Minnesota Land Trust | Saint Paul, MN
Salary Range: $130,000 - $155,000
The Minnesota Land Trust is seeking a Director of Development who will help secure the resources needed to protect and restore Minnesota’s natural spaces and engage the next generation in the outdoors. The Minnesota Land Trust has grown significantly in the past five years and is poised to enter another period of growth. Our work over three decades of protecting and restoring Minnesota’s pristine lands and waters is expanding to address climate change and deepen the connection of all Minnesotans to the outdoors. The growth in our programs and organization relies in part on a thriving development strategy.
The Director of Development will cultivate a culture of philanthropy that steadily grows the pool of donors who feel a connection to the Land Trust mission. The Director will develop a comprehensive development strategy that can raise $2 million annually and that will build on that success year over year. The Director is a member of the Land Trust’s Senior Leadership Team and oversees a department staff of experienced and dedicated professionals. The Director will work closely with our CEO to leverage existing relationships and follow up on opportunities to build new connections with donors.
This full-time position is based in our St. Paul office and offers a flexible work schedule. The salary range is $130,000 – $155,000 annually. Benefits include 100% employer-paid medical coverage for individuals and 25% employer contribution for dependent coverage; employer-paid long-term disability and life insurance; optional dental, vision, and other benefits. The Land Trust has a retirement match of up to 2% in a 401k or Roth that is immediately vested. We offer 15 days of vacation for new employees, paid sick time, 11 paid holidays, 2 floating holidays, and paid sabbatical for long-term employees.
Ensuring that nature thrives in Minnesota. For everyone. Forever.
Summary of Position:
The Director of Development cultivates a culture of philanthropy for the Minnesota Land Trust that steadily grows the pool of donors who feel a connection to the Land Trust mission. The Director develops and leads a comprehensive strategy to achieve the annual and long-term goals for contributed revenue. The Director secures major gifts from donors and maintains a portfolio of donors with whom they regularly connect to deepen the donors’ connections to the Land Trust.
The Director of Development leads the Development Department, aligning the work of the department with the development strategy. The Director creates an effective team and collaborates with other departments to identify opportunities to match current program work with donor interests. The Director is a valued member of the Minnesota Land Trust’s Leadership Team and provides strategic input on the overall direction of the organization and its mission.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ):
All employees of the Minnesota Land Trust are expected to embrace the ideals of our DEIJ plan and incorporate our DEIJ goals into their ongoing work. All employees should be familiar with the current DEIJ plan.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Build relationships with donors that result in significant gifts: 40%
The Director develops overall major donor strategy and partners with the CEO and others on the execution of that strategy. Within this strategy, the Director maintains their own portfolio of high-potential donors and actively solicits gifts. In particular, the Director will:
Identify, cultivate, and solicit significant ($10K+) gifts from individuals using in-person presentations, donor tours and events, written proposals and effective follow-up.
Research prospects and maintain contact history on donors to build donor profiles.
Identify opportunities to cultivate planned gifts/bequests.
Support the CEO’s fundraising capacity: work closely with the CEO to manage a portfolio of key donors and create effective proposals that target donors’ interests.
Lead special fundraising efforts, including capital or comprehensive campaigns.
Design and oversee overall annual fund strategy: 30%
The Director leads the strategy for meeting annual goals for contributed revenue and works closely with the Associate Director of Development, CEO, and others on its implementation.
With the CEO and Director of Finance and Operations, develop the fundraising goals for the annual operating budget that build towards the Land Trust’s five-year vision for development revenue.
Oversee a robust individual giving program: work with the development team to create an annual plan to successfully secure donations through multiple channels and campaigns.
Use data to identify trends and opportunities to increase the number and size of gifts.
Direct donor research using existing database and donor history as well as cost-effective tools to expand the Land Trust’s pool of donors.
