Senior Director of

National Park Trust; Rockville (MD); On-site; USD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with 5% match

Health and dental insurance

Vision insurance

Flexible spending account

Life and disability insurance

Vacation, sick leave, holidays

Job summary

National Park Trust is seeking a Senior Director of Development to lead our fundraising program, including Individual Annual Giving, Corporate and Foundation efforts, Direct Response, and Planned Giving, as well as the execution of a $20M Comprehensive Campaign.

Reporting to the Executive Director, you will strategize, drive performance, and oversee a growing development team, building systems to sustain long-term fundraising growth for our parks program.

Qualifications

• Capital campaign experience leading large-scale fundraising efforts.
• Demonstrated expertise in formal moves management and donor databases (Neon, Raiser's Edge, Salesforce).
• Exceptional storytelling to translate environmental stewardship into donor support.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead a comprehensive fundraising strategy across all funding sources.
• Set and achieve annual and multi-year revenue targets; ensure diversified funding.
• Oversee major and principal gifts, managing an active high-capacity donor portfolio.
• Implement moves management to track donor progress through identification to stewardship.
• Lead the $20M comprehensive campaign; monitor progress and milestones.
• Grow and mentor the development team; align roles with organizational priorities.

Skills

Capital Campaign

Systems Thinking

Communication

Tools

Neon

Raiser's Edge

Salesforce

Job description

Salary: Range is $140,000 – $170,000, commensurate with experience.

Job Type: Full-time staff member

Reports to: Executive Director

Work Type: In-office

About National Park Trust

We believe our public parks, lands, and waters should be cared for, enjoyed by, and preserved by all for current and future generations. We accomplish this goal through our mission to preserve parks today and create park stewards for tomorrow.

National Park Trust protects public lands early and expands access, so the next generation grows up connected to America’s parks. By safeguarding places before they are threatened and opening the door to meaningful park experiences, we turn access into lifelong care.

As National Park Trust enters a transformative period of growth, we are preparing for a comprehensive campaign to support our expansion, building the philanthropic foundation needed to ensure our parks—and the next generation of park stewards—thrive for decades to come.

Position Overview

Following a strategic shift—including the sunsetting of $1.5M in federal funding—we are reimagining our $4M annual development operation. With an engaged Board of Trustees and a three-person full-time development team, we are preparing to take our program to a new level, including a projected three-year, $20M Comprehensive Campaign.

We are seeking a Senior Director of Development to lead our fundraising program, with responsibility for strategy, performance, and growth. Working closely with the Executive Director and Board of Trustees, this senior-level development officer will oversee all fundraising initiatives, including Individual Annual Giving, Corporate and Foundation efforts, Direct Response, and Planned Giving, as well as the execution of the Comprehensive Campaign. Given growth projections, building an expanded team and implementing systems required to support long-term success will be a key responsibility of this individual.

Detailed Position Description

Develop and lead a comprehensive fundraising strategy to support both near-term program needs and long-term sustainability. Establish and achieve annual and multi-year revenue targets across all funding sources, ensuring a balanced and diversified funding model.

Oversee the organization’s major and principal gift strategy while managing an active portfolio of high-capacity donors and prospects. Guide cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship efforts to secure six- and seven-figure gifts. Implement a rigorous moves management process to track prospect movement through each phase of the philanthropic process from identification to stewardship.

Campaign Execution

Facilitate the execution of a $20M comprehensive campaign, working closely with the Executive Director, Board leadership, and campaign counsel to drive strategy, performance, and accountability. Monitor campaign progress, ensure alignment with broader goals, and support achievement of key milestones and overall campaign success.

Empower a motivated Board of Trustees by providing tools, training, and opportunities to turn their best intentions into strategic action.

Lead, mentor, and grow the development team, ensuring roles, responsibilities, and performance expectations are clearly defined and aligned with organizational priorities. Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement, and evolve team structure and capacity to support fundraising growth and campaign success.

Qualifications

Capital Campaign Experience

Proven track record of playing a lead role in a large-scale capital campaign ($20M+).

Successful past performance securing six- and seven-figure gifts. Minimum of 8–10 years of professional fundraising experience, with deep knowledge of individual, corporate, and foundation sectors and familiarity with all giving channels from direct response appeals to planned giving.

Systems Thinker

Expert-level experience in formal moves management processes with a familiarity with donor databases (e.g., Neon, Raisers Edge, Salesforce).

Communication

Exceptional storytelling skills to translate land acquisition and youth stewardship into compelling cases for support.

A strong understanding of the environmental movement and land conservation is highly preferred.

Special Requirements

Due to our work with kids and families:

• All staff are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Reasonable accommodations will be considered for qualified individuals with disabilities or sincerely held religious beliefs, in accordance with applicable law.
• The candidate must satisfactorily complete a criminal background check.

Physical Requirements

• Lifting items up to 25-40 lbs.
• Driver’s license and use of a car.
• Local and overnight travel will be required.
• 401(k) plan with a 5% company match
• Health and dental insurance with a vision program
• Flexible spending account
• Life insurance, short-term, and long-term disability insurance
• Vacation, sick leave, and observance of all federal holidays

BE PREPARED TO SUBMIT WITH YOUR APPLICATION:

1. Cover letter explaining why you are interested in working at National Park Trust and why you are the right person to take the organization’s development efforts to the next level.

2. Resume

National Park Trust is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not tolerate unlawful discrimination or harassment. We seek diversity in thought, background, and experience among our staff, Board of Trustees, donors, and partners. Diversity within our organization informs our programming, strengthens our partnerships, and enables us to serve diverse stakeholders and communities effectively. National Park Trust follows all applicable federal, state, and local laws regarding non-discriminatory hiring and employment practices. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply.