Director of Development

Clean Air-Cool Planet (CA-CP), a climate change organization based in Portsmouth, NH; New Canaan, CT; and Washington, DC; is seeking a qualified Director of Development to be based in our New Canaan, CT office.  Clean Air-Cool Planet works to solve climate change through civic engagement, education and effective policy. The organization partners with communities, campuses, businesses, and science centers to seek and implement innovative and practical solutions to global warming, and advocates smart policies at the national level. Clean Air-Cool Planet (CA-CP) has also recently launched a major effort to reduce the impacts of climate change in the Arctic.

Position Overview: 

The Director of Development position has been newly created to align strategic development with the scope and vision of the institution. The Director of Development will direct and implement fundraising efforts, specifically foundation, corporate, government,  major and individual donor fundraising, and will participate in branding efforts and the creation of development-related communications and outreach for CA-CP. CA-CP currently raises the majority of its approximately $3.5 million annual budget from foundations.

The Director will be responsible for maintaining and growing this income with assistance from 2 grant-writing staff, while continuing to expand recent efforts to diversify funding sources, especially in the areas of individuals, major gifts and corporate giving. The position provides an excellent opportunity to build and shape the growth and vision of this evolving, high-performing organization, and its incumbent will be a member of the strategic management team. The preferred location for this post is in our New Canaan, Connecticut office, but other locations can be considered.

Responsibilities:

Reporting to the President and CEO, the Director of Development will provide leadership, direction, coordination and management of a comprehensive fundraising program that secures financial resources from diverse donor groups, but especially foundations. The Director will be expected to design, implement and manage an integrated development plan. Coordinating with CA-CP leadership, which includes the Development Committee of the Board, s/he will strategically plan and manage the development operation to meet short- and long-term fundraising goals; maintain relationships with donors and the Board of Directors; and work hands-on to originate and edit grant proposals and cultivate and solicit donations.

The Director will also be responsible for heightening the visibility, strengthening the reputation and brand of CA-CP, and furthering the organization's mission through close coordination with communications staff. It is planned that the Director will initially have 3 staff reports - a home office-based full time Development Officer; a DC-based Grantwriter, and a half-time Development Assistant.

Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Establish short- and long-term development goals, strategies and tasks.
• Create, manage and implement an annual fundraising work plan
• Direct and coordinate foundation fundraising efforts.
• Develop and implement fundraising strategies and appropriate follow-up action, including solicitation materials, correspondence and reports as necessary to promote donor participation, recognition and cultivation.
• Manage and maintain CA-CP's Raiser's Edge fundraising database.
• Ensure all systems and procedures are in place to support an effective fundraising effort
• Develop strategic partnerships to leverage CA-CP's visibility
• Organize cultivation events to deepen donor relationships and engage new donors.
• Coordinate and manage an annual Climate Champion Awards gala dinner
• Diversify funding base by creating new revenue streams.
• Identify, cultivate, solicit and expand the number of individual annual, major and planned giving prospects and donors.
• Identify and pursue new sources of corporate income and partnerships.
• Manage the federal and state grant-seeking process, including grant identification, proposal writing and grant reporting.
• Manage and build the annual and on-line giving programs.
• With CA-CP's President/CEO, serve as a key liaison with the CA-CP Board.
• Act on behalf of the President/CEO as requested.

The Development Director will also drive an integrated communications and marketing strategy that supports the overall development goals. Including:

• Develop and oversee a communications and marketing plan that targets external audiences and donors and articulates CA-CP's mission, vision, programs and accomplishments.
• Coordinate with the communications staff to create a branding strategy that supports fundraising and programmatic efforts, including during CA-CP's 10th anniversary year - 2010/11.
• Coordinate with the communications staff to ensure that all collateral materials, including website, annual report, periodic newsletters and letters to constituencies from the President, donor materials, etc. support fundraising goals.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree and minimum of 5 years' development experience with a track-record of effectiveness and success in grant-writing, grants management and foundation fundraising.
• Demonstrated experience and accomplishment in individual, major gifts and corporate fundraising.
• Top-notch writing, editing and research skills.
• Fully conversant with the capabilities and use of a Raiser's Edge database with hands on management and organization-wide coordination of Raiser's Edge in a similar sized non-profit to Clean Air-Cool Planet.
• Committed to, enthusiastic about and able to articulate the mission and programs of Clean Air-Cool Planet with a strong commitment to environmental issues.
• Previous experience working with Boards of Directors required.
• A demonstrated track record of helping to lead a nonprofit through growth in revenue and mission expansion. Capital campaign experience preferred.
• Detail-oriented and exacting with a creative bent.
• Outstanding storytelling skills and an ability to make a compelling case to funders in support of complex, often abstract projects and programs.
• Adept at budget development, accounting and financial reporting.
• Ability to interact credibly with high net worth individuals and top-level corporate and foundation executives.
• Ability to represent the organization in senior level meetings and to be an effective ambassador for its mission and programs.
• Poised, pro-active, self-assured, outgoing, organized and energetic self-starter with the willingness to work hands-on at all levels of execution to develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising strategy.
• A strategic thinker, goal-oriented, collaborative, motivated to complete tasks and succeed.
• A team player, skilled manager and motivator of others.
• Ability to make decisions, prioritize, manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines in a fast-paced, hectic environment.
• Mature, self-confident and flexible with a sense of humor.

Compensation: A competitive salary will be provided.

• Medical / Dental comprehensive HMO plan
• Life/Disability/ Insurance
• Expense & Travel reimbursement
• 403(b) retirement savings plan
• Paid holiday, personal, vacation and sick days

To Apply:

Applications will be accepted until a final candidate is chosen. Please submit a position specific cover letter and resume by January 30, 2010. No calls.

Lynn Sullivan 
100 Market Street
Suite 204
Portsmouth, NH 03801

Clean Air-Cool Planet is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal employment opportunity to all persons without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, marital status or sexual orientation.