River Heritage Conservancy
Director of Development (Fundraising)
River Heritage Conservancy, Jeffersonville, Indiana, us, 47144
Director of Sales and Events | Origin Park, A River Heritage Conservancy Project
Position Summary:
The Director of Development (DD) plays a pivotal role in advancing River Heritage Conservancy’s mission to create, develop, and sustain vibrant public parks along the Falls of the Ohio River and its surrounding shoreline. This position is responsible for leading revenue generation strategies and cultivating philanthropic and institutional partnerships essential to realizing the organization’s vision of dynamic, world‑class public spaces for recreation, community engagement, and environmental stewardship.
The Director of Development will help lead fundraising efforts for a complex, multi‑phase park system with long‑term capital, operational, and stewardship needs, ensuring that philanthropic support keeps pace with organizational growth. River Heritage Conservancy is currently in the quiet phase of a major capital campaign, with a public phase anticipated in the future. The Director will be a key leader in shaping and advancing this campaign while also strengthening ongoing annual, major, and planned giving efforts.
Duties and Responsibilities: Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the Director of Development will lead the organization’s comprehensive fundraising and donor engagement efforts, overseeing the strategy, execution, and performance of all revenue‑generating programs. This role provides executive leadership to the Development Department and is accountable for results across annual campaigns, major gifts, planned giving, grants, and membership programs.
The Director will work closely with the CEO, Board of Directors, development committees, community leaders, and key stakeholders to cultivate a strong culture of philanthropy and to ensure donor engagement is meaningful, strategic, and mission aligned. With a proven track record in revenue generation and leadership, the Director will align ambitious fundraising initiatives with River Heritage Conservancy’s long‑term vision, capital priorities, and commitment to sustainable growth.
Lead the development and execution of comprehensive revenue generation strategies, emphasizing corporate, individual, and foundation donations, as well as planned and endowment gifts, to support park creation and maintenance.
Direct the activities of development committees, leveraging their expertise to support fundraising initiatives and effectively engage key stakeholders.
Drive the expansion and diversification of fundraising channels, integrating innovative approaches to enhance donor participation and revenue generation.
Support capital campaign planning and execution, including prospect strategy, leadership engagement, and coordination with consultants, as appropriate.
Provide executive leadership to the Development Department, managing areas such as annual campaigns, major gifts, planned giving, public/private grants, membership programs, and overall development operations.
Guide the ongoing evolution of the Development team by assessing and refining structure, roles, and workflows to support current operations and future growth, while establishing clear performance expectations, metrics, and accountability for results.
Provide direct support to the CEO and other key organizational leaders as they engage, cultivate, and solicit major and lead donors for the Conservancy and its capital campaign.
Personally engage, cultivate, solicit, and steward major and lead donors serving as a primary relationship manager for top prospects.
Cultivate a culture of philanthropy, ensuring donor experiences align with the organization's commitment to excellence through personalized stewardship and engagement. Collaborate closely with the Board of Directors, community leaders, and stakeholders to maximize fundraising potential and community impact.
Supervises: Associate Director of Development, Development and Membership Manager, and Contract Development Associate
Position Qualifications
Experience: Minimum of five years’ executive leadership and management experience in nonprofit, corporate, or similar organizations, demonstrating success in revenue generation.
Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively articulate the organization's mission and fundraising priorities.
Integrity: Demonstrated integrity and credibility in representing River Heritage Conservancy, coupled with a commitment to ethical fundraising practices.
Strategic Vision: Ability to develop and implement ambitious fundraising strategies aligned with organizational objectives, driving sustainable growth and community impact.
Collaborative Leadership: Proven experience in fostering collaboration and building strong partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.
Mission Alignment: Strong belief in River Heritage Conservancy's mission, with a passion for promoting community engagement and environmental conservation.
Professional Expertise: A record of success in non‑profits or businesses that have worked with, but not limited to, projects involving parks, gardens, conservation, urban redevelopment, or even large and complex economic development projects.
Collaborative Mindset: Embrace collaboration and teamwork to achieve shared goals and enhance community well‑being.
Innovative Thinking: Demonstrate creativity and resilience in addressing community needs, embracing change and innovation for meaningful impact.
Accountability: Take personal responsibility for actions and contributions, maintaining transparency and accountability in all interactions.
Additional Information
This role reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer and serves as a key member of the executive leadership team, contributing to the organization's long‑term vision and strategic direction.
As a start‑up organization experiencing rapid growth and a forthcoming capital campaign, there is potential for this role to evolve into a Chief Development Officer (CDO) or Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) capacity.
Education Bachelor's degree or demonstrated professional/volunteer work experience.
Physical Demands/Work Environment
The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
To perform this job successfully, the employee is frequently required to communicate; listen; stand; use hands to grasp, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds without assistance.
