Senior Director of Development, Southwest Florida

About the position

The Senior Director of Development for Southwest Florida possesses thorough knowledge of philanthropy and demonstrable success in stewarding major donors and securing major gifts of $25,000 and above, including multi-year and seven- and eight-figure commitments. The Senior Director has versatile fundraising expertise or relevant transferable skills, has worked with major philanthropists and Boards of Directors, and has a passion and enthusiasm for the Everglades. The Senior Director is responsible for planning, organizing, and directing fundraising, stewardship, and donor acquisition activities in Southwest Florida, which is comprised of Collier, Lee, Charlotte, and potentially Monroe, Manatee, and Sarasota counties. 

Reporting to the Associate Vice President of Development and collaborating closely with the Vice President of Development, the Development Team, the Executive Leadership Team, staff and members of the Board of Directors, the Senior Director of Development takes initiative, thinks creatively, devises innovative development strategies, and actively seeks to deepen current donor relationships and forge new ones. The Senior Director will plan and execute a comprehensive development strategy to acquire new donors and sustain the current major donor base for the Foundation in Southwest Florida (SWFL). 

The Senior Director will plan and implement ongoing fundraising efforts and activities, including Everglades briefings and tours, and provide support for the annual ForEverglades Naples (FEN) Benefit.

The Senior Director collaborates and works closely with the Foundation’s Director of Development & Events, Southwest Florida as a key region-based team partner which includes direct engagement with donors and prospects in SWFL.

Primary Responsibilities

The primary responsibilities of the Senior Director of Development include:

Fundraising Goals:

Achieve goals for total dollars raised and for acquisition of new donors for the annual and endowment funds.

Fundraising Strategy:

Collaborate with the Vice President of Development, Associate Vice President of Development, and the Development Team to identify strategies for donor acquisition, solicitation, and retention. Develop and maintain key long-term relationships with donors and prospects, including a personal portfolio of 150+ major donors to cultivate, solicit, and steward. Proactively and independently conduct research, prospecting, and solicitation of / application to multiple donor sources, and work to incorporate annual giving strategies and tactics to advance donors toward major giving.

Outreach, Education, and Events:

Assess, plan, organize, and manage donor-centered activities in Southwest Florida, such as tours, receptions, briefings, and meetings. Also, play a supportive role in carrying out the ForEverglades Naples (FEN) benefit, while also using this event to cultivate SWFL donors. As part of overall development efforts, support, participate in, and lead educational Everglades briefings, tours, and presentations.

Communications & Follow-up:

Collaborate and communicate effectively and efficiently with other members of the Development Team (most importantly with the Director of Development & Events, Southwest Florida), the Executive Leadership Team, the Communications Team, Program Directors, and all levels of Foundation staff. Write and provide personal, proactive, timely responses and relevant updates on programs, initiatives, and activities of the Foundation. Maintain accurate and up-to-date donor records in the Foundation’s database (Salesforce).

Location and Schedule

The Foundation’s main office is located in Palmetto Bay, Florida. This is a full-time regional position, based in the region of Southwest Florida. The employee in this role will work from home and is required to attend meetings, tours, and events in the region. Occasional weekend and evening work, as well as regular travel to the Foundation’s main office in Palmetto Bay for departmental meetings, all-staff retreats, to other areas of Florida for Board meetings, or other events are required.

This job description accurately reflects the position as currently configured. However, this job description is not meant to be an exhaustive list of all the duties an employee in this position may be expected to perform. Employees are expected to perform all other duties as may be assigned and/or directed.

This job description may be changed to include new responsibilities and tasks, or change existing ones, at any time, as the Foundation deems necessary.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

The Foundation is an equal opportunity employer that affords equal protection against discrimination to job applicants and employees. The Foundation seeks to ensure that qualified applicants will have an equal opportunity with respect to all employment practices regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, pregnancy, marital or familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, status as a victim of domestic or dating violence, source of income, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.