Director of Development

The Chesapeake Bay and our region’s other natural resources are one of the nation’s greatest assets, and at the Chesapeake Bay Trust, we believe getting the community involved is key to restoring and protecting our watersheds. Our tagline, “Empowering people, Restoring nature” perfectly describes who we are: We deliver resources to communities on the ground who lead and sustain their own projects that improve their communities as well as natural resources.

We are looking for a Director of Development to lead a team that tackles all aspects of fund development and stewardship for our organization, while him/her/themselves specializing in major giving and help us ensure the health and vitality of the Bay and our region’s other natural resources for generations to come.

The Director of Development will manage the organization’s major giving program, including executing strategies to steward existing major donors (e.g., events, field tours, individual cultivation); attract new support from individuals, corporations, foundations, and public sources; and build new programs such as our budding endowment and planned giving programs.  The Director will also oversee a direct report who leads our annual giving program.

This person will be a key member of a high-energy, collaborative team of 40+ who work diligently to advance the Trust’s mission and daily consider the Trust’s core values of grantee focus, accountability and transparency, inclusiveness, collaboration, and innovation. The Director of Development reports to the Vice President of Communications and Advancement and supervises one development team member. 

This is a full-time, salaried position (40 hours per week). 

Key Responsibilities:

Major Giving

• Identify new major donor support and cultivate individual large gifts.
• Communicate and maintain relationships with past and current major donors.
• Lead, with staff support, the planning and managing of special events driven by major giving goals.  Events currently include an annual fundraiser, an evening event series at our headquarters, and field tours.
• Lead, with staff support, donor and prospect database (Raiser’s Edge).

Annual Giving

• Oversee a team member’s end of year (and any other) new acquisition activities.
  
• Oversee a team member’s end of year and ongoing renewal donor program.
  
• Oversee a team member’s communication with annual donors.
  

Planned Giving

• Expand the Trust’s fledgling Planned Giving program.

Endowment

• Market the Trust’s fledgling endowment to major (and other) donors.

Corporate and Foundation Grants:

• Identify and pursue potential sources of corporate and foundation grants, delegating certain opportunities and relationships to a team member and leading others.
• Lead and/or delegate submission of grant proposals targeting unrestricted funding sources.
• Lead and/or delegate submission of grant proposals targeting restricted funding sources (e.g., raising revenue for the Trust’s Mike V. Miller Chesapeake Conservation and Climate Corps Program).

Overarching Development Strategy and Protocol:

• Adaptively manage/lead the development strategy for the Trust, according to the Trust’s strategic plan.
• Evaluate both new and existing strategies (e.g, events, donor outreach methods, etc.) to determine optimal ways to accomplish the above goals.
• Ensure protocols are compliant with all laws, regulations, and accounting standards related to charitable giving.
• Create web content associated with development-related components of the website and e-communications to donors.
• Contribute to the Trust’s Annual Report.

Expertise and Qualifications:

• 8+ years of professional development experience (preferred)
• Proven track record of raising funds from diverse sources, including major gifts from individuals, foundations, corporations, and special events (required)
• Experience in staff management and mentorship (preferred)
• Computer proficiency in programs such as Microsoft Office, Zoom, contact management databases, and fundraising software (required)
• Current knowledge of IRS regulations applicable to gifts received (required)

About the Chesapeake Bay Trust:

The Chesapeake Bay Trust seeks to engage and empower diverse groups to take actions that enrich the natural resources and local communities of the Chesapeake Bay region. The Trust is a non-profit grant-making organization established by state government in 1985. The Trust makes approximately 400 grants per year ranging from $100 to $200,000 for projects in the K-12 environmental education, on-the-ground restoration, science, and community engagement realms. In the past 15 years, the Trust has increased its grant-making and therefore revenue four-fold through various revenues streams under the purview of four Trust departments, of which the Development Department is one, with current annual grant-making of approximately $11 million.

Salary and Benefits: $92,000-$107,000 with an excellent benefits package and opportunities for related professional development. 

This position offers:

• Annual starting salary of $92-107K
• Competitive benefits: Health insurance, Retirement with match, generous paid time off
• Professional Development resources and opportunities
• A cohesive, mission-oriented, and intellectually curious team
• Hybrid work schedule (at least 1 day in the office per week)
• Fun, new green office space, with outdoor work space and perks (e.g., kayaks for staff use)

Application Instructions and Deadline:

The position will remain open until filled with review of applications beginning May 30, 2025.  Please submit your résumé and cover letter to apply.  In your cover letter, please address your ability, based on your skills and experience, to accomplish the specific duties of the position as outlined above. Your cover letter is the most important piece of your application. In your cover letter, please address your ability to accomplish the duties of the position as listed above. Please do not simply list your previous experience. Your cover letter should describe what makes you a strong match specifically for this position, and why this position is a match for you.

The Chesapeake Bay Trust provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, or disability in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.   We encourage applications from people of color. Applicants must have a residential address in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, or Washington D.C and must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. The Trust does not participate in programs that require sponsorship for work visas.