Development Director – Palouse Land Trust

Development Director – Palouse Land Trust

Development Director

Location:

Moscow, Idaho

Reports to:

Executive Director

Employment Type:

Full-time, Exempt

Palouse Land Trust (PLT) is a dedicated nonprofit working to preserve the unique landscapes, forests, and waterways of the Palouse region. For nearly three decades, we have collaborated with the community to protect open spaces, agricultural lands, and native ecosystems. Our small but passionate team, along with a dedicated group of volunteers, ensures that both people and wildlife have lasting connections to the land.

The Development Director is responsible for driving the Palouse Land Trust’s (PLT) fundraising strategy to sustain and grow its mission. Working closely with the Executive Director and in partnership with the Communications and Development Coordinator, this role will focus on donor cultivation, major gift solicitation, stewardship, grant writing, and expanding the organization’s fundraising capacity. The Development Director will also collaborate with staff on event planning, ensuring events are aligned with strategic development goals, while recognizing that all events are a collaborative, team-based effort.

This role requires a strategic thinker who can build relationships and inspire support for PLT’s mission.

• Lead in the development and implementation of a comprehensive fundraising plan that encompasses individual giving, with an emphasis on major gifts, planned giving, grants, and corporate sponsor ships.
• Collaborate closely with the team to ensure donor cultivation strategies are effectively executed, leveraging the Communications and Development Coordinator’s and ED’s deep knowledge of existing donor relationships.
• Maintain and expand relationships with major donors and prospects, including organizing stewardship activities, cultivation events, and personalized engagement strategies.
• Manage a portfolio of donors, developing strategies to cultivate, solicit, and steward major gifts to achieve financial goals.
• Work collaboratively with the Executive Director and Board of Directors on identifying and cultivating relationships with key supporters and funders.

• Serve as the strategic lead for fundraising-related goals at events, while actively participating in the collaborative event planning process, ensuring that all team members are aligned in their roles.
• Partner with the Communications and Development Coordinator, who will take the lead on logistical event planning and outreach, to ensure events run smoothly and meet fundraising targets.
• Contribute to the “all hands on deck” approach for event execution, ensuring accountability and coordination across the team.
• Collaborate with the Communications and Development Coordinator to manage post-event follow‑up and donor stewardship processes, ensuring continued engagement after events.

• Lead efforts to identify and pursue grant opportunities, building and maintaining relationships with key funders.
• Manage PLT’s grants program and oversee the overall grant strategy for the organization, ensuring alignment with PLT’s strategic and operational priorities.
• Take the lead in writing grant proposals and coordinating grant reporting, with the support of the Executive Director and Communications and Development Coordinator as needed.

• Cultivate and manage relationships with donors at all levels, creating tailored engagement strategies and personalized stewardship plans that keep supporters connected and committed.
• Utilize moves management strategies to advance relationships, ensuring that cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship efforts are coordinated and effective.
• Collaborate with the Communications and Development Coordinator to create donor communications that inspire continued giving and reflect PLT’s mission and impact.
• Manage donor data and track interactions in the donor management system, ensuring accurate tracking of engagement and timely, thoughtful follow‑up.