Director of Major Giving- Central Virginia

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation seeks a Director of Major Giving -Central Virginia in the Development Department to be based out of CBF’s Richmond, VA office.

Established in 1967, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) is the largest regional nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to saving the Chesapeake Bay, its rivers and streams, and the wildlife that call it home through education, advocacy, litigation, and restoration. Since 2010, CBF has engaged in a focused effort to defend and implement the Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint, a binding federal and state collaborative agreement aimed at reducing pollution to the science-based, legally-affirmed levels established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Blueprint is expected to be fully implemented by 2025. If the states and the federal government achieve Blueprint goals, the Bay will finally—after decades of failed efforts—be removed from the Clean Water Act’s impaired waters list. Successfully implementing the Blueprint depends on a well-informed, engaged, active, and diverse constituency of members, advocates, and volunteers who speak up and take action to save the Bay.

CBF has a staff of approximately 210 employees working in offices in Annapolis, Maryland; Richmond and Virginia Beach, Virginia; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and Washington, D.C. as well as 15 field education program locations. Our staff and volunteer corps work throughout the region educating students and adults, advocating for clean water policies, restoring waterways, and litigating when necessary. 

CBF's headquarters office in Annapolis, Maryland is the Philip Merrill Environmental Center, the world’s first U.S. Green Build Council’s LEED platinum building. In 2014, CBF opened the Brock Environmental Center—one of the world’s most energy efficient, environmentally smart buildings—in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

CBF has an annual budget of approximately $30 million and is supported by over 300,000 members and e-subscribers. For more information on CBF, please visit cbf.org.

DEPARTMENT DESCRIPTION

The mission of Development is to provide finan­cial resources for CBF to meet its long-term vision of saving the Bay. It establishes and implements strategies to motivate donors to contribute to the organization’s programs and projects through two primary areas of activity: development and membership

CONTEXT OF THE POSITION

Reporting to the Director of Development, the Director of Major Giving seeks private funding support for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s (CBF) annual operating needs and campaign initiatives by focusing on the donor base in central Virginia with an emphasis primarily on donors giving $10,000 or more annually. Function as a collaborative member of the Development department and the Major Gift team.

Essential functions include:

1. Seek private funding support for annual operating needs and campaign initiatives.

• Manage a portfolio of donors and prospects capable of making major gift commitments at the $25,000 plus level with a focus on securing new and increased gifts and pledges of $10,000 or more annually. Direct fundraising comprises approximately 80% of the Director’s time.
• Work with the Research & Prospect Management (RPM) and Mid-Level Giving teams to ensure ongoing development of the Virginia portfolio. This includes an emphasis on conducting discovery visits and calls to qualify potential donors and determine capacity and inclination to give.
• Work with the Associate Director of Planned Giving to manage and engage planned giving prospects and donors, ensuring blended solicitations wherever possible.
• Lead the strategy to cultivate and solicit foundation donors and prospects in the region, preparing proposals, reports, and all other grant requirements.
• Develop, solicit, and steward key corporate partners at the major giving level and identify sponsorship opportunities for CBF events.
• Meet annually defined portfolio goals for visits, discovery work, and other key indicators.
• Act as a source of knowledge related to CBF programs and the organization’s impact on the Chesapeake Bay. Identify suitable matches between CBF programs and a donor’s interests and funding objectives.
• Engage donors and prospects in events and field activities as part of the cultivation and stewardship process.
• Follow established procedures and policies related to data capture within the CRM.
• Travel as necessary throughout the region, identifying and prioritizing key areas of support and prospective donors.
• Serve as an effective and recognized representative of CBF in Virginia.

• Work closely with Development and Virginia Office leadership and staff to develop overall fundraising plans for the region while designing strategies for specific donors that may include engagement with field programs, educational experiences, and access to the Virginia Executive Director to engage top donors and prospects.
• Support colleagues in CBF’s other regional offices (Hampton Roads, Washington, DC, Maryland, and Pennsylvania) to cultivate and steward donors.
• Work with volunteers in the region to identify prospective donors in their networks that ultimately help develop and expand the footprint of support for CBF in Virginia.

• Facilitate outreach events in central Virginia working with appropriate Development staff. Events are to educate and cultivate prospects and steward members and donors.
• Promote local CBF activities and accomplishments to donors and prospects to strengthen the CBF brand.
• Develop an understanding of local and state environmental concerns and be able to articulate CBF’s position and statement of need.

PREFERRED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree and 5-7 years fundraising experience required.
• Experience managing a portfolio of high-net-worth individuals, including prospect identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Demonstrated success securing six-figure gifts.
• Proficiency using MS Office products and Salesforce or an equivalent CRM database.
• Position requires travel mainly in central Virginia to include the areas of Richmond, Charlottesville, Fredericksburg, and the Northern Neck with travel to Northern Virginia when necessary. Position will require occasional trips to CBF’s headquarters in Annapolis, MD as well as periodic overnight travel.
• Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skill required.
• Ability to work as a collaborative and supportive member of a fundraising team.
• Time management skills needed to handle multiple, concurrent projects.

PREFERRED:

• Experience with volunteer structures such as advisory councils, campaign committees, or the equivalent.
• Experience working with donors on planned giving opportunities.
• Experience in a mission driven, environmental advocacy and educational organization is desirable.

• Ability to communicate effectively with people from diverse backgrounds and experiences. Ability to receive and give supportive feedback to foster equity and inclusion in working relationships.
• Ability to recognize, nurture, and learn from strengths in co-workers.
• Having flexibility to accomplish job responsibilities in several work environments, whether it be from home, on the road, or in an office.

Salary Range:  $83,000 - $87,000

This job will remain open until filled. 

CBF offers a comprehensive benefits package to include: 20 vacation days, 10 sick days, 2 floating holidays, health, vision, dental, life insurance, and a 403(b) retirement plan with matching contribution. 

WE ARE COMMITTED TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND JUSTICE

Just as biodiversity is the key to a thriving ecosystem, human diversity is the key to saving the Bay. Success depends on people from widely diverse backgrounds, cultures, ethnicities, identities, and races taking collective action. Clean water, clean air, and a safe environment are rights we all share.

To increase diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation will:

• Recruit and retain a staff, board, and membership that reflect the diversity of people living within the Chesapeake Bay region;
• Strengthen and broaden the diversity of our partnerships;
• Celebrate and value the diversity of staff; and
• Fight to ensure that everyone has equal access to clean water, clean air, and a safe environment.

CBF is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.