ability to create win-win situations and skills in responding to key stakeholders.
• Experience with Raiser’s Edge and an understanding of how to use and manage it effectively; comfort with Microsoft Office Suite including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint.
• Supervisory experience and an ability to work with senior management, peers and subordinates in a team setting.
• Ability to work in a team environment as well as operate independently
• Ability to speak, read, and write clearly and coherently in the English language.
• Every Conservancy employee must understand and value racial equity as an organizational operating principle and be committed to continued learning on issues related to race, equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• Will require regional travel in own vehicle to meet with prospects, donors, volunteers, and corporate funders. May require additional travel outside the region for donor relations and professional development.
• All employees of the Conservancy are required to pass a background check prior to the start of employment. Background checks may be subject to repeat every five (5) years.