Assistant Vice President for Development

~ Founded by a handful of concerned citizens in 1901, the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests is now one of the country's most effective statewide land conservation organizations. ~

As a non-profit membership organization, the Forest Society is dedicated to protecting the state's most important landscapes while promoting the wise use of its renewable natural resources. 

Position Overview

The Assistant Vice President for Development is a senior position on the Forest Society’s Development Team and is responsible for raising the funds necessary to protect land, support the Forest Society’s reservation system, and cultivate the continued and consistent engagement of donors who first met us through land protection campaigns. The Assistant Vice President for Development reports to the Vice President for Development and supervises the Capital Campaign Manager.

Responsibilities

• Ensure major donors to land and reservation campaigns remain engaged and increase their giving over time to build a deeper base of donor support for the organization.
• Raise awareness of Forest Society reservations locally and statewide.
• Develop strategies to engage supporters around our reservations.
• Organize cultivation events (including hikes and other outdoor activities.
• Plan and implement fundraising strategies to raise support for our reservations, activities on our reservations, and other mission-driven work.
• Conduct prospect research using web-based sources and individual contacts.
• Engage program staff in case development and fundraising activities.
• Build and maintain relationships with individuals and businesses to expand the donor base supporting the stewardship of reservations and the Forest Society’s mission.
• Identify and cultivate major gift prospects.
• Prepare solicitation letters and proposals for support of our reservations.
• Conduct cultivation and solicitation visits alone, with staff, and with trustees.
• Conduct campaigns to support special projects on our reservations (approximately one or two major campaigns per year).
• Cultivate donors to increase their engagement with the Forest Society and their interest in other campaigns or general giving.
• Supervise the land campaign manager, who conducts fundraising campaigns for the acquisition of reservations and conservation easements.
• Participate in coordination of Development Committee and trustee engagement in fundraising activities.

Contributions/Outcomes:

• The Assistant Vice President for Development will continuously expand the donor and major donor base supporting the Forest Society, including continued cultivation of donors who first meet the Forest Society through a land protection campaign.
• Stewardship of these donors in close cooperation with others in development will be crucial to maintaining reliable funding for the organization.
• The Assistant Vice President for Development will raise the financial support necessary to fund public engagement on our reservations. Successfully completing special project and land-based fundraising campaigns is a vital source of financial support for the organization.

Qualifications

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in natural resources, communications, public relations, marketing or philanthropy.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in development and major gift solicitation.
• Demonstrated success at developing and implementing fundraising plans that achieve or exceed target.
• Excellent written and oral communications skills.
• Knowledge of natural resource and recreation management.
• Support for the Forest Society’s mission, including timber harvesting.
• The ability to seek and synthesize information from diverse sources.
• Attention to detail and the highest standards of excellence and confidentiality.
• Ability to hike and navigate outdoors alone and as a guide to others.
• Ability to perform in a team environment.
• Experience in a variety of low-impact outdoor recreation activities.
• Experience with web/social media-based outreach.
• Proficiency with Raisers Edge or other donor management software.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
• Valid driver’s license with proof of insurance.

Working Conditions:

• This position involves both office work and field work.
• The office work occurs in an environmentally sustainable building with shared office spaces and may include significant computer time at one sitting.
• The Assistant Vice President for Development will also facilitate off-site meetings with local constituent groups.
• The field work involves leading field tours of our reservations during all seasons, which may involve hiking rough trails carrying a day pack, canoeing/kayaking, and snowshoeing or cross-country skiing.
• Field work may also include participation in volunteer workdays, which may involve trail construction and maintenance, installing signage and trail markers, and other activities related to reservation management.
• This position requires statewide travel and occasional evening and weekend work.

Physical Requirements:

• The ability to sit at a computer for several hours duration.
• The fitness to walk 5 miles on uneven terrain (including non-technical mountain climbs) carrying up to 15 pounds in a day pack.
• The ability to lift 25 pounds.
• New Hampshire residency and valid NH driver’s license.

To Apply

Please click "Apply" below to upload your resume and cover letter to Maria Stewart. Please mention how you learned of this opening. No phone calls please.

~ The Forest Society is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer ~