Development Director

Position Summary:

OEC’s Development Director oversees the strategy and implementation of OEC’s fundraising activities, including donor communications, major donor cultivation and stewardship, membership, planned giving, foundation and corporate giving, events, and development operations. This position is personally responsible for raising major and planned gifts, with an emphasis on cultivation, solicitation and stewardship. The Development Director reports to the Executive Director and supervises a multi-person development team. This position works closely with the Executive Director, the Board, and other staff to provide organizational leadership, ensure financial health and stability, and support a strong team and a healthy work environment.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Leadership & Strategy (20%)

• In collaboration with the development team, develops and implements an annual plan, ensuring that revenue goals, donor engagement priorities, and staffing capacity are aligned and actively managed
• Leads and supports the team in the development and implementation of OEC’s organizational fundraising strategies, including but not limited to major gifts, planned gifts, foundations, membership, corporate sponsorships, and fundraising events
• Manages performance evaluations for development staff, including goal setting, annual reviews, and continuing professional development
• Collaborates with the Executive Director and Board of Directors and serves as staff liaison to the Board fundraising committee
• Works with OEC’s Communications Director to develop plans and materials that engage, inform and inspire OEC’s donors
• Promotes a culture of philanthropy, fostering an understanding of philanthropy across the organization

Planning & Implementation (20%)

• Utilizes Salesforce and donor analytics to guide decision-making, monitor performance, track activity and revenue progress
• Partners with the Executive Director, finance and development teams to provide fundraising revenue projections, monitor progress against budget, identify risks and opportunities, and recommend strategy adjustments
• Leads regular portfolio review meetings to identify leads, ensure assigned prospects have clear strategies, solicitation timelines, documented activity, and realistic revenue projections

Donor Stewardship & Fundraising (60%)

• Directly manages, stewards, and engages a portfolio of 60-80 major and planned gift donors and prospects
• Manages and grows the planned giving program
• Creates tailored strategies for donors across portfolios, focusing on multi-year campaign commitments, major donor retention and upgrades
• Participates in all aspects of the gift cycle:
  • Initiates contact with prospective leadership and major gift donors
  • Develops appropriate cultivation strategies for them, including working with volunteers
  • Moves potential donors in an appropriate and timely fashion toward solicitation and closure
  • Makes solicitations when appropriate
  • Maintains stewardship contacts with donors; adheres to the highest ethical standards; demonstrates empathetic disposition and perseverance; reflects optimistic and positive attitude, and conveys sensitivity to needs of the donor

Qualifications:

Required Knowledge, Experience and Certifications

• Minimum five years of major gift solicitation experience, with an emphasis on building relationships with prospects and key community members
• Minimum 3 years of supervisory experience with a firm commitment to collaborative, team-oriented management and proficiency in culturally sensitive supervision
• Demonstrated experience soliciting six figure gifts and planned gifts
• Valid driver’s license with a clean motor vehicle and background check

Required Skills, Abilities and Qualities

• Excellent interpersonal skills; an eagerness to work collaboratively in a dynamic team environment; positive, flexible attitude
• Excellent verbal & written communication
• Strong organizational and time management skills; ability to work under pressure; ability to manage multiple projects while keeping a “big picture” strategic view
• Demonstrated ability to help staff plan, manage, and complete complex projects on time and within budget
• Effective problem-solving skills; ethic of continuous improvement
• Self-motivation and initiative; ability to work independently; entrepreneurial approach
• Performance-oriented mindset with a strong work ethic and commitment to achieving goals
• Willing and able to bear high levels of responsibility; always accountable for one’s own decisions and work product
• Detail-oriented with high standards for accuracy
• An understanding of the concepts of institutional and structural racism and bias; a commitment to advancing equity, diversity and inclusion within the organization and as part of the position
• A passion for OEC’s mission
• Energized to support Oregon Environmental Council’s Values and Beliefs and workplace culture as described in our Team Charter
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality of all employee and other sensitive organizational information

Desirable Qualifications:

• Experience with planned giving programs
• Existing relationships with Oregon’s philanthropic community
• Experience working in a non-profit environment with a mission driven staff and board
• Knowledge of environmental issues
• Event development and management
• Salesforce and Kindsight expertise
• Bachelor’s degree

Other Details:

Travel: This position requires travel and frequent meetings for 50% of the position, including overnight or multi-day travel throughout Oregon.

Work Schedule: OEC’s standard office hours are Monday – Friday, 9 am – 5 pm. This role requires flexibility about one’s schedule and work hours, including occasional evening and weekend hours. As a salaried and exempt position, this role may occasionally require time spent outside of the standard work week in order to achieve deliverables.

Physical: This job operates in a professional open-floor office environment with a moderate level of noise associated with personal conversations and office machinery. You must be able to see, hear and talk and have the physical ability to move around, lift light objects, and use standard office equipment such as computers, photocopiers and filing cabinets.

OEC endeavors to increase all staff wages annually to account for cost of living as well as to recognize and honor experience gained over time. We review and adjust the organizational pay scale every 2-3 years. Employees can expect to move up in the range for their position’s pay grade as they gain more experience in their roles.

OEC offers a collaborative, team-oriented, flexible, family-friendly workplace. Excellent benefits include:

• Generous paid leave, including
  • 4 weeks of vacation (3 in first year)
  • Fridays off in August
  • Weekdays between Christmas and New Years
  • All state of Oregon observed holidays
  • 4 personal days
  • 12 sick days annually
• 401k contribution (up to 6% after the first year)
• Employer-paid medical and dental coverage for employee, with significant employer support for dependents’ coverage
• At OEC, you will learn a lot, laugh a lot, and feel great about helping Oregon communities become better, healthier places to live.