Development Director

Established in 1966, Riverkeeper is a member-supported watchdog organization dedicated to defending the Hudson River and its tributaries and protecting the drinking water supply of nine million New York City and Hudson Valley residents. 

Riverkeeper is among the nation's oldest and most respected environmental organizations and, in the past year alone, has driven major achievements with national significance, including settlements requiring clean up of one of the largest oil spill in American history, new regulations reducing impacts on marine habitat by industrial facilities and power plant nationwide, and remediation of hazardous sites throughout New York City and the Hudson Valley. 

Riverkeeper is also a founding organization in an international movement comprising over 200 waterkeepers, worldwide [for more information, visit Riverkeeper]. 

Position Overview: 

Riverkeeper seeks a Development Director who can harness this tradition of excellence in program achievement through the planning and implementing of successful strategies for major donor, foundation, membership, corporate and government fundraising, and who also can build and sustaining endowment, planned and capital giving campaigns at Riverkeeper. 

The successful candidate will be an energetic, inspiring and creative fundraiser with a proven record of success in personally cultivating and securing support from all of the above donor categories and in managing special events including annual galas.  The successful candidate will also have a strong track record of working collaboratively with boards of directors, executive leadership, development teams, vendors and consultants.   

The position is ideal for an experienced professional with superb organizational, written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills who cares about environmental issues, understands and has achieved excellence in fundraising, and is looking for a high profile assignment.  The Development Director will be supported by an outstanding team of fundraising professionals, an Executive Director who enthusiastically embraces his fundraising work, and a prestigious and committed Board of Directors.

Responsibilities:

The Development Director is a key member of the Riverkeeper management team who will:

• Lead all fundraising efforts, including annual planning and attainment of progressively-increasing goals for major giving, foundation, membership, corporate and government fundraising, as well as annual and capital giving, special projects, and special events.
• Identify, cultivate and solicit major donors for annual giving and special campaign needs, independently and in tandem with board members, the Executive Director and fellow staff.
• Orchestrate all aspects of Riverkeeper's membership program, including annual planning, programs for retention and increased giving, membership mailings and special appeals, targeted mailings, workplace giving, cultivation events, etc.
• Lead all aspects of corporate, foundation and government giving by present and potential donors, and collaborate with program staff in order to provide for special project-related giving.
• Supervise fundraising, celebratory and cultivation events including Riverkeeper's Annual Dinner Dance for 750-plus VIP guests.
• Envision, develop and manage all aspects of endowment, planned giving and capital campaigns, including research, cultivation, presentations, educational materials, promotional arrangements, special events, etc.
• Oversee outreach and public awareness efforts, through a spectrum of activities that will engage members, volunteers and communities.
• Manage development staff to help them achieve both program goals and personal growth; provide for timely reports, acknowledgments and other donor recognition measures, database updates, fundraising analysis and all needed development-related assistance to the Executive Director, program teams and Board of Directors.

Working Relationships:

Reporting to Riverkeeper's Executive Director, the Development Director manages 4 staff members responsible for major giving, events, foundation grants, membership, outreach and marketing.  Support from other Riverkeeper staff members and outside consultants is also provided. 

Qualifications:

• A minimum of 7 years of fundraising experience, with a proven record of success in securing contributions from major donors, foundations, members, corporations, and government sources.
• A history of meeting revenue objectives scaling to Riverkeeper's own $5 million annual goal.
• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills.
• Proven management and leadership capabilities, including the ability to inspire and communicate effectively with a broad range of colleagues and supporters.
• Excellent organizational skills, including research, planning, reporting and program coordination, computer literacy and experience with fundraising databases.
• Passion for environmental issues; familiarity with Riverkeeper's work is desirable, as well.

Compensation: Competitive; based on experience

Location: The Development Director will work from the Riverkeeper office in Ossining, directly adjacent to Metro North and 48 minutes from Grand Central Station. 

Last day to apply: Friday, January 14, 2011.   

To Apply:

Please submit your resume, cover letter and references. Please write: Development Director in the subject line.  Phone calls and faxes will not be accepted.

Riverkeeper is AA/EEO employer. People of diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.