Open Positions:  Director of Development

General Summary:

The West Virginia Land Trust’s (WVLT’s) Director of Development will join a team of highly motivated conservationists and a Board of Directors committed to accelerating conservation in the Mountain State. The Director will provide leadership, vision, strategy, and coordination for all of WVLT’s private philanthropic activities as it begins to implement a new, ambitious strategic plan.

This critical staff position is responsible for creating and implementing an annual fundraising plan and for developing and overseeing fundraising systems and software. The Director will oversee appropriate research, cultivation, engagement, and stewardship of major individual, corporate, and foundation donors. S/he will engage Board and staff in fundraising, enhancing their capacity to support WVLT’s financial goals and sustainability. The position reports to and supports the Executive Director’s development activities, leads staff support of the Board’s Development Committee, and orchestrates organization-wide participation in fundraising by leading and reinforcing a culture of philanthropy. Being pivotal to WVLT’s success, the Director will be part of the staff Leadership Team.

At present WVLT has one full-time staff position dedicated to fundraising. Success in growing annual giving will allow this team to expand. The Director will rely on part-time support for data entry and gift acknowledgment, and will work closely with the Director of Marketing and Communications to coordinate messaging, donor engagement, appeals, and events.

The successful applicant is creative, positive and energetic, strategic, and collaborative. They must be eager to deploy talent and effort to secure financial resources to enable WVLT’s growth in support of the Mountain State’s sustainable future. The successful candidate will take pride in being part of a team that makes a positive difference in our state’s communities and natural landscapes. An experienced professional who thrives on teamwork, thinks big, brings enthusiasm to the work place, and is ready to be a linchpin in the organization’s growth and success will feel at home with WVLT.

Duties and Responsibilities Include:

Donor Management

• Oversee the management and structure of WVLT’s CRM system (Little Green Light), ensuring quality control  for accuracy and ease of use.
• Utilize WVLT’s comprehensive contact database regularly to track existing donors and identify giving patterns, donor prospects, upgrades, and planned giving potential.
• Generate donor analyses, reports, and giving updates for regular meetings of WVLT’s Development Committee, the Executive Director, and the Board, as well as to inform the annual fundraising plan.
• Produce major donor outreach mailings and other development communications.
• Create and manage a “moves management” system for major donors.
• Ensure all donors receive appropriate and meaningful acknowledgment and recognition.
• Write persuasive material for newsletters, website, printed materials, and social media relating to planned giving, retirement gifts, stock donations, and other giving instruments, and respond to queries regarding the same.
• Support the Executive Director with strategies, coordination, and scheduling to connect with major donors and prospects.

Program Management

• Create and coordinate implementation of an annual fundraising plan to generate a diverse revenue stream that includes major gifts, planned giving, corporate support, and private and community foundation funding. The plan will include expected asks, income projections, and events or activities to support those requests. Its successful execution will rely on support and implementation from both Staff and Board, with coordination and leadership by the Director.
• Actively participate in strategic and annual planning to ensure effective integration of development goals and plans into the overall organization’s evolving needs and longer-term strategic plan.
• Provide information and leadership to appropriate staff and Board members to enable timely and responsible decision-making and participation in development.
• With support from the Executive Director, manage the Board of Directors’ fundraising efforts and donor stewardship including:
  • Attend and participate in Board and Development Committee meetings
  • Liaise with Board members on specific development projects or activities and correspond with Board members as needed
  • Engage with the Board to deepen their development work
• Work closely with the Director of Marketing and Communications to create effective development-focused messaging including but not limited to advertising, events, donor outreach, mailed materials, campaigns, and the annual appeal.
• Train as necessary and oversee staff and Board participation in development activities.
• Other duties as assigned.

Major Giving

• Plan and implement activities for major donors that sustain and grow their giving.
• Identify and pursue opportunities to develop proposals to submit to private and corporate foundations, and support program staff in developing applications.
• Conduct prospect research and implement outreach to new potential major donors.
• Serve as the hub to support the Executive Director and Board in major donor cultivation and solicitation.

Required Qualifications

• A passion for the West Virginia Land Trust mission and vision.
• Bachelor’s degree and 10+ years of progressive fundraising experience in the non-profit sector; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Facility with CRM software, Little Green Light a plus. Proficiency in organizing, analyzing and presenting donor data to guide targeted fundraising efforts.
• Proven track record of setting and achieving goals in individual, foundation and corporate fundraising.
• Articulate, compelling spokesperson, and a strong writer/editor.
• Attention to detail combined with ability to switch rapidly between tasks and projects to maintain a high level of productivity.
• Ability to work effectively, enthusiastically, and cooperatively with Staff and Board to build successful team results, sometimes requiring evenings and weekends.
• Valid driver’s license; ability to travel for work as necessary, year-round, occasionally overnight and/or weekends.
• Excellent computer skills including use of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Sharepoint, OneDrive, Teams) and Zoom.
• Talent for organization and orchestration of multi-party efforts to achieve group goals.
• Appreciation for/comfort level in the out-of-doors a must; expertise/knowledge with outdoor recreational activities or natural sciences a plus.

