Director of Development

Reporting to: Vice President of Development
Supporting: ELM and the ELM Action Fund

Position Description: The Environmental League of Massachusetts (ELM) and the ELM Action Fund (ELM AF) are committed to advocating for policy and building political power in Massachusetts to meet the scale and urgency of our environmental challenges. ELM has created a new Director of Development role to position both organizations for growth. The Director of Development will be an integral member of a collegial and effective 17-person advocacy team. Read our purpose, mission, vision, and values for ELM and the ELM Action Fund.

We seek a passionate, energetic, and effective Director of Development to drive our fundraising efforts. The right candidate is motivated by the opportunity to work with existing supporters and engage new potential supporters to raise the revenue needed to help ELM and the ELM Action Fund achieve our ambitious goals. The scope includes donor strategy, identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship. The Director of Development will recognize that their work is at the very heart of driving equitable environmental progress and will find meaning, purpose, and energy from this essential role.

The Director of Development will report to ELM’s Vice President of Development and collaborate closely with ELM’s President and the ELM Action Fund’s Executive Director. They will work closely with the VP of Development, Data Manager, and Communications and Events Manager, as well as members of each organization’s Board and the ELM Advisory Council.

Responsibilities: 

Direct Fundraising & Stewardship

  • Manage a portfolio of current major individual and institutional supporters, with a focus on individual supporters
    • Create custom cultivation, solicitation and stewardship plans for the organizations’ leading supporters
    • Support and direct the fundraising activities of the ELM President, ELM Action Fund Executive Director, and VP of Development
    • Meet with current supporters regularly to strengthen their relationships to ELM and ELM Action Fund
  • Coach leadership staff on interactions with current and prospective supporters
  • Identify and engage prospective supporters to gauge interest in supporting ELM and the ELM Action Fund
  • Work with members of the ELM and ELM Action Fund Boards and Advisory Council to engage individuals in their networks
  • Engage foundation representatives to maintain and grow existing relationships and cultivate new relationships
  • Assist in writing and editing proposals and reports
  • Make direct solicitations of $5K+

Communications & Events

  • Foster an understanding of fundraising within ELM staff, and help build a culture of philanthropy within the Boards of Directors and ELM’s Advisory Council
  • Work with current supporters and staff on planning, execution and follow-up from donor engagement and stewardship events.
  • Advise on donor communications content and delivery
  • Partner with communications staff to coordinate and integrate stewardship, e-mails, direct mail, impact reports, and online fundraising

Required Skills:

  • Infectious enthusiasm for ELM’s mission
  • Experience managing a portfolio of individual and foundation donors
  • Development experience in the non-profit sector, with preference for experience with environmental/climate organizations
  • Track record of identifying, cultivating, and soliciting significant individual and foundation donors
  • Exceptional listening and written and verbal communication skills
  • Confident in building relationships with high net worth individuals, and able to tailor funding requests to align with donors’ interests and motivations
  • Experience using constituent relationship management software, with a preference for Salesforce
  • Understanding of, or ability to learn quickly about, environmental issues, public policy, politics, and their potential to improve the lives of the people of the Commonwealth
  • Collaborative, “all-hands-on deck” orientation around getting work done
  • Dedication to integrity, honesty, collaboration, and transparency
  • Commitment to integrating racial justice and equity into ELM’s work and to ensuring an inclusive organizational culture

Preferred Skills:

  • Fundraising experience for political candidates or a 501c4 entity
  • Experience with and commitment to developing a racially diverse group of donors

Compensation & Benefits:

$110,000-$130,000, depending on experience. ELM provides generous paid time off, health insurance, a health reimbursement account, and a 403(b) retirement plan with organizational match.

This full-time role requires occasional morning and evening commitments outside of the standard 9-5 office hours. The position is based in Boston, MA and will require periodic travel to meet donors and key stakeholders within Massachusetts. ELM supports a hybrid work environment.

To Apply:

The Environmental League of Massachusetts is partnering directly with ThinkingAhead Executive Search’s Nonprofit Division for this search. If you are qualified and interested, please contact:

Kay Linder
Partner, Nonprofit Division
ThinkingAhead Executive Search
klinder@thinkingahead.com

Heather Campbell
Partner, Nonprofit Division
ThinkingAhead Executive Search
hcampbell@thinkingahead.com