Development Director

~ Conservation Colorado is committed to protecting our lands, air, water, and communities to keep Coloradans healthy and protect the Colorado way of life we know and love. We achieve these goals by organizing people and electing conservation-minded policymakers. ~

Conservation Colorado’s reflects our commitment to racial and social justice. We work closely with policy leaders, citizen activists, businesses and other conservation nonprofits, and have built a reputation as one of the leading conservation advocacy organizations in the country. Within the organization, we aim to create a workplace culture and policies and practices that demonstrate our values of equity and inclusion.

Position Overview

Conservation Colorado is seeking a Development Director based in Denver who will be responsible for raising $4M – $6M annually to help protect Colorado’s lands, air, water, and communities.

The Development Director is a key part of the executive team raising the necessary money so we can continue to grow and win our campaigns.

What You’ll Do

As Conservation Colorado’s staff and budget have grown, creating new & innovative fundraising strategies for Conservation Colorado (a 501(c)(4)), Conservation Colorado Education Fund (a 501(c)(3)), and our various political committees, has become more critical. This position oversees a team of three and reports to the Executive Director and has these areas of responsibility.

Individual, Corporate & Foundation Fundraising

• Develop strategies to diversify our donor base in the areas of age, race, and geography.
• Meet with major donors, corporations, and foundations to secure gifts of $10,000 or above.
• Create strategies in close conjunction with other departments, board, and development team to ensure our highest priority donors and funders are being engaged appropriately throughout the year.

Strategy, Planning & Budget Development

• Provide overall development policy and strategic advice.
• Track development trends in the community and region and adapt fundraising strategies as necessary.
• Develop and monitor an annual income and expenditure budget for the development program and provide periodic reports to staff and the Board on progress to goals.

Team & Board Management

• Oversee the development team to reach individual fundraising goals
• Work with the Board to develop a culture of fundraising and work with the Board’s membership and development committee.
• Plan and lead fundraising trainings for staff and Board.

Note: In addition to your regular responsibilities, all staff are expected to participate at some level in organizational priorities including taking part in our election-related activities and committing to our organizational efforts around equity and inclusion.

Qualifications

To be successful in this job, you will demonstrate the judgment, results-focused work, and efficiency to work well with our team. Fundamentally, we want someone who loves fundraising and who has the skills & interest to do that in a political context. More specifically, you will have or be most or all of the following:

• Major gifts experience: Have a strong track record of managing a portfolio of donors, securing major gifts and building an expanded pipeline of donor prospects.
• Passion for the mission: We work at the intersection of policy and politics and we fulfill our mission through political engagement. Having experience in environmentalism is great, but not necessary, but you need to be comfortable in the political environment we operate in.
• Management experience: Developing staff, ability to hold a team accountable to goals, and the leadership presence to manage up with a Board and the executive director are critical skills.
• Shares our commitment to increasing racial diversity in our movement and organization: Possess a willingness to do the personal and organizational work around equity, and inclusivity is vital, and you ideally have experience developing a racially diverse donor base.
• A communications ace: Can develop relationships with our donors, are known for handling professional situations with candor and respect and can ensure all written communications with donors are relevant and communicate in the right voice.

Note: Spanish/English bilingual is a skill we value, but it is not a requirement. This is a full-time job but there can be some flexibility in the exact schedule.

Compensation and Benefits

• Compensation depends on experience and is highly competitive. The salary range for this position is $90,000 – $117,000 with the exact salary depending on experience and new staff rarely starting at the top of the range.
• We provide high-quality, zero-deductible health insurance and a strong benefits package that includes a SIMPLE IRA retirement plan, at least 28 days of paid time off & holidays as well as 5 sick days in your first year, parental leave, and a sabbatical program.
• This job offers an opportunity to engage people to find solutions to some of the most important environmental issues in Colorado and work with a great team that is committed to a better, more equitable future. It will be challenging, inspiring, and sometimes frustrating, but you’ll be making a big difference.

To Apply

• If this job truly speaks to you please click "Apply" below to send a cover letter and resume to Kelly Nordini with the subject line “Development Director” by October 1.
• Also, be sure to fill out this short questionnaire.
• No phone calls please.
• Please mention how you learned of this opening.

We are committed to building a more diverse and inclusive organization and conservation movement to fully represent and engage all Coloradans and to build as powerful a movement as we can. Recruiting staff that better reflects Colorado is a priority and we encourage applicants from all cultures, race, ethnicity, geographies, political affiliation, and all other identities represented in Colorado or protected by law.