Development Director

Solano Land Trust (SLT) owns over 10,000 acres of land which includes grazing lands, vernal pools and tidal and managed marshes.  SLT is supported by grants, grazing income, endowment income and support from City of Fairfield open space districts and Solano County (parks).  Our fundraising activities are designed to create long-term stability for SLT as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.  

Position Overview

The Development Director (DD) position was approved by the Board of Directors in late 2006 in recognition of the need for targeted fundraising.  Our current priority is to raise $2 million to endow Rush Ranch, our 2,070-acre property in the Suisun Marsh.  Over $700,000 has been raised in the past several years towards this goal.  In the future, SLT intends to raise money to endow all our properties.  With such an endowment, we will be better able to maintain and enhance habitats, improvements, public access, education and research.  

DD is a full-time position.  The DD collaborates with the Executive Director, Board of Directors and Development Committee to develop and execute fund-raising plans which include donor cultivation, event management, and fundraising initiatives to support Solano Land Trust's strategic plan.  The DD plays a leadership role in organizational development by working closely with the Executive Director, Board of Directors and program managers participating in the strategic planning process.

The DD reports directly to the Executive Director. The primary focus of the position is developing new funding sources for Board-approved revenue goals. The DD is responsible for identifying, cultivating, and obtaining new funding sources for Solano Land Trust (SLT) to ensure long-term sustainability.

Responsibilities:

The DD works with the Executive Director, Board of Directors, Development Committee, staff, and volunteers, to identify prospective donors, nurture relationships, and secure contributions of time, talent, and funding on behalf of the SLT.  The DD must enjoy meeting with people, cultivating relationships, identifying donor needs and priorities and how they mesh with Solano Land Trust's work.  The DD must be able to sustain a busy schedule of meeting with such donors, cultivating relationships and asking them for money.

Duties include, but are not limited to implementing new and existing strategies for:

• Donor Relations, including cultivation and retention 
• Annual Giving (including annual report)
• Major and Planned Gift Initiatives, including Business Partners in Conservation, Planned Giving (Bequests), Endowment and Capital Campaign(s)
• Fundraising and Cultivation Events
• Grants and Foundation Giving

Additional responsibilities include:

• Outreach and Marketing. The DD works to manage outreach and marketing projects as related to fund development. The DD participates in public relations, marketing, and advertising decisions and creates relevant content for SLT publications and communications, including the SLT Newsletter and website.
• Finance.  The DD participates in the annual budget process.
• Fund Development.  The DD manages the donor database including giving histories and recognition. The DD manages all gifts, including the acceptance, tracking, recognition and reporting of grants, planned gifts, gifts of stock, gifts in-kind, and all other donations. 
• Program Development.  The DD collaborates with the Executive Director and program managers to develop funding plans to support SLT programs.
• Organizational Development.  The DD assists the Executive and program managers in establishing systems that ensures continuity and efficiency.  The DD participates in the strategic planning process.

Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will have a significant record of success in the following areas related to fund-raising:

• Cultivating, asking and recognizing individual, family, foundation and corporate givers for major donations
• Planning and producing fund-raising / cultivation events
• Managing and maintaining fund-raising data bases
• Identifying and researching contribution potential of prospects
• Developing and implementing fund-raising campaign strategies
• Writing marketing and advertising materials, grant applications, brochures, invitations, website updates and other materials related to fund-raising

Desired abilities include:

• Good organizational and time management skills
• Proficient user of Microsoft office and fund-raising database programs (Donor Perfect online)
• Strong networking and interpersonal skills plus ability to "close", i.e., get potential givers to commit to donations
• Creativity and ability to work independently will be strongly valued

Bachelors Degree in business, psychology or other field preferred.

Knowledge of land preservation and management preferred.

Compensation: Salary is dependent on experience, not to exceed $60,000 for full time work.  Medical, dental and 403.b. retirement account, with SLT matching up to 2%.