What We Can Achieve Together

The Director of Development (DOD) oversees, plans, and implements a comprehensive program for The Nature Conservancy in Iowa that secures significant philanthropic resources from individuals, corporations, and foundations for conservation in Iowa and around the world. They must be inquisitive and self-motivated to learn domestic and global conservation strategies and become adept at linking the two. A demonstrable commitment to conservation will be a distinct advantage.

Based in Iowa, this position manages all major gifts functions, including planned giving, principal gifts, donor prospecting and research, and special multi-year fundraising campaigns. The DOD recruits, develops and inspires a staff of high-performing development professionals to manage and solicit current and prospective donors with the capacity to make major and principal-level gifts in support of domestic and global conservation priorities. The DOD is personally responsible for developing and managing a portfolio of donors capable of making six to seven-figure gifts over time.

They must be a strong and inspiring leader and experienced in program management, designing and executing complex donor strategies, and executing a comprehensive fundraising campaign. The DOD must be able to work in collaboration with conservation experts, high-level volunteers, and others across a dispersed and complex organization. They will model a commitment to teamwork, transparency, and accountability.

Essential Functions Include:

Fundraising Leadership

1. Serve on the Iowa Leadership Team and contribute to the formulation of key strategies for the Chapter.
2. Work with the Iowa Leadership Team and development staff to develop and communicate a vision and multi-year fundraising goals, and accountability to achieve these goals.
3. Work with the State Director to strengthen and engage the Board of Trustees in fundraising.
4. Serve as a member of the Great Plains Division Philanthropy team and collaborate with other Development leaders, Business Unit leaders, and Division staff to apply Divisional and organizational resources to Division conservation priorities.
5. Lead Chapter development efforts to raise funds in support of The Nature Conservancy’s Iowa program, division, and global conservation priorities.
6. Communicate, internally and externally, a broad vision for fundraising and local, regional, and international conservation success.
7. Foster collaboration with colleagues from the Conservancy’s Worldwide Office and with other field-based fundraising programs.
8. Focus on highest return activities aimed at achieving long-range strategic priorities that advance the Conservancy’s global mission.
9. Bring the donor's voice to leadership team discussions and ensure fundraising strategies and staff are consistently represented. 
10. Maintain a strong relationship with conservation and finance leadership in Iowa to ensure a collaborative understanding of sources and uses of funding, honoring donor intent.

Management and Mentoring

1. Lead, inspire, and manage the Iowa development team to achieve relationship-building and funding objectives, with a focus on major and principal gift functions and planned giving.
2. Set and meet fundraising objectives, evaluate results, and coach fundraisers on developing strategies.
3. Develop and administer budgets.
4. Recruit, develop, and retain high-performing development staff and nurture team collaboration.

The following attributes would enhance a candidate’s potential for success:

1. Considerable knowledge of and experience working in Iowa’s philanthropic communities and networks of social and professional relationships within it.
2. A deep appreciation for the mission of conservation and the capacity to communicate the Conservancy’s work and its relevance to the health of our environment, the economy and the well-being of people.
3. Experience working for a national, global and/or highly decentralized organization and within a complex management environment.
4. Ability to create a vision for, plan and lead a comprehensive fundraising program.
5. Successful experience working with donors leading Trustees and other volunteer fundraisers in major gift fundraising.
6. Experience in soliciting and closing six and seven figure gifts.
7. Experience leading teams and individuals, managing projects virtually, and collaborating with and influencing staff they do not directly supervise.
8. Experience in developing fundraising talent in professional staff and volunteers.

The DOD will travel frequently and on short notice, work long hours and weekends.  The work environment may involve infrequent exposure to disagreeable elements and minor physical exertion and/or strain.

We’re Looking for You:

Have you ever asked yourself, “How can I make a difference?”, but you don’t know where to go or have the time to do it? Welcome to The Nature Conservancy. 

You have found the solution and now you can pointedly make a difference every day! By joining our Iowa team, you will become part of a group that is a force for nature and people. Our team consists of a dedicated group who are leading the conservation effort on multiple fronts and who expertly bring strategy and action together.

We’re looking for an experienced fundraising professional, who excels at running a successful fundraising program, and who wants to make a difference. The Conservancy is a global conservation leader and one of the top fundraising charities in the United States.

What You’ll Bring:

1. Bachelor’s degree and 7 years related experience.
2. Experience asking for and closing major gifts of at least six figures.
3. Experience working with donors on, and securing, gifts of stock, real estate, and other tangible assets.
4. Experience building and maintaining long-term relationships with fundraising constituents such as major donors, foundations, and corporations.
5. Experience in planning and delivering budgetary responsibilities.
6. Experience managing and supervising a multidisciplinary team.
7. Experience, coursework, or other training in principles, practices, and procedures of charitable giving, particularly in the areas of capital campaigns, major gifts and planned giving.
8. Demonstrated strong communication skills, particularly writing and public presentations.
9. Valid driver’s license and safe driving record.

Desired Qualifications

1. Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
2. An appreciation for the mission of The Nature Conservancy and the facility to understand and communicate the work.
3. Experience conceiving and implementing strategic initiatives.
4. Experience working in a large, complex, not-for-profit environment.
5. Effective training skills. 
6. Effectively communicates via presentations, conversations, and documents. 
7. Experience in managing a geographically ...