Development Director

Summary

This is a posting for a full-time, exempt Development Director for the Tuolumne River Trust (TRT), a river and watershed conservation organization. The Development Director will oversee the planning and implementation of a comprehensive fundraising plan to increase and diversify TRT’s base of support to protect and restore the Tuolumne River.

Information

The Tuolumne River Trust is staffed by committed people who want to see the Tuolumne River and its surrounding communities thrive. The Development Director will be central to the success of the Trust by increasing our ability to raise money to drive organizational impact through membership, major gifts, private and government grants, online presence, special events, and planned giving. This individual will report to the Executive Director and work closely with the Finance Director, Communications Manager, program staff, and the Board of Directors to create and implement our development plan and reach our fundraising goals. This is a great opportunity to join a fun, energetic team working to take an organization with a successful forty-year history to the next level.

The ideal candidate is an experienced fundraiser with a passion for protecting and improving river health, an understanding of environmental science, and a skilled manager.

Equity at TRT

TRT holds a deep commitment to equity, inclusion, diversity, and access as core principles integral to the work we do. As we add new members across all levels of the organization, we welcome diverse perspectives and lived experiences that foster learning, creativity, innovation, and equity. To read our DEIA Vision & Values statement, visit https://www.tuolumne.org/about-us.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead the development program, including supervision of two direct reports (with potential to add more employees); organization-wide fundraising, marketing, and communications;
• Develop and implement an annual fundraising plan to meet budget goals;
• Track and report on progress through quarterly fundraising reports for the Board of Directors;
• Conduct data analysis on fundraising program activities, including annual membership and major donor analyses and reporting;
• Plan and implement a direct mail program (membership renewals and seasonal appeals);
• Manage membership program including a lapsed donor win-back initiative;
• Manage the major donor program, including weekly team meetings, solicitation of gifts of five- to six-figures, weekly communications with donors, and other associated activities;
• Oversee a comprehensive grant program, including researching foundations, corporate, and government grant opportunities; cultivating funder relations; writing and editing proposals; and working with program staff to meet proposal and reporting deadlines;
• Grow endowment and legacy giving portfolio;
• In collaboration with the Communications Manager, oversee the Trust’s online presence to ensure consistent messaging and marketing across all programs;
• Work with cross-functional team to develop stories, data-driven design, website copy, and stakeholder reports. Coordinate and write stakeholder communications, including tri-annual newsletter, major donor correspondence, direct mail appeals, and membership materials;
• Supervise planning and coordination of fundraising and membership/major donor events. This includes an annual peer-to-peer fundraising event, and other one-off activities, both virtual and in-person;
• Work with the Finance Department to ensure accurate data tracking and reporting procedures. Collaborate with the Finance Director to complete quarterly reconciliation of CRM with general ledger;
• Work collaboratively with colleagues in promoting the goals and objectives of the organization, including DEIA priorities;
• Build the Trust’s financial capacity to ensure the long-term health of the watershed;
• Other duties as they arise.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have a background and track record that includes:

• Bachelor’s Degree;
• 3 years of development experience in a non-profit organization, including experience with individual donor solicitations (i.e. “making an ask”);
• Demonstrated experience leading a team to reach set performance objectives;
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to compellingly articulate the Trust’s mission and work to different external audiences;
• Demonstrated ability to establish and cultivate relationships with people from different backgrounds and perspectives;
• Strong computer skills and familiarity with membership/donor databases/CRM;
• Commitment to the long-term success of Tuolumne River Trust and environmental conservation;
• Highly organized and detail-oriented;
• Experience working independently with minimal supervision;
• Team player.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience raising major gifts
• Demonstrated experience creating fundraising plans and tracking progress toward financial goals;
• High energy level, positive attitude, flexible, self-motivated, and self-confident;

Location and Travel

Candidates are ideally located in the San Francisco Bay Area or Stanislaus County. Bay Area-based candidates can expect to work remotely. Stanislaus County-based candidates can work in TRT’s Modesto office or remotely. Tuolumne County-based candidates will also be considered with the option to work in TRT’s Sonora office.

As Covid pandemic concerns continue to recede, periodic travel to board and staff meetings and meetings with donors is anticipated. Travel will primarily be to Bay Area locations, or locations in Stanislaus and Tuolumne Counties. Travel expenses are reimbursed. Proof of a valid US Drivers’ License and insurance will be requested at the time of employment.

Additional Details

The successful candidate will have over a month of overlap with our outgoing Director of Partnerships for training. The base salary for candidates who meet the basic qualifications and experience listed above is $80,000, but will be adjusted upward based on more extensive qualifications and experience. Candidate’s location (i.e. Bay Area-based) will also be considered in salary. TRT provides excellent benefits including medical, dental, vision, chiropractic care, life insurance, matched retirement, training, generous paid time off, parental leave, and a flexible schedule.

TRT is an equal opportunity employer. We believe that a diverse staff of qualified, highly-skilled, and creative individuals is necessary to achieve the vision and mission of the initiative. We welcome and encourage applications from candidates who can contribute to the diversity of our workforce across a range of dimensions.

To Apply

Initial review of applicants will be done through an anonymized process with names and addresses removed. Please send an email with cover letter and resume as attachments with subject heading “Development Director” to jobs@tuolumne.org.

The first review of applications will be on 5/9/2022. Screening phone calls will occur between 5/9/2022-5/13/2022, and interviews will be scheduled between 5/16/2022-5/20/2022 and may include two rounds of interviews. Our ideal start date is June 6, 2022. This position will remain open until a candidate has been selected.

Tuolumne River Trust Background

The Tuolumne River Trust promotes the stewardship of the Tuolumne River and its tributaries to ensure a healthy watershed, from Yosemite National Park through the San Joaquin Valley and to the San Francisco Bay-Delta. Founded in 1981, the Trust is the only organization working throughout the watershed, linking Sierra and Valley conservation issues and forging strong ties between rural mountain and valley regions and Bay Area urban communities. The Trust has an annual core budget of approximately a million dollars, 8 employees, a cadre of consultants, and offices in San Francisco, Modesto, and Sonora.

TRT programs include: a) participation in the relicensing of the Don Pedro Dam, which regulates stream flows in the lower Tuolumne River, and the Bay Delta Water Quality Control Plan update to ensure improved river flows for fish and wildlife in the lower Tuolumne River, b) restoration of floodplains, riparian forests, and other habitat along the lower Tuolumne River, and conifer forests, meadows, and streams in the Sierra Nevada, c) improving water management policies in the Bay Area and Central Valley to support river restoration goals while supporting healthy economies and communities, d) building public support for watershed stewardship by connecting the public to the River through education and outreach, and e) educating schoolchildren about the importance of the Tuolumne River to our region.

By linking mountain, valley, and Bay Area conservation issues, and connecting people to the river through outings and education, the Trust is building broad support for watershed stewardship. Our strategic approach melds advocacy, education, collaboration, scientific inquiry, and litigation when necessary to address threats and take advantage of conservation and restoration opportunities. For more information about the Tuolumne River Trust, visit: www.tuolumne.org.