Job  Board

About The Wetlands Initiative Wetlands were long thought to be useless, ugly, and untamable, worthy of being drained and filled for agriculture and other human activities. The world knows better now. And The Wetlands Initiative knows how to bring them back. Founded in 1994, the Wetlands Initiative (TWI) designs, restores, and creates wetlands. With a current project portfolio across Illinois and Indiana, TWI innovates, collaborates, and employs sound science to improve water quality, habitat for plants, wildlife, and our climate. The organization’s work at the Dixon Waterfowl Refuge at Hennepin & Hopper Lakes helped the site be designated as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance, one of only 39 in the United States and one of the very few to be primarily a restoration project. At the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, TWI is part of an award-winning public-private partnership with the U.S. Forest Service on the largest prairie restoration effort east of the Mississippi River and the largest protected open space in the Chicago metro area. There, TWI has restored more than 2,000 acres of high-quality wetlands and prairies, with another 2,000 acres now undergoing restoration through an ambitious multi-million-dollar push to “finish” the huge site’s west side. Meanwhile TWI is working to help solve the Midwest’s farm nutrient-runoff problem, collaborating with the agriculture sector on carefully placed treatment wetlands on working farms. A Compelling Case for Fundraising Growth Framed by a strategic plan taking the organization to 2025, TWI is now tackling exciting new projects across the Calumet region in both Southeast Chicago and Northwest Indiana. Along the West Branch of the Little Calumet River TWI is helping lead a diverse group of collaborators including Audubon Great Lakes, Indiana’s Lake County Parks and Recreation Department, the Nature Conservancy of Indiana, and the City of Gary in turning a huge floodwater detention corridor into a natural and scenic asset for communities that have historically been excluded from this work. Around the remnant Lake Calumet on Chicago’s Southeast Side, TWI is collaborating with the Chicago Park District, Audubon Great Lakes, and the Nature Conservancy of Illinois on long-dreamed-of restorations at Indian Ridge Marsh, Deadstick Pond, Square Marsh, and more. TWI’s portfolio of work, recognition of the organization’s role in successful large projects, and its range of recent collaborations reflect a period of significant growth, with more planned. The organization’s new Director of Development and Communications will play a crucial role in this work, helping build a public profile and donor base that will help the organization expand its capacity and reach. Position Overview Top candidates for the Director of Development and Communications will be passionate about the organization’s mission and will combine their fundraising experience with creativity and entrepreneurial energy. The role is a mix of hands-on work and organizational strategy building, so strong relationship-building and interpersonal skills will be as important as attention to detail and sound judgment. Reporting to and collaborating with the Executive Director, the Director of Development and Communications spearheads all of TWI’s fundraising and branding-awareness efforts. The new Director will be a partner to the Executive Director, a thought leader in widening the organization’s public profile, and a growth strategist. Seeking new donors and Board growth and diversification will be priorities, and potential large fundraising efforts may be on the horizon. At the same time, success in managing direct reports and in hands-on work will be needed. The successful candidate for this position will:

• Show a breadth of hands-on fundraising experience that will support successful implementation across all areas of development and oversight of staff responsibilities
• Embrace communications and brand awareness as an extension of development strategies to broaden the donor base and expand partnerships
• Demonstrate the ability to collaborate within a fundraising team and cross-functionally
• Build genuine relationships with a wide diversity of stakeholders, from donors to wetlands neighbors
• Be an open communicator, ready with ideas while open to other possibilities
• Have a genuine passion and a history of engagement in conservation or the environment, personally or professionally.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities Strategic Thinking and Planning

• Create and implement an annual development and communications plan
• Using the strategic plan as a guide, develop and track metrics for fundraising success
• Collaborate with Executive Director and staff to set fundraising goals, supported by data
• Collaborate with program staff to identify funding needs and identify and pursue funding opportunities
• Provide strategy for, lead, and oversee TWI’s brand awareness and communications activities

Leading Development Staff and Development and Communications Committee

• Work closely with and support the board Development and Communications Committee as well as a director recruitment/engagement committee now being formalized, and any future capital-campaign committee
• Collaborate with staff and board to build portfolios of donor prospects and donors
• Supervise and support the Grants Manager, Development Associate (to be hired), and contractual social media manager, including providing assistance, expertise, and professional development as well as managing workload and priorities
• Monitor grant reports and allocations in partnership with Grants Manager and Finance and Operations Manager
• Hire and manage vendors as needed to support and develop communications and donor strategies, including PR campaigns and TWI’s annual report

Fundraising, Communications, and Brand Awareness

• Grow annual unrestricted contributed revenue to continue its successful path toward exceeding $1M by 2025 fiscal year
• Carry a portfolio of major donor prospects and donors and support staff and board in cultivating and stewarding their portfolios
• Implement communications and brand-awareness strategies and tasks, hiring and supervising vendors as needed
• Serve as point of contact for media and public inquiries
• Implement development strategies and tasks hands-on as needed including annual direct mail and e-appeals and other donor communications
• Steward the existing individual and institutional donor base while identifying and cultivating prospective donors
• Create and implement TWI’s planned-giving program and recruit initial bequest commitments
• Ensure quality control over data entry in the organization’s donor/prospect database
• Develop and execute fundraising and cultivation events, hiring and supervising vendors as needed
• Work closely with the Finance and Operations Manager to ensure the accurate recording and reporting of gifts and grants including tracking annual results in real time
• Other relevant duties as assigned

First 90 Days

• Collaborate with the Board on engagement and diversifying recruitment
• Hire the new Development Associate
• Migrate to a new CRM (Constituent Relationship Management)
• Design and oversee the creation of the annual report

The Director of Development and Communications will ensure that all development transactions and communications are conducted with a high level of integrity consistent with the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ Code of Ethical Principles and Standards, including proper stewardship of all donor funds which includes recognition and execution of all donor restrictions accepted by the organization.  Qualifications Top candidates will have at least seven years’ progressive experience in nonprofit fundraising with demonstrated success in:

• Identifying and soliciting individual donors
• Supervising full- and part-time staff
• Planning and executing fundraising events
• Creating print and online communications
• Developing and implementing marketing and/or PR strategies
• Managing and using fundraising CRMs (Constituent Relationship Management)
• Balancing big picture thinking and detailed hands-on work

Experience in the environmental/conservation sector at the local or regional level is preferred but not required. Some local and regional travel will be required, for which the ability to drive a car and a valid driver’s license will be necessary. A personal vehicle is not required. Compensation and Benefits TWI offers a competitive benefits package that includes:

• Paid holidays, personal days, vacation, and sick days
• 85% employer paid health, dental, and vision insurance for employees
• Hybrid work schedule/flex time
• Strong commitment to professional development
• 403(b)-retirement plan with employer match
• Life Insurance
• Short Term Disability Insurance

This position is in TWI’s offices in Chicago’s Loop, with some work-from-home flexibility and local/regional travel. The salary range for this position is $100,000-$105,000. Compensation is commensurate with experience. The Wetlands Initiative is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, veteran status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, or marital status. Increasing diversity of all kinds at the staff and board levels is an organizational priority.

Instructions for Applicants

Please complete the application form at bit.ly/TWIrecruitment and upload your resume and a cover letter that describes your experience for this position. We encourage you to highlight your interest in The Wetlands Initiative's mission, including your genuine passion and history of professional or personal engagement in conservation, or the environment. Recruitment will continue until the position is filled. We ask that you complete the application form, but you may direct any application-related questions or needs to executive search consultant, Rebekah Silverman, Vice President, Ter Molen Watkins & Brandt, rsilverman@twbfundraising.com. All inquiries and questions are held confidentially.