Virginia League of Conservation Voters Development Director

Virginia League of Conservation Voters

Development Director

January, 2009

About the Organization:  The Virginia League of Conservation Voters (VALCV) is a nonprofit 501 (c)(4) organization that was formed in 2000.  We serve as the nonpartisan political action arm of the state’s conservation community.  Our mission is to preserve and enhance the quality of life of all Virginians by making conservation a top priority with Virginia’s elected officials, political candidates, and voters.  VALCV does this by helping to elect conservation leaders to public office, educating them on issues, and holding them accountable for their actions and votes.  (www.valcv.org)

The Development Director position would be shared with the Virginia League of Conservation Voters Education Fund (VALCV-EF).  VALCV-EF is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization affiliated with VALCV, whose mission is to build the grassroots advocacy capacity of Virginia’s conservation community and to maximize the participation of voters in conservation policy decisions made at the state and local levels.  (www.valcvef.org)  VALCV and VALCV-Education Fund’s home office is in Richmond where this position will be based.

About the Development Director position:  The position is a full time position split between the Virginia League of Conservation Voters and VALCV Education Fund.  The Development Director works with the Executive Director and the Boards of both organizations to develop and implement an overall fundraising strategy.  The Development Director is responsible for all fundraising activities which currently include:  major donor development, membership development and retention, special events, donor database oversight, and grant seeking and reporting. 

General Responsibilities: 

• Update and oversee organizational development plan;
•  Work with staff and Board of Directors to develop and implement fundraising strategies;
• Work with Executive Director to ensure proper financial management practices are followed;
• Attend all Board and staff meetings; provide training support as needed;
• Evaluate and track fundraising program results and develop strategies to improve fundraising performance.

Major Donor:

• Assist Executive Director and Board members in development and implementation of an annual major donor development program including:

*Building and maintaining organizational relationships with major donors including refinement of gift acknowledgment protocols and personalized communications;

*Design and prepare necessary fundraising materials to launch and implement an annual major gifts campaign;

*Conduct prospect research and identify new major donors to achieve fundraising goals.

Special Events:

• Oversee the planning and execution of the annual Legislative Recognition event to ensure we meet our fundraising and outreach goals.  A volunteer event chairperson has been responsible for many details of planning, preparation, and production;
• Plan and coordinate other events as needed such as houseparties and donor recognition activities in locations across the state.

Membership Development and Retention:

• Work with staff to develop and implement annual membership plans to recruit new members and retain current members using direct mail appeals, email and phone appeals, and personalized communications from Board members and staff;
• Conduct analysis of membership recruitment and retention activities and plan future efforts utilizing the online database;
• Develop a monthly online “sustaining” giving program that capitalizes on election year momentum and continues on a long-term basis. 

Grant Seeking and Reporting:

• Develop annual grant plan which includes reporting and submittal schedules;
• Prepare grant proposals and reports working with the Executive Director and other staff as needed;
• Research and find new funding sources for issue campaigns or projects;
• Track the status of all proposals and maintain foundation files;
• Work with the Executive Director to monitor attainment of grant goals.

Experience and Qualifications:

• Strong background in fundraising/marketing using multiple strategies; Required
• Demonstrated ability to work with board members and other volunteers to raise funds; Required
• Exceptional leadership, communications, interpersonal, organizational, and verbal/written skills; Required

• Ability to manage own priorities, workload, and schedule with minimal direct supervision and shift readily between various assignments; Required

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent work experience; Required
• Ability to work long hours when required and travel to different parts of region as needed; own transportation; Required
• Experience raising money for advocacy or political purposes, Preferred

• Ability to work both independently and in a team setting; Preferred
• Understanding of the Virginia political lay of the land; Desired
• Commitment to the goals and vision of VALCV and the conservation movement; Desired
• Desire to work in a dynamic non-profit setting!

Salary and Benefits:  Competitive nonprofit salary commensurate with experience + stipend for benefits

To apply/contact:  Please send a letter of interest addressing position qualifications, resume, and three references to:

Ms. Lisa Guthrie; Executive Director

Virginia League of Conservation Voters

530 East Main Street; Suite 410

Richmond, VA  23219

(804) 225-1902;  fax: (804) 225-1904

VirLCV@aol.com

Desired Starting Date:  Position is open immediately and will be filled as soon as the right candidate is found.

Equal Opportunity Employer