What are the responsibilities and job description for the Development Director position at Wisconsin Conservation Voters?
Job Announcement: Development Director
September 16, 2021
Wisconsin Conservation Voters is seeking to add to our team a passionate,
energetic, and effective senior-level Development Director to be the backbone of
our fundraising efforts to fight for climate justice and protect Wisconsin’s air, land,
water, and democracy. This position will be full-time and permanent and based in
Madison or Milwaukee.
Who We Are
Wisconsin Conservation Voters engages voters to protect Wisconsin’s environment.
To achieve that, Wisconsin Conservation Voters advocates for sound environmental
laws and policies, holds elected officials accountable for their votes and actions,
and elects pro-conservation candidates who will champion our priority issues. Learn
more about us at conservationvoters.org.
Wisconsin Conservation Voters’ work has never been more urgent, with climate
change impacting communities across the state, our democracy under attack, and
thousands of Wisconsinites living without safe drinking water in their homes. To take
on that challenge, we are in the first year of an ambitious, four-year strategic plan
that meets the urgency of our time with growth and bold action. The success of the
plan relies on expanding our portfolio of individual donors, grassroots supporters,
and institutional donors.
What You’ll Do
The Development Director will play a vital role in developing and implementing the
plan and strategies to raise an annual budget between $1.5 million and $3.5 million.
The Development Director works with a strong team of the Executive Director,
Deputy Director, two additional development staff, and other staff and board
members to meet the annual budget. This position has direct management of the
following areas: building relationships with and cultivating individual supporters;
building a large and diverse membership base; developing written content that
engages existing and new supporters; establishing systems and communications for
stewardship of donors; engaging board, staff, and other stakeholders in fundraising;
and utilizing data to analyze and inform development strategies.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities
- Plan, organize, and direct a comprehensive development program that utilizes
major donors, significant institutional gifts (foundations, etc.), planned gifts,
grassroots fundraising, events, and special project campaigns.
- Develop and manage effective internal operations, including donor portfolios,
- Work in partnership with the Board Fund Development Committee Chair to
liaison to committee.
- Support the Executive Director's fundraising priorities, including the cultivation
- Increase contributed income through organization and management of the
- Develop and edit written content such as letters and emails to members,
- Manage, research, and edit grant proposals and reports.
- Foster an understanding and culture of philanthropy within the organization.
- Enhance and improve current development program with new ideas and
- Expand and diversify our supporter base, and ensure the development
- Identify and cultivate opportunities to recognize donors and attract new
- Contribute to and oversee digital and print materials that maximize interest in
- Serve as member of the staff Leadership Team and board Finance Committee.
- Supervise work of two development staff and manage vendors assigned to
- Prepare fundraising and development campaign budgets.
Who You Are
- You are enthusiastic about WCV's mission of engaging voters to protect
organization’s values of leadership, action and results, and building power
and community with our partners and those most impacted by environmental
injustice and voter suppression.
- You are comfortable working with people of different racial identities, ages,
- You share our commitment to centering the voices and experiences of those
- You approach your work with curiosity, courage, and self-awareness, and
members, environmental partners, supporters, or volunteers.
- You are highly organized, proactive, and able to reprioritize when needed.
- You have led annual fund and/or membership campaigns and have
- You are comfortable with raising funds, including making direct asks.
- You have strong writing and editing skills.
- You are comfortable with holding sensitive information in confidence and with
discretion.
We know there are great candidates who may not check all of these boxes, and we
also know you might bring important skills that we haven't considered. If that
applies to you, don't hesitate to apply and tell us about yourself.
What You Should Know
- Work experience: 5 to 7 years direct fundraising experience preferred. If you
and meet the skills needed, we encourage you to apply.
- Skills: Demonstrated experience and success with fundraising and applying
environment; ability to handle multiple projects while supervising staff
simultaneously; strong writing and verbal communication skills; understanding
of, or ability to learn quickly about, environmental issues, politics, and their
potential to engage the public; passion for Wisconsin Conservation Voters’
mission and work.
- Technical skills: You have knowledge of Microsoft Office and Google Suite
systems. Experience with EveryAction and Moves Management is helpful but
not required, as long as you are confident in learning how to use a new
member database.
- Conditions: Position is based in Milwaukee or Madison, Wisconsin, and is full-
from home is required for the near future, although there is a possibility of
working in our offices in Milwaukee or Madison. We will offer a stipend for cell
phone. You will need a smartphone, and a computer will be provided. Most of
our work will be remote until it is safe to return to doing in-person work in the
community. Once it is safe to do so, this job will require a minimal amount of
travel throughout Wisconsin. A valid driver's license is required. Candidates
must have the ability to periodically work hours exceeding regular office
hours to get the job done.
- Salary and benefits: The full-time salary range for this role is between $70,000
coverage, 401k retirement plan with organizational match, flexible spending
account, and leave sharing plan. Exact salary depends on experience, and
new staff rarely start at the top of the range. We offer generous paid time off,
including a sabbatical for long term staff, flexibility in working hours, and
professional development opportunities.
- Reports to: Deputy Director
Our commitment to racial justice and equity: We recognize that historic and
current systems and decisions – including within the conservation community – have
created injustice. Through our work we confront these injustices and fight for an
equitable balance of power. We hold ourselves accountable to being inclusive and
equitable in our own actions and within our organization. Read more about our
commitment in our Guiding Principles here.
To Apply
Email your resume, cover letter, and three references by Sunday, October 24th, 2021
to apply@conservationvoters.org, with “Development Director” in the subject line.
This position has a flexible start date in December 2021.