Oregon Wild seeks Development Director

Want to do your part to protect Oregon's old-growth forests, wild backcountry, clean water, and wildlife habitat? Oregon's most effective conservation group is looking for a Development Director to support our membership and raise the funds that power dynamic conservation campaigns. Oregon Wild is a "grassnational" group that leverages citizen passion to pass permanent protections for Oregon and our global community. Among other accomplishments, we've protected nearly two million acres of Oregon Wilderness and 1,500 miles of Wild and Scenic Rivers. We're also busy fighting global warming. If you have development experience and want to be a key member of the team that has worked to keep Oregon a special place to live, work and raise a family since 1974, we want to hear from you!

Job Description: Oregon Wild Development Director

The Oregon Wild Development Director is responsible for designing and executing the organization’s overall fundraising and membership strategies. A member of the core leadership team, the Development Director’s primary goal is to secure the financial support necessary to achieve victory in our important conservation campaigns.

The over-arching job responsibilities of the Development Director are: 1) maintaining the existing base of charitable foundation support while securing new foundation funding, 2) expanding our major donor program, and 3) expanding our membership base. The most important initial task for the successful candidate for this position is to work with staff and board to design and implement a strategic fundraising plan for the next four years.

This is a management-level position which currently supervises two support staff.

General responsibilities:

Foundation Relations and Grants – 40%:

• Maintain Oregon Wild grant files and calendar of deadlines for reports and applications.

• Research and track foundation grant funding opportunities, and aggressively pursue new grant opportunities.

• Draft letters of inquiry, grant applications, and grant reports.

• Organize educational briefings, field tours, and materials needed to inform foundation officers about Oregon Wild campaigns.

• Maintain and oversee Oregon Wild database to track performance related to grant deliverables.

Major Donor Program and Events – 40%:

• Maintain existing major donor relations through regular communications, meetings, and educational events.

• Identify new major donor candidates and cultivate relationships.

• Carry out two annual major donor fundraising drives.

• Plan and direct at least three annual major donor fundraising events such as tours, house parties and receptions, plus an annual fundraising event/silent auction.

• Develop and implement a program to expand business contributions and lead the solicitation effort for business sponsorships of Oregon Wild events.

Membership – 20%:

• Oversee development aspects and calendar for membership communications, including direct mail (membership renewals, fundraising appeals, and prospecting for new members) and newsletters.

• Maintain membership database.

• Develop and maintain online giving programs that are integrated with overall membership and communications plans.

• Identify, develop, and implement effective plans to bring in new members.

• Develop and maintain content of Board packets, Development Committee packets, thank-you notes, donor updates, and web site updates to inform and maintain membership.

• Expand Oregon Wild house party program throughout the state.

Minimum Qualifications: Must possess a strong background and successful track record in non-profit fundraising. Experience with grants and foundations, major donor relations, membership recruitment, and Access database are especially valued. Excellent writing and communications skills, as well as strong interpersonal skills, are mandatory. Leadership skills plus a demonstrated commitment and passion for conservation issues are strongly desired. The successful candidate for this position will be highly organized and self-motivated.

Job Details: This position is full time with benefits, and will be based in our Portland office. This position will require travel throughout Oregon, and occasional out of state travel. Salary range is $40,000 to $45,000 per year, based on experience. Benefits include paid health, dental, vision, and life insurance, generous vacation, and other paid time off.

How to Apply: Submit a cover letter and resume to Human Resources at Oregon Wild. We will begin reviewing applications on August 25, 2008.

Please send e-mail application materials formatted as a plain text or PDF file to [email protected], or mail print materials to: Human Resources Oregon Wild 5825 N. Greeley Ave. Portland, OR, 97217.

NO PHONE CALLS, PLEASE.