Oversee foundation grants: work with Land Trust staff to ensure strong applications are regularly submitted to funders, meet with funders as requested to develop focused proposals, ensure progress and final reports are submitted per grant guidelines.
Cultivate corporate revenue channel: identify sponsorship opportunities and create effective proposals to secure corporate gifts, ensure matching gift programs and other giving opportunities are maximized.
Build revenue growth strategy to meet 5-year forecasts.
Develop an expanded and effective planned giving program.
Effectively leverage other Land Trust staff to build relationships with existing and prospective donors.
Support events, campaigns, and other special fundraising efforts: 20%
The Director supports events and special fundraising efforts that are undertaken by the Land Trust, including the annual gala, capital or comprehensive campaigns, or other long-range fundraising strategies.
Advise and collaborate with the Associate Director to ensure a successful Minnesota Made event: work with event staff to develop the theme of MN Made that will inspire attendees, identify and secure lead givers for the Giving Moment, and implement a strategy to reach attendance goals.
Strategically design effective smaller events to engage new donors and steward existing donors.
Monitor the return on investment for events: oversee the budget for events, being mindful of the financial ‘net’ for events.
Evaluate the viability of proposed special appeals or campaigns: provide expertise to CEO and Board of Directors in the development of special campaigns or appeals.
Manage the work of outside consultants: As appropriate, partner with consultants to explore fundraising campaigns that complement existing strategies, provide donor information, give input on proposed fundraising strategies, and identify potential opportunities for one-time gifts.
Develop and manage the Board of Directors’ fundraising capacity: 5%
The Director cultivates a culture of philanthropy with the Board of Directors (present and past).
Support the work of the Development Committee: serve as staff liaison for the committee and work collaboratively with the Development Chair.
Maintain a development dashboard to clearly communicate development goals and progress to the board.
Support board recruitment efforts to ensure high-capacity donors have a place on the board.
Meet individually with each board member to secure their annual contribution, leverage their networks, and identify areas of interest that may yield special gifts beyond their annual amount.
Develop and implement strategies for engaging former board members as a unique donor group.
Oversee donor communications: 5%
The Director ensures compelling content is created to engage current donors and expand the donor database.
Work with Marketing/Communications staff to execute an annual communication plan for development efforts, including creating a schedule for the year of compelling content that is designed to inspire charitable giving.
Develop annual appeal strategy: execute a minimum of 3 annual fundraising appeals that deliver an impactful message to targeted audiences. Analyze metrics that track effectiveness of annual appeals and make adjustments to continually improve results.
Ensure all donor communications reflect the Land Trust’s values for high quality writing, images and graphic design.
Preferred Skills and Experience:
A bachelor’s degree and at least 5 years of experience that demonstrates revenue development in either a fundraising or sales environment OR similar combination of education and experience.
Excellent interpersonal and relationship building skills and ability to work collaboratively.
Demonstrated success in securing major gifts of at least five figures.
Ability to lead and empower a team whereby each individual thrives and excels.
Goal-driven and self-directed with a high degree of initiative.
Excellent planning and organizing skills, demonstrated project management experience.
Strong writing and communication skills.
Proficient in donor data management and reporting.
Understanding of and commitment to the Land Trust’s mission.
Ability to work with a wide variety of individuals, including staff, Board of Directors, and volunteers.
Ability to work evenings and weekends as necessary.
Physical Demands:
Office duties to be performed at a desk and at a computer.
Ability to attend events, tours, and other indoor and outdoor engagements with donors.
Supervisor: Chief Executive Officer
Classification: Full time, Exempt
Location: St. Paul, MN (Hybrid)
To Apply:
To apply, please email a cover letter and resume combined as a single PDF to Sue Martinez at smartinez@mnland.org. Position open until filled. We will begin reviewing applications December 4, 2023.
Minnesota Land Trust is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Company will not discriminate because of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, genetic information, sex, disability, age, or any other status protected by state or local law, for employees who fall within the jurisdiction of such law.