Director of Development and Communication
Hours: 40 hrs/wk
Schedule: Work days primarily occurring Monday through Friday, 9am - 5pm, but negotiable and flexible as long as Director of Development and Communication can best execute job responsibilities and as mutually determined with Interim Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer (COO)
Location: Places of work span the ECO Skyline property, partner sites, and meeting locations. Work can also be done remotely, as mutually determined with the Interim Executive Director/COO
Compensation: $60,000- $70,000 Salary. Negotiable. 80 hours of PTO + 8 floating holidays, Healthcare, 401(k) plan with employer match
Closing Date: May 15, 2021
Start Date: June/July 2021. Negotiable.
To Apply: Please submit your resume and answers to the following questions to Sarah Woods (sarah@ecologyoutdoors.org):
● How would you measure your success in this position? Please share one or two examples of successes you have had in developing partnerships and attaining resources and funding.
● Which fundraising best practices are your strengths? How would you implement and prioritize fundraising tasks at ECO?
● We believe that advancing racial equity is integral to our work at ECO. What does a racial equity framework mean to you? Can you describe a time when you have advanced racial equity?
Summary of Position: The Director of Development and Communication leads the effort to raise funds for the organization, thereby furthering the mission of Ecology in Classrooms and Outdoors (ECO). The Director creates and implements annual Development and Communication Plans and cultivates and stewards relationships with individual, corporate, and foundation donors. The Director of Development and Communication supervises one full-time Development Manager and one part-time Design Manager. The Director connects regularly with the Program Team to understand and promote Programs to the donor base. The Director of Development and Communication, with support from the Development Manager, understands, utilizes, and maintains the donor database: Little Green Light. The Director of Development and Communication works cooperatively with the Interim Executive Director/COO and Grant Writer to move grant writing and projects forward.
ECO is very interested in interviewing diverse candidates for this position.
Annual Priorities for the Director of Development and Communication include:
● Create and implement a Development Plan to include:
○ Stewardship plan tailored to the diversity of ECO’s donors and stakeholders, including individual, monthly, and major donors, corporate and community partners, and foundations
○ Actionable annual events plan (including at least one spring and one fall event)
● Develop and implement a Communications Plan as well as acquisition and management of media contacts
● Steward and grow corporate and community partnerships, including partnerships plans complete with goals, for maximized impact
● Engage the board of directors in fundraising activities
● Regularly track and report on communications and development metrics
Fundraising and Communications (80%)
● Lead all aspects of the day-to-day operation of the communications and giving program including the supervision of development staff, outside contractors, and volunteers
● Develop and implement a stewardship and communication plan tailored to the diversity of ECO’s donors and stakeholders, including individual and major donors, partners, and sponsors
● Personally cultivate, solicit, steward, and monitor a portfolio of past donors and donor prospects. In order of prioritization: donor stewardship, increased contributions, and acquisitions
● Possess excellent interpersonal and networking skills: ability to speak comfortably, enthusiastically, knowledgeably with donors and potential donors and to establish connections that advance ECO’s mission
● Collaborate regularly with the Program Team to capture and communicate the stories of program successes, identify opportunities for donor engagement, and assist in making opportunities happen, i.e. donor volunteer days
● Lay the groundwork for a capital campaign to transform the Skyline Property, (occurring in the next 2-3 years)
● Represent ECO by delivering presentations to businesses, professional groups, religious groups, and other organizations
● Leverage corporate and community partnerships, including plans complete with goals, for maximized impact
● Communicate closely with the Interim Executive Director/COO
● Support the timely submission of grant proposals, reporting, and the management of foundation relations in conjunction with the Interim Executive Director/COO and Grant Writer
● Oversee Development Manager’s duties in donor stewardship tracking, prospect research, gift records, philanthropic requests, pledges, and contributions via management of donor database
Leadership and Management (20%)
● Collaborate as a member of the leadership team with the Interim Executive Director/COO and Program Director
● Supervise Development Manager and Design Manager, contractors, partners, and volunteers to ensure campaign completion and goals reached
● Reconcile fundraising income streams with organization's monthly financial report
● Serve as development department liaison to the board of directors. Present development reports and share findings with the Interim Executive Director/COO and board of directors
● Serve on board committees as assigned or as necessary
● Other duties as assigned
Required Skills:
● Experience in developing and solidifying strong funding relationships to support our mission
● Experience in project management, ability to think strategically and tactically to steer a project from start to finish, inclusive of all components and details ranging from budgetary to relational
● Experience writing for fundraising purposes: grant-writing, appeals, etc.
● Arrange transportation to/from work sites
● Utilize organization’s internal communication tools (Google Drive, Monday.com, Slack)
ECO is a unique place to work. Every individual is working toward our mission of connecting students to nature. We’re working together to make top-notch ecology programming a consistent part of every student’s education. At ECO, we are all working for the good of the organization and the good of the communities we serve - both human and non-human.