The employee is frequently exposed to an office environment, with controlled temperatures. The employee is occasionally exposed to outdoor weather conditions including heat, cold, wind, rain, snow, ice, and fog.
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The Director of Development (DD) plays a pivotal role in advancing River Heritage Conservancy’s mission to create, develop, and sustain vibrant public parks along the Falls of the Ohio River and its surrounding shoreline. This position is responsible for leading revenue generation strategies and cultivating philanthropic and institutional partnerships essential to realizing the organization’s vision of dynamic, world‑class public spaces for recreation, community engagement, and environmental stewardship.
The Director of Development will help lead fundraising efforts for a complex, multi‑phase park system with long‑term capital, operational, and stewardship needs, ensuring that philanthropic support keeps pace with organizational growth. River Heritage Conservancy is currently in the quiet phase of a major capital campaign, with a public phase anticipated in the future. The Director will be a key leader in shaping and advancing this campaign while also strengthening ongoing annual, major, and planned giving efforts.
Duties and Responsibilities: Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the Director of Development will lead the organization’s comprehensive fundraising and donor engagement efforts, overseeing the strategy, execution, and performance of all revenue‑generating programs. This role provides executive leadership to the Development Department and is accountable for results across annual campaigns, major gifts, planned giving, grants, and membership programs.
The Director will work closely with the CEO, Board of Directors, development committees, community leaders, and key stakeholders to cultivate a strong culture of philanthropy and to ensure donor engagement is meaningful, strategic, and mission aligned. With a proven track record in revenue generation and leadership, the Director will align ambitious fundraising initiatives with River Heritage Conservancy’s long‑term vision, capital priorities, and commitment to sustainable growth.
Lead the development and execution of comprehensive revenue generation strategies, emphasizing corporate, individual, and foundation donations, as well as planned and endowment gifts, to support park creation and maintenance.
Direct the activities of development committees, leveraging their expertise to support fundraising initiatives and effectively engage key stakeholders.
Drive the expansion and diversification of fundraising channels, integrating innovative approaches to enhance donor participation and revenue generation.
Support capital campaign planning and execution, including prospect strategy, leadership engagement, and coordination with consultants, as appropriate.
Provide executive leadership to the Development Department, managing areas such as annual campaigns, major gifts, planned giving, public/private grants, membership programs, and overall development operations.
Guide the ongoing evolution of the Development team by assessing and refining structure, roles, and workflows to support current operations and future growth, while establishing clear performance expectations, metrics, and accountability for results.
Provide direct support to the CEO and other key organizational leaders as they engage, cultivate, and solicit major and lead donors for the Conservancy and its capital campaign.
Personally engage, cultivate, solicit, and steward major and lead donors serving as a primary relationship manager for top prospects.
Cultivate a culture of philanthropy, ensuring donor experiences align with the organization's commitment to excellence through personalized stewardship and engagement. Collaborate closely with the Board of Directors, community leaders, and stakeholders to maximize fundraising potential and community impact.
Supervises: Associate Director of Development, Development and Membership Manager, and Contract Development Associate
Position Qualifications
Experience: Minimum of five years’ executive leadership and management experience in nonprofit, corporate, or similar organizations, demonstrating success in revenue generation.
Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively articulate the organization's mission and fundraising priorities.
Integrity: Demonstrated integrity and credibility in representing River Heritage Conservancy, coupled with a commitment to ethical fundraising practices.
Strategic Vision: Ability to develop and implement ambitious fundraising strategies aligned with organizational objectives, driving sustainable growth and community impact.
Collaborative Leadership: Proven experience in fostering collaboration and building strong partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.
Mission Alignment: Strong belief in River Heritage Conservancy's mission, with a passion for promoting community engagement and environmental conservation.
Professional Expertise: A record of success in non‑profits or businesses that have worked with, but not limited to, projects involving parks, gardens, conservation, urban redevelopment, or even large and complex economic development projects.
Collaborative Mindset: Embrace collaboration and teamwork to achieve shared goals and enhance community well‑being.
Innovative Thinking: Demonstrate creativity and resilience in addressing community needs, embracing change and innovation for meaningful impact.
Accountability: Take personal responsibility for actions and contributions, maintaining transparency and accountability in all interactions.
Additional Information
This role reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer and serves as a key member of the executive leadership team, contributing to the organization's long‑term vision and strategic direction.
As a start‑up organization experiencing rapid growth and a forthcoming capital campaign, there is potential for this role to evolve into a Chief Development Officer (CDO) or Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) capacity.
Education Bachelor's degree or demonstrated professional/volunteer work experience.
Physical Demands/Work Environment
The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
To perform this job successfully, the employee is frequently required to communicate; listen; stand; use hands to grasp, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds without assistance.
The employee is frequently exposed to an office environment, with controlled temperatures. The employee is occasionally exposed to outdoor weather conditions including heat, cold, wind, rain, snow, ice, and fog.
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