Director of Advancement

Maine Audubon seeks a seasoned fundraising professional with demonstrated major gift and senior management experience to lead a strong development team in support of our conservation mission.

Maine Audubon is the largest wildlife conservation organization in Maine, with 15,000 members and supporters, 34 staff members, 7 regional chapters, and 25 trustees. We are widely respected for our solid, science-based conservation and high quality, hands-on education programs. Our education focus is unique among major conservation organizations in Maine focused primarily on land conservation or advocacy. Our 9 nature centers and wildlife sanctuaries stretch from the North Woods to the south coast. Our headquarters is located just minutes from downtown Portland.

The Director of Advancement is primarily an outside major gift fundraiser, with responsibilities for setting major gift fundraising strategies and activities. S/he sets the direction for the development program and leads the department. The position reports to the Executive Director, and will work closely with the Board of Trustees.

We seek an energetic individual with strong interpersonal, communication and strategic management skills, and significant fundraising experience, including: building and maintaining long-term relationships with major individual donors, foundations and corporations; soliciting and closing major gifts (in excess of $500,000) from individuals and family foundations; planning and developing multi-year capital campaigns; knowledge of current and evolving trends in philanthropy and major donor giving; setting direction for and coordinating a multi-program development team.

Successful candidates will have a passion for conservation and Maine’s unique natural resources.

Detailed description:

The Director of Advancement sets direction for the development program and is responsible along with the Executive Director for meeting revenue goals. This person works closely with board to accomplish department and organization goals and manages fundraising strategy and activities for board. The Director of Advancement is primarily an outside major gift fundraiser, cultivating and soliciting major gifts and managing overall major gift fundraising strategies and activities. The Director oversees the work of the Director of Development Operations and works with the Development team to design and implement successful fundraising programs in the following areas: major giving; annual appeals; planned giving; membership recruitment and retention; corporate partnerships; foundation funding, special events and capital campaigns. The director serves as staff contact and provides support for Board fundraising committees and activities.

Essential Functions:

Strategic Planning and Administration

Working closely with the Director of Development Operations, develops long and short term planning objectives for the Development Department
Focuses on long range strategic priorities for MA, advances MA's overall goals
Sets annual fund and membership goals with the ED, department heads and Executive Committee
Participates in overall Maine Audubon budgeting and planning
Coordinates and works with Trustee committees in developing fundraising strategies
Serves as relationship manager for all major donors and selected group of prospects
Maintains up to date knowledge of tax and charitable giving laws applicable to giving
Discusses gifts of assets and non cash (tradelands) proficiently

Unrestricted and Restricted Giving

Oversees cultivation, solicitation, acknowledgement, reporting and tracking activities on donors and prospects
Works with ED and trustees to plan, organize and coordinate personal solicitations
Manages overall major gift fundraising strategies and activities
Personally cultivates and solicits funds from targeted donors including individuals, corporations and foundations

Endowment and Capital Campaigns

Plans, designs and implements capital campaigns with ED, Board, and volunteers
Develop fundraising messages
Builds and maintains consistent communications to key constituencies (staff, volunteers, prospects, donors and general public)
Works with senior staff to develop and communicate broader vision for MA
Oversees development of talking points for MA work

Qualifications :

Management level and professional background in administering comprehensive fundraising programs
Written and oral communications skills
Supervisory skills
Non-profit organization experience dealing with natural resources issues.
Will represent Audubon's mission, goals, and philosophies with the highest professional standards
Ability to work evenings, weekends, and travel

Applications should be addressed to:

Director of Advancement Search
Maine Audubon
20 Gilsland Farm Road
Falmouth ME 04105

Tell a Friend about this page

More Employment and Internship Opportunities

Volunteer Opportunities

EOE

Maine Audubon is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We afford equal opportunity and equal treatment to all persons without regard to race, color, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, physical or mental handicap, or any other fact unrelated to job requirements and performance. We are committed to acting, communicating, and educating in ways that recognize and honor the full range of human diversity.

About Maine Audubon

We are Maine’s largest wildlife conservation organization serving 11,000 members with seven local chapters statewide. We own and maintain 3,000 acres of wildlife sanctuary, and operate one seasonal and two year-round Audubon centers, plus nine additional sanctuaries and camps.

Maine Audubon is the only organization that works to conserve Maine’s wildlife in three ways: providing hands-on environmental education for people of all ages, conducting research and wildlife conservation projects statewide and taking action to help shape effective science-based conservation policy.

Maine Audubon and National Audubon

Maine Audubon is an affiliate of Audubon’s national organization. The arrangement gives our members automatic membership in Audubon at the national level, while membership in one of Maine Audubon’s seven local chapters ensures each of our members a local voice for wildlife. Support for Maine Audubon comes from our members and donors, who include individuals, foundations and corporations. Donations to Maine Audubon stay in Maine.

Maine Audubon works to conserve Maine’s wildlife and wildlife habitat by engaging people of all ages in education, conservation and action.