Camp Fire Minnesota | Excelsior, MN
Salary Range: $80,000 - $85,000
Job Title: Development Director
Reports to: Vice President of Development & Communications
Classification: Exempt; Full-time (40 hours/week)
Location: Hybrid, with regular visits to our Excelsior location
Who we are
With nature as our catalyst, Camp Fire Minnesota energizes youth to discover their spark so their futures glow brighter. Youth spend 90% of their time indoors – and that was before COVID-19. Camp Fire Minnesota addresses this challenge by delivering culturally relevant, nature-based programs onsite at our camp property in Excelsior and throughout the community to thousands of youth from all backgrounds each year. We help youth “light their spark within” through summer and school break camps, environmental education & STEM classes for schools (in-person and virtual), and community-based out-of-school time nature programs. We are proud to offer inclusive and welcoming programs to youth in the community, including free and reduced rate programs and a scholarship program. As a result of their Camp Fire experience, 93% of youth report valuing nature and stewarding the environment.
Where we are headed
Camp Fire Minnesota envisions a future where every youth has access to nature-based experiences and learning. Recognizing the inequity in our field (both in the past and today), our 2024 - 2026 Strategic Plan outlines the steps and partnerships necessary to continue our work. The following two years, we are committed to actively listening and engaging with young people and our community to eliminate barriers to new experiences in nature while sharing our history, values, and vision for the future.. View our 2024-2026 Strategic Plan.
Statement of Inclusion
Camp Fire believes in the dignity and the intrinsic worth of every human being. We welcome, affirm, and support young people and adults of all abilities and disabilities, experiences, races, ethnicities, socio-economic backgrounds, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, religion and non-religion, citizenship and immigration status, and any other category people use to define themselves or others. We strive to create safe and inclusive environments that celebrate diversity and foster positive relationships. All are welcome at Camp Fire.
Position Overview
The Development Director will develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising plan that includes major gifts, corporate and foundation giving, planned giving, and special events. This involves identifying and cultivating major gift prospects, as well as corporate and foundation donors, and planning and executing special events that engage donors and raise funds for the organization. The Development Director must work closely with the Vice President of Development & Communications, President & CEO, and Board of Directors & Foundation Trustees to develop fundraising goals and strategies that align with the organization’s mission and values.
We’re looking for someone who is:
- Committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)
- Knowledgeable and/or passionate about community-centric fundraising
- Strong relationship builder
- Creative and visionary
- Skilled grant and appeal writer
- Committed and passionate about ensuring all young people have access to nature
Annual Fund Development
- Lead and develop alongside Vice President of Development & Communications Camp Fire Minnesota’s annual major gifts program, securing gifts to further the organization’s mission today and into the future.
- Collaborate with the Communications team to develop and execute effective donor communications and marketing materials.
- Engage Camp Fire Minnesota’s board of directors in the organization’s cultivation and development efforts.
- Oversee the organization's annual fund. Monitor and analyze fundraising data to evaluate performance and adjust strategies as needed.
- Coordinate donor engagement between the organization’s annual fund, capital campaign, and legacy fund.
- Utilize Raiser’s Edge to track visits, produce contact notes, and conduct appropriate constituent follow-up.
- Coordinate the gift entry and acknowledgment process with the Development & Database Manager to ensure timely recognition of gifts.
- Draft and coordinate individual donor solicitation and acknowledgement letters.
Events Management & Grant Writing
- Plan, execute, and lead special and annual events that engage donors and stakeholders that raise funds for the organization.
- Recruit, lead, and manage event committees and fundraising volunteer projects.
- Alongside Vice President of Development & Communications, write grant applications and reports and conduct prospect research on new opportunities that align with Camp Fire Minnesota’s mission.
- Work closely with Development & Database Manager and Vice President of Development & Communications to respond to requests for special reports, collaterals, and non-grant materials with a strategic perspective.
Capital Campaign & Planned Giving
- Support all Camp Fire Minnesota capital campaign efforts, including developing materials, identifying possible funding sources, and coordinating visits to the property.
- Support planned giving program, Spark Society, as needed.
DEI
- In collaboration with stakeholders, ensure all fundraising and marketing efforts are inclusive and equity focused.
- Support the five DEI subcommittees (financial access, racial diversity, gender and sexuality, ability, mental health, and neurodiversity, and cultural appropriation) including serving on at least one sub-committee.
- Learn and grow alongside Camp Fire team as we integrate Community Centric Fundraising into organizational practices.
Organizational Support:
- We run many programs throughout the year and during peak busy seasons, we ask all staff to support in various ways! This can mean you might help with the camp check-in process, greet guests at events, or other fun tasks.
- We are looking for someone who brings a collaborative spirit and is excited to support our mission-based work when needed!
- Maintain a working knowledge of all Camp Fire’s programs and projects.
- Act as donor concierge, providing excellent customer service.
- Performs other duties as required.
Experience and Qualifications:
- 3+ years of fundraising, sales, or marketing experience.
- Attention to detail, project management, and ability to organize tasks.
- Proven track record of meeting sales and development goals.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Experience measuring data and outcomes of events to determine marketing effectiveness.
- Strong computer skills including demonstrated experience with Microsoft Office Word, Excel, Outlook, SharePoint. Experience with Raiser’s Edge or a similar customer relationship management system, a plus.
- Ability to comfortably adjust from working independently to a team-based environment.
- Experience in a non-profit, nature-based and/or youth learning organization, a plus.
Salary and Benefits
Salary range $80,000 to $85,000 based on experience. Competitive benefits package, including 3% retirement contribution and sabbatical policy.
Location & Work Environment: Combination of remote + on-site. Our camp property is located at 3300 Tanadoona Dr, Excelsior, MN 55331 and is an open, coworking environment. Employee will also need accessible transportation to attend meetings and events as needed across the Twin Cities metro.
Application Instructions
Please submit resume, cover letter or video, appeal and/or grant writing sample, and three professional references to: hr@campfiremn.org and include “Development Director” in the subject line.
Posting will remain open until filled.
Camp Fire Minnesota is strongly committed to addressing environmental justice.
We encourage candidates with diverse experiences and backgrounds, Black, Indigenous and People of Color, LGBTQIA2S individuals, and unemployed persons to apply. Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Camp Fire we are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job and someone who is committed to our mission and values. We encourage you to apply, even if you don’t believe you meet every one of our qualifications described.