The Chesapeake Bay Foundation seeks a Senior Director of Major Giving in the Development Department to be based at the Philip Merrill Environmental Center located in Annapolis, MD.
THE CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION
Established in 1966, 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 230 employees working in offices in Annapolis, Maryland; Richmond and Virginia Beach, Virginia; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and Washington, D.C. as well as 14 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 $30 million and is supported by over 200,000 members and e-subscribers. For more information on CBF, please visit cbf.org.
DEPARTMENT DESCRIPTION
Development
The mission of Development is to provide financial resources for CBF to meet its long-term vision of saving the Bay. It establishes and implements strategies to motivate donors to contribute to the organization’s programs and projects through two primary areas of activity: development and membership.
CONTEXT OF THE POSITION
As a key contributor to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) and as a senior staff member within its Development program, the Senior Director of Major Giving oversees a $15M+ annual fundraising program and provides leadership to the major gift officers including corporate and foundation and planned giving programs. This position is responsible for establishing program strategy, recommending annual fundraising goals, building a long-term vision for the program, and developing campaigns. The Senior Director of Major Giving generates gifts from a small portfolio of donors and prospects and works closely with CBF leadership to support donor engagement and solicitations.
Essential functions include:
- Supervise and mentor a team of regional gift officers.
- Provide coaching and training opportunities, focusing on industry best practices, building donor relationships, storytelling, proposal development and writing, and basic research skills.
- Help develop strategy and create opportunities for the team to coordinate with, or seek advice directly from, the CDO.
- Foster accountability, strategic thinking, and attention to detail.
- Ensure the team has the resources needed.
- Assist in defining and developing internal processes, fostering collaboration and efficiency across departments.
- Work with the Research and Prospect Management team to develop gift officer portfolios and track and evaluate progress toward portfolio management goals and overall pipeline development.
- Develop and implement short- and long-term fundraising strategies and goals that maximize revenue.
- Monitor and evaluate program performance, utilizing metrics, industry trends, and best practices to ensure the programs are efficient and as effective as possible.
- Develop the major gift annual and campaign revenue and expense budgets.
- Monitor expense budgets and ensure proper approval and coding.
- Cultivate and maintain relationships with major donors.
- Support donor engagement and solicitations by CBF leadership.
- Manage a small portfolio of prospects and donors.
- Serve as a member of the Development Management Team, helping to establish goals, objectives, and procedures for the department, address operating and strategic issues, and evaluate return on investment for new and current initiatives.
- Other duties as assigned.
PREFERRED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree and minimum of five years of experience with major gift solicitation.
- Excellent leadership skills and strong team management experience.
- Excellent communication and relationship building skills.
- Excellent attention to detail.
- Excellent process development and management.
- Excellent time and project management skills needed to handle multiple, concurrent projects.
- Experience preparing funding requests.
- Experience with campaign development and strategy.
- Ability to work effectively with high-level volunteers and leadership.
- Ability to work as a positive member of a high-performing fundraising team.
- Ability to analyze data and make informed decisions.
- Proficiency in computer systems and experience with non-profit CRMs.
- Position will require regular travel to CBF’s headquarters and branch offices, as well as periodic overnight travel.
Salary Range: $130K-$140K
To apply, please send a resume and cover letter through job posting on CBF website. This position will be open until filled.
CBF offers a 36-hour work week, a flexible telework policy, a comprehensive benefits package to include: 20 vacation days, 10 sick days, 2 floating holidays, health, vision, dental, life insurance, and a 403(b) retirement plan with matching contribution.
