Position Summary

The Conservancy seeks an experienced and entrepreneurial Senior Director of Development to join its senior leadership team. Building upon the Conservancy’s record of success and the leadership of a dynamic Board of Directors, the Senior Director will have the opportunity to help shape the Conservancy’s strategic fundraising vision for the future. Reporting to the Executive Director, and in close collaboration with the Deputy Director and Board, the Senior Director will create, plan, and execute a fundraising plan to realize the goals and ambitions of the Conservancy, currently leading a team of three to advance these efforts.

Responsibilities

• Build a robust fundraising program to align with the organization’s strategic direction and goals inclusive of individual, government, corporate and foundation support.
• Diversify the Conservancy’s funding streams, to include building out a more robust major gifts program.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to shape other opportunities for expanded philanthropic support.
• Strategize, craft and lead fundraising campaigns, including an imminent capital campaign to fund the expansion the Conservancy’s Environmental Education Center
• Lead direct solicitation of all constituencies with a donor-centric and relationship based approach.
• Maintain a personal portfolio of high net worth individual prospects, carefully cultivating and stewarding their support for the Conservancy.
• Staff the fundraising activities of the Board of Trustees and work with the Executive Director and the Board on board recruitment and development.
• Oversee planning of the annual gala and other fundraising events and ensure that income goals are met by involving volunteers, securing highest-level sponsorships, and by selecting appropriate honorees and engaging them in fund raising.
• Support board, staff leadership, and high level volunteers in their fundraising efforts in alignment with the Conservancy’s internal culture of philanthropy.
• Serve the role of coach, mentor, and leader of the development staff and guide staff in their respective areas of functional expertise, creating opportunities for professional development and continued growth.

You will bring

• Business acumen and fundraising capability to take the Conservancy to its next level of excellence, as well as the talent to motivate the Board, staff and volunteers to work together to realize the organization’s mission and goals.
• Demonstrated experience in building and managing a multi-faceted fundraising program, inclusive of capital, annual and special campaigns as well as major gift programs for a dynamic not-for-profit organization.
• A successful track record of securing gifts from a wide array of constituencies.
• Creativity and experience in growing and formalizing development departments to the advancement of the organization.
• Ability to manage a staff of development professionals, instilling team spirit and motivating them to meet and exceed annual and campaign fund raising goals with excitement and energy.
• The ability to recruit, guide, support, and steward high-level volunteers, board members, prospects, and donors.
• Collaborative approach necessary to create strong working relationships with board members, City officials, Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation staff, and the program staff.
• A sense of integrity and a strong work ethic seasoned with humor and perspective.
• An entrepreneurial spirit, with the ability to think creatively and strategically to solve problems and address challenges as they arise.
• Superior communication skills, both written and oral, with the ability to understand and convey the Conservancy’s mission, programs, priorities, and issues to a variety of audiences authentically and compellingly.
• Proficiency with CRMs; Raiser’s Edge preferred.
• Knowledge of Brooklyn and New York philanthropic marketplace preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 10+ years of experience in a frontline fundraising role with a minimum of 3 years of experience in a supervisory role