Preferred Qualifications

• Broad fundraising experience spanning donor and database management, donor research and development, proposal preparation, and individual cultivation.
• Knowledge of planned, retirement, and estate giving strategies.
• Previous experience with land trust or conservation organization.
• Managerial/supervisory experience.
• WV roots or affinities, by birth or by choice.
• Membership in or certification from professional fundraising organization.

Knowledge, Skills, Outlook, and Abilities

• Curiosity and eagerness to learn about WVLT’s accomplishments and the opportunities for additional conservation successes.
• Strong leadership and management skills that inspire a culture of philanthropy with colleagues and Board members.
• Sense of humor and positive, engaging outlook.
• Contributes to a meaningful, stimulating work environment as part of a team of accomplished professionals.
• Builds trust through sincerity and transparency.
• Listens closely, thinks critically, problem-solves, and engages constructively to motivate others to support WVLT’s mission.
• Knowledge of West Virginia and its diverse geography, history, and socio-economic characteristics; professional experience in the state, or Appalachia, preferred.
• Brings a “no job too big or too small” attitude to the staff and organization, and an enthusiasm for achieiving ambitious goals.

Work place and compensation: Either WVLT’s office in Charleston or Morgantown will serve as a base, with regularly scheduled time spent in each location.In-person synergies and collaboration with colleagues and Board members are essential for success. A flexible-schedule approach allows for some remote work. Flex-time accommodations are made for work completed outside of a standard work day or week.

A benefits package (retirement, wellness stipend, liberal vacation and sick leave) is included.  Salary range begins at $80,000, and is commensurate with experience.

About West Virginial Land Trust

WVLT works statewide to permanently protect land. More than 50 properties (23,000+ acres) are in the Land Trust’s current portfolio, including 9 publicly accessible preserves to manage and 10 additional parcels that could be developed for public use. A robust “pipeline” of additional prospects assures continued expansion of WVLT’s protected lands. A new strategic plan under development reflects the demand for Land Trust work and is focused on positioning the Land Trust for growth in the coming years.

The organization also works to “lift all boats” in support of a growing conservation community through its engagement with other organizations, communities, government agencies, and educational institutions. WVLT’s outreach efforts through mailings, social media, and events have significantly expanded its community of supporters, and its public visibility, in recent years.

WVLT’s staff of ten is hard-working, mission-driven, and collaborative. The dedicated team brings expertise in source water protection, biodiversity, forestry, ecology, recreation, communications, and outreach. WVLT’s successes have put the organization on a growth path. Coupled with the state’s embrace of its outdoor assets as an engine for economic growth, the needs and opportunities for conservation are abundant.

WVLT provides open and welcoming access to its conserved lands and programs for all people. It also seeks for its staff, Board, and volunteers to reflect the Mountain State’s character and culture.

For more information about our past, present and future, see www.wvlandtrust.org

Application/Hiring Process

Director of Development candidates should email a resume of their professional experience, accompanied by a cover letter explaining their interest in the position and their alignment with WVLT’s priorities. Candidates should attach recent writing samples from a development position (no more than 3 pages) that demonstrate their ability to write clearly, persuasively, and creatively. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The deadline to apply is June 20, 2025.

Please direct application materials to: hr@wvlandtrust.org, with the Subject line “Development Position”.

WVLT strongly encourages applications from people who have a passion for this work and our mission, even if their professional experience does not align perfectly with the broad suite of responsibilities listed.

If you were here right now, you would be:

Managing the Development Program (40%) :

• Working with colleagues to ensure that CRM structures, gift acknowledgments, and donor records are current and refreshed as necessary.
• Generating reports from our online database that help guide the Development Committee’s efforts to help your program.
• Thanking recent online donors with a quick email, a brief phone call, or a personal note, and updating donors’ records with that correspondence.
• Researching prospects for upgrades with existing donors and outreach to new potential donors.
• Writing our next “major donor update”, to be mailed to all major donors to provide them with a “behind the scenes” look at WVLT’s progress.
• Researching suitable institutional funders (private foundations and corporations) whom you will approach for sponsorships or grant proposals.

Providing leadership (25%):

• Planning for the next monthly Development Committee meeting of the Board, in concert with the Committee chair and Executive Director, to identify priority needs and reinforce goals for the year.
• Meeting with WVLT’s staff leadership team to stay abreast of program needs, exchanging information about foundation prospects, and developing a plan to submit applications to likely foundation and corporate funding sources.
• Keeping tabs on your year-to-date progress on annual goals and alignment with the longer-term Strategic Plan and Revenue Plan; using this information to shape the next year’s annual development plan and implementation of strategies.

Implementing strategies for donor cultivation (25%):

• Organizing and hosting “friendraisers” for major donors in three targeted communities.
• Scheduling major donor visits for the Executive Director and Board members and preparing them for the visits.

Growing your success, and ours (10%):

• Becoming familiar with properties that WVLT has conserved, and planning to showcase them in your work.
• Getting to know and enjoying your new work family
• Having fun while flexing your professional chops, enjoying the outdoors, and supporting a team effort that will conserve more special places in the Mountain State.