Director of Development Riveredge Nature Center

Earth Day; Wisconsin; On-site; USD 65,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Disability and life insurance

Retirement matching 4%

9 paid holidays

PTO 20 days

Health/Dental/Insurance options

Job summary

Riveredge Nature Center in Saukville, WI seeks a Director of Development to lead all philanthropic initiatives and to partner with the Executive Director, Leadership Team, and Board on fundraising strategy and goals.

The role supervises the Development Team, drives annual giving, grants, and donor communications, plans events such as the Farm-to-Table Dinner Gala, and builds corporate relationships to grow memberships, sponsorships, and community support.

Qualifications

• 3+ years experience in fundraising
• 2+ years in leadership/supervision of staff and volunteers
• Fluency in Microsoft Office and Google Workplace; familiarity with CRM (Neon or comparable)

Responsibilities

• Lead annual fundraising strategy with ED, Leadership Team, and Board
• Supervise Development Team and monitor progress
• Drive donor communications, grant writing, and proposals
• Plan and execute fundraising events (e.g., Farm-to-Table Dinner Gala)
• Cultivate corporate relationships to grow memberships and sponsorships

Skills

Fundraising leadership

Staff supervision

Office suite proficiency

CRM familiarity

Communication skills

Event planning

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

CRM (Neon or similar)

Job description

Riveredge Nature Center is located in Saukville, WI (30 minutes north of Milwaukee), on 485 beautiful acres of restored prairies, woodlands, and wetlands along the Milwaukee River. Riveredge has a remarkable 58-year legacy of creating joyful educational experiences in the outdoors. Our mission is to support conservation through education that awakens curiosity, engages the body, and explores connections to nature for all people. Riveredge achieves its mission by partnering with individuals and organizations across Southeastern Wisconsin. Our dynamic staff works to promote the strategic themes of nature-rich lifestyles for all, wellness in nature, nurturing the next generation, and putting conservation into action. Upholding a commitment to making environmental education more broadly accessible, we offer immersive, hands-on, and fun outdoor experiences within the Riveredge sanctuary and throughout the communities we serve—including Ozaukee, Washington, and Milwaukee Counties.

Position Purpose

The Director of Development provides key leadership to all philanthropic initiatives at Riveredge Nature Center and serves as an important part of the Center’s leadership team. The Director of Development directly supervises the Development Team including a Membership & Database Manager, Marketing & Communication Specialist, Grants Specialist and a part-time Administrative Assistant. The Director of Development is critical to planning, implementing, and supervising all aspects of fund development.

Primary Duties

Leadership and Management

• Work with the Executive Director, Leadership Team, Board of Directors and Development Team to design and fulfill annual fundraising strategy and goals
• Monitor fundraising results and report progress to the Executive Director and the Board of Directors including participation in Board Meetings and Philanthropy Committee Meetings
• Manage and empower the development team in designing and fulfilling their goals, meeting every two weeks
• Work with the Executive Director and the Philanthropy Committee to build Board’s capacity, consistency, and confidence in fundraising

Fundraising and Communications

• Oversee successful creation and implementation of the annual development plan
• Lead annual giving and planned giving programs focused on engagement with 100+ major donors
• Manage donor communications for high-level, strategic fundraising opportunities
• Oversee grant-seeking strategies, proposal development, and submission of 100+ proposals annually
• Lead planning and execution of membership and fundraising events including Farm-to-Table Dinner Gala
• Successfully cultivate corporate relationships to grow memberships, volunteerism, and sponsorships
• Work with Executive Director and Development Team to create and implement the development communications plan and annual report

Other

• Represent Riveredge with media, donors, community partners, environmental committees/organizations, etc.
• Contribute to the staff team philosophy by staffing the Visitor Center on 3-4 Saturdays per year
• Additional responsibilities as assigned by Executive Director

Additional Duties

In addition to the Primary Duties, the Director of Development is expected to meet the following expectations set forth to all staff members of Riveredge Nature Center:

• Meaningfully contribute to the Riveredge staff team. This includes helping with projects, programs, and events that may fall outside of the primary duties or departments of this position description
• Foster an inclusive and supportive environment through personal actions such as supporting and helping other staff members and volunteers
• Provide high quality customer service experiences to all guests and volunteers

Preferred Qualifications

• Proven work experience as Development Director or similar role; 3+ years experience in fundraising
• Minimum of 2+ years of experience in a leadership position including the supervision of staff and volunteers
• Fluency in Microsoft Office, Google Workplace and familiarity with CRM (e.g. Neon or comparable database)
• Bachelor’s degree
• Collaborative spirit, bringing out the best in staff members through an asset-based approach to leadership
• Interest in sustainability education and its connection to environmental issues and a community’s well being
• Strong, clear, and timely oral and written communication skills
• Experience in event planning
• CFRE or other fundraising certifications a plus

Benefits and Working Conditions

This is a full-time, salaried position and provides the below benefits. Specific benefits will be presented in the offer letter.

• Short and long-term disability and group term life Insurance paid 100% by Riveredge
• 4% matching retirement contribution
• 9 paid holidays
• A generous Paid Time Off (PTO) allotment starting with 20 days.
• Optional participation in Health, Dental, Accident/Illness, and Life insurance programs

Additional working conditions include:

• Some evening and weekend hours
• Assume occasional travel within the state
• Occasional hours may be spent telecommuting from home with approval of Executive Director

Physical Requirements

• Sit and type for sustained periods of time indoors among an open concept office setting
• Hike outdoors on varying terrain, in all seasons and weather, with equipment in tow
• Ability to lift up to 20 lbs. and climb stairs

Compensation

• $65,000- $70,000 annual salary based

Riveredge Nature Center is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity and inclusion. Our human capital is the most valuable asset we have. The collective sum of the individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, inventiveness, innovation, self-expression, unique capabilities and talent that our employees invest in their work represents a significant part of not only our culture, but our reputation and achievement as well.

We embrace and encourage our employees’ differences in age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and other characteristics that make our employees unique.