The American Chestnut Foundation seeks director of development

I.             Position Summary

The Director of Development focuses on major gift fundraising through the discovery, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major gift donors, both outright and deferred, to the American Chestnut Foundation (ACF).  This position requires extensive travel to build relationships through face-to-face meetings with the Foundation’s most highly rated prospects.  Major gits to ACF have been defined as $10,000 or more, with that threshold expected to grow over time.

II.            Essential Job Functions

·         Identifies, cultivates, and solicits donor prospects of ACF capable of making major gifts, both outright and deferred, to ACF.

·         Manages a portfolio of 100-140 major gift prospects, completes a minimum of 120 face-to-face visits, solicits 8 to 15 major gifts, and raises a minimum of $500,000 annually.

·         Using the ACF’s current membership database, and any wealth screenings conducted, to research and build a portfolio based on the highest concentrations of major gift prospects in targeted geographic areas.

·         Creates and presents proposals for consideration, according to donor’s interest and financial circumstances.

·         Along with the President and CEO, devises and recommends cultivation and solicitation strategies. Determine when the President and CEO is needed to significantly move a relationship along or close a gift.

·         Evaluates various gift opportunities and giving vehicles.  General knowledge of gift vehicles:  cash, securities, real estate,in-kind, tangible personal property, and planned gift vehicles such as trusts, bequests, and annuities.

·         Acts as liaison among the Chapter leadership and develops opportunities for joint fundraising efforts and donor cultivation.

·         Proactively engages Board members and volunteers in a variety of roles, including identification, cultivation, solicitation, and events.

·         Maintains strong internal interactions with the Senior Management Team, the Science Leadership Team, and other staff in the national and remote offices.

·         Assesses the success of development events and programs.  Ensures all follow-up and necessary desired outcomes are executed after each event.

·         Once the donor is in the stewardship cycle, continues to strengthen the relationship through excellent donor relations techniques (e.g., period touches/communications).

III.           Education and Experience Required

·         Bachelor’s degree and at least three years of fundraising experience or comparable experience in sales or business development.  Non-profit experience a plus.

·         Capital campaign experience and proven ability to close gifts.

·         Experience in annual, major and deferred giving, from discovery to stewardship, is desired.

IV.          Knowledge, Skills and Abilities or Additional Qualifications

·         Demonstrated appreciation or environmental conservation and species restoration.

·         Ability to work well in a collaborative environment.

·         Proven track record of achieving revenue targets and/or performance metrics.

·         Strong interpersonal skills required to relate to donors, volunteers and colleagues.

·         Demonstrated ability to think strategically ad thorough understanding of strategic development.

·         Must be self-motivated, results oriented, and able to set priorities and work on numerous projects simultaneously.

·         Excellent interpersonal, organizational, communication (both verbal and written), analytical and negotiating skills.

·         Ability to frequently travel across the United States to meet donors within the portfolio (expectation of 8-12 face to face visits per month, 2-3 face to face visits per week).

·         High energy, positive,”can-do” attitude, flexibility, teamwork, and attention to detail; high degree of initiative.  Good sense of humor.

·         Good computer skills and knowledge of database programs.

COMMENTS:

This is a full-time position with benefit package. Interested candidates should forward a cover letter and resume to jobs@acf.org or mail to The American Chestnut Foundation, 50 North Merrimon Ave., Suite

115, Asheville, NC 28804. No phone calls please.

About The American Chestnut Foundation

Founded in 1983, TACF is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization with the mission to restore the American chestnut to our eastern woodlands to benefit our environment, our wildlife, and our society.  The American chestnut was once the dominate hardwood tree species in the eastern U.S., but was killed by an exotic fungus (chestnut blight) during the early 1900s.  TACF is developing an American chestnut tree resistant to the chestnut blight and is currently planting and evaluating our first line of potentially disease-resistant trees in our eastern forests.