Development Director

398 Mill St, Fontana-On-Geneva Lake, WI 53125, USA

Job Type

Leadership

Workspace

Mill House

JOB TITLE:

Development Director
ORGANIZATION:
Geneva Lake Conservancy

LOCATION:

Walworth County, Wisconsin (Hybrid/On-site as required)

REPORTS TO:

Executive Director
FLSA STATUS:
Exempt

POSITION SUMMARY
The Development Director is a key leadership role responsible for designing and executing a comprehensive fundraising strategy that advances the Geneva Lake Conservancy’s mission to safeguard land and water resources across Walworth County and the broader region.
Working closely with the Executive Director, this position leads major gifts, capital campaigns, grants, foundation and corporate partnerships, special events, and donor engagement, while helping build a sustainable development program capable of growing annual contributed revenue from $1M to $3M over the next five years.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Supervises one full-time development staff member, including coaching, goal setting, accountability, workload management, and professional development.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Fundraising Strategy and Revenue Growth

• Develop and lead a multi-year fundraising strategy aligned with organizational priorities, annual revenue targets, and long-term growth.
• Translate fundraising priorities into annual plans, metrics, timelines, and accountability tools.

Major Gifts, Donor Engagement, and Pipeline Development

• Manage a portfolio of major donors and institutional prospects, including cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and engagement plans.
• Secure major gifts, typically $10,000+, and partner with the Executive Director and Board members on donor strategy.
• Build and maintain a strong donor pipeline through prospect identification, qualification, tracking, analysis, and relationship mapping.

Institutional Giving and Grants

• Lead grant and institutional funding strategy, including prospect research, proposals, reporting, compliance, and calendar oversight.
• Develop and steward relationships with foundation, corporate, and public funding partners.

Campaigns, Events, and Donor Communications

• Oversee fundraising events, special initiatives, and campaigns that advance donor cultivation, revenue goals, and strong ROI.
• Collaborate with staff to align messaging, impact reporting, donor communications, and organizational priorities.

Development Operations and Board Engagement

• Oversee donor database systems, ensuring accurate records, engagement tracking, reports, and leadership dashboards.
• Partner with the Executive Director to support the Board’s Fundraising Committee with agendas, strategy, and accountability tools.
• Promote shared responsibility for philanthropic success among Board, staff, and volunteers.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• Minimum 5-7 years of progressive fundraising experience.
• Demonstrated success securing five- and six-figure major gifts.
• Experience leading fundraising strategy, donor cultivation, grant writing, and CRM-based reporting.
• Strong relationship-building and interpersonal skills.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with land conservation, environmental nonprofits, or mission-driven organizations.
• Familiarity with Land Trust Alliance Standards and Practices.
• Experience working with nonprofit boards and volunteer leaders.
• Knowledge of planned giving and capital campaigns.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Strategic Thinking:
  Translates mission and priorities into measurable fundraising plans.
• Relationship Building:
  Establishes trust with donors and stakeholders.
• Results Orientation:
  Demonstrates accountability for revenue goals, donor retention, and fundraising outcomes.
• Team
  
  Collaboration:
  
  Works effectively across staff, Board, and volunteer leadership.
• Adaptability:
  Adjusts strategies based…