Director of Development - Michigan; TNC

Posted on September 11, 2018

ABOUT US

The Nature Conservancy is the leading conservation organization working to make a positive impact around the world in more than 70 countries, all 50 United States, and your backyard. Founded in 1951, the mission of The Nature Conservancy is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. One of our core values is our commitment to diversity therefore we are committed to a globally diverse and culturally competent workforce.

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SUMMARY

The Michigan Director of Development (DOD) leads a comprehensive, top-in-class development program that secures significant philanthropic resources from individuals, corporations, and foundations to support The Nature Conservancy’s priorities in Michigan, in North America and around the world. They must be a proven strong and inspiring leader, a successful major and principal gifts fundraiser with skill in designing and executing complex donor strategies, and experienced in program management.

The DOD oversees all major gifts functions, which includes managing multi-year fundraising campaigns, planned giving, major- and principal- gift fundraising, donor prospecting and research, and stewardship. The DOD recruits, develops, and inspires a staff of high-performing philanthropy professionals, works closely with the Michigan Board of Trustees and other volunteer leaders, and builds a culture of philanthropy throughout the Michigan Chapter.

The DOD will build on the Michigan Chapter’s significant contributions to the Conservancy’s domestic and global priorities. To that end, the DOD must be motivated to learn and able to work in collaboration with conservation experts, philanthropy staff organization-wide, donors and volunteers across a dispersed and complex organization to integrate philanthropy with sophisticated conservation and policy initiatives. The DOD is a member of the Michigan Management Team, responsible for bringing donor perspective to organizational decisions, and plays a leadership role in building the Chapter’s role as a hub of conservation innovation and success with a strategic focus healthy waters, thriving coasts, resilient forests, and science and policy.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Reporting to the State Director, DOD will lead a comprehensive major gifts program, including the continuation of the Our World, Our Michigan Campaign ($90M) in alignment with the Conservancy's Shared Conservation Agenda. The Director will build on existing fundraising activities to create and implement strategies for the cultivation and solicitation of a portfolio of major gift prospects, including individual, foundation and corporate donors.

The Director will be responsible for cultivating a solid working relationship with our Board of Trustees, demonstrated by the Board's continued involvement in fundraising efforts. In addition to working with the Board, the State Director and the Michigan Management team, the Director will meaningfully engage a range of constituents in the Conservancy's work.

The Director of Development is charged with:

• Managing a 7-person philanthropy team, which encompasses major and principal gift functions, planned giving, loyal donors, philanthropy operational and support.
• Leading Chapter philanthropy efforts to fundraise more than $4.0 million annually in outright private gifts and pledges in support of The Nature Conservancy’s Michigan Chapter’s overall $11.5M annual budget as well as regional and global conservation priorities.
• Completing a 5-year, $90M comprehensive campaign for Michigan and global priorities.
• Working closely with the State Director, the Management Team, the Michigan Board Chair and Campaign Planning Committee Chair to strengthen and engage the Board of Trustees in fundraising, trustee recruitment and board management.
• Serving on the Michigan Management Team to develop fundraising goals for the Chapter, for which the DOD is accountable, and contributing to the overall strategy and direction of the Chapter.
• Leading, inspiring, and managing the Michigan Philanthropy Team to achieve relationship-building and…