Senior Director of Philanthropy

The Senior Director of Philanthropy is a key leadership role responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive fundraising strategy to support NRCM’s mission and goals. This position manages all aspects of revenue generation for NRCM, including foundation and corporate support, planned giving, major gifts programs, and membership recruitment and retention. The individual will be a champion for NRCM’s role as Maine’s leading advocacy organization working to protect Maine’s environment. The individual also serves as a member of the senior leadership team that sets policies and provides leadership capacity for NRCM’s annual budget, management, and planning processes. It is critical that this position partner and work collaboratively across the organization.

 

Respect, inclusion, and opportunity for people of all backgrounds, lifestyles, and perspectives will attract the best ideas to NRCM and help us shape a healthier, more vibrant future for all of us who share our planet. By honoring and celebrating people’s diversity, NRCM can bring new creativity, effectiveness, and leadership to our work throughout the state. Achieving diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice is a continuous process, which, we believe, will contribute to a sustainable and peaceful world. We therefore strongly encourage applications from people who identify with or who are members of marginalized communities.

 

·        Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 10 years of nonprofit experience, with at least 3 years in fundraising and three years in a senior position.

·        Strong leadership and team management skills

·        Ability to create and implement long-range plans, including budgets.

·        Ability to think strategically to develop and implement innovative fundraising strategies.

·        Knowledge of fundraising best practices and donor stewardship techniques.

·        Experience facilitating volunteer board members and major donors in philanthropic roles.

·        Substantial experience with personal solicitation of major donors and a proven track record of success in increasing revenues for a nonprofit organization.

·        A strong understanding and commitment to the work of NRCM and the ability to effectively communicate NRCM’s programs to members/donors.

·        Excellent written and interpersonal communications skills.

·        Proven leadership and decision-making skills as well as an ability to work closely with others.

·        Experience soliciting estate gifts preferred.

·        Active participation in at least one capital campaign preferred.

 

1.     Planning, Budgeting, Management:

·        Develop and execute a strategic fundraising plan to meet annual and long-term financial goals, including income and expense projections for the program and for the organization as a whole

·        Directly supervise grants, membership, and major donor staff and oversee their ability to generate philanthropic revenue to the organization via individual giving, foundation grants, corporate support including sponsorships, cause marketing efforts, and event

·        Collaborate with senior leadership to align fundraising strategies with organizational priorities

·        Supervise a philanthropy team of 6: Events Manager; Grants Manager; Gifts, Records, & Stewardship Coordinator; Leadership Gifts Officer; and Membership & Partnerships Manager

 

2.     Major Gifts & Planned Giving:

·        Serve as a member of the major gifts team.

·        Maintain a personal portfolio of at least 30 major donors and conduct solicitation calls and visits.

·        Help create solicitation strategies for top donors that encourage increased giving.

·        Participate in writing individualized proposals.

·        Oversee NRCM’s planned giving program, including identifying prospects, conducting planned giving calls/visits, and ensuring that there is a go-to person at NRCM for information about gifts made through trusts, estates, or other non-cash assets.

·        Serve as the point person for inquiries about potential property donations.

 

3.     Membership Program:

·        Supervise the Membership and Partnerships Manager to plan and implement strategies and tools to recruit new, retain existing, and reactivate lapsed members to NRCM, either directly or through oversight of a membership manager. Approaches could include web-based appeals; direct mail campaigns; personal outreach via fairs, events, informational meetings, speaking engagements; and other creative approaches.

·        Identify, evaluate, and pursue cause-related marketing projects with fundraising implications.

 

4.     Events:

·        Collaborate with Events Manager and other stakeholders to plan and execute special events whose primary function is to generate revenue or provide donor stewardship

·        Ensure donors supporting events through sponsorships, ticket purchases, auction bidding, in-kind donations, or other means are receipted appropriately according to IRS guidelines.

 

5.     Board Fundraising Program:

·        Serve as the primary staff contact for board involvement in fundraising.

·        Work closely with the Board of Directors to leverage their networks and support fundraising efforts

·        Assist in identifying and recruiting new Board members with fundraising potential

·        Ensure that there is a plan and goals with board members, motivate and track board progress, accompany board members on visits as needed, and provide fund raising training to board members.

 

6.     Capital Campaign:

·        Plan and implement all aspects of any major capital campaigns including hiring/planning campaign counsel and staff, coordinating feasibility study, and active involvement in campaign solicitation.

 

7.     Organization Management:

·        Serve as an active member of NRCM’s management team with other senior departmental leaders and the CEO/Executive Director.

·         Provide input for organization-wide policy, personnel decisions, the annual budget, and long-range planning.

 

NRCM is committed to a positive work culture where diversity is honored and respected. To this end, all employees are expected to:

·        Maintain positive and productive working relationships with all NRCM staff, leadership, and Board members as well as with NRCM’s members, external partners, policymakers, and the general public. This includes proactive work on understanding and addressing issues related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice; providing and receiving constructive feedback; and a willingness to resolve conflicts constructively.

·        Participate in organizational meetings and activities as requested, such as monthly staff meetings, trainings, and ad hoc planning committees.

·        Complete all administrative work on time, such as time sheets, purchase orders, project reports, and planning documents.

·        Be familiar with and follow organizational protocols and policies.

NRCM strives to provide a supportive work environment through fair and competitive compensation and benefits, up-to-date equipment and IT support, adequate supervision, and ongoing professional development. The work environment is friendly, fun, cooperative, and very fast paced. Staff members need to be able to work independently and adapt to changing priorities. We are committed to ensuring that our staff members actively work on diversity and inclusion in the field. This work is supported by staff policy, training, and mentoring, and through fostering an organization that prioritizes fairness and respect.

 

NRCM is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and does not discriminate based on gender, age, ethnicity, race, religion, physical/mental ability, sexual orientation, or national origin. NRCM will provide reasonable accommodation to employees with disabilities where appropriate. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

NRCM is committed to providing fair and competitive compensation to its employees. We base our compensation decisions on:

·        A biennial market survey of comparable organizations and localities in Maine

·        An evaluation of employee qualifications that does not discriminate based on gender, age, race, religion, physical/mental ability, sexual orientation, or national origin

·        High employee performance that advances our strategic plan and other organizational priorities

·        Availability of financial resources for the organization