Description

Job Title: Director of Development

Reports To: Executive Director

FLSA Status: Full Time Exempt

Location: Asheville/Hendersonville, NC

Last Updated: 7/19/21

Summary

Founded in 2015, The Pisgah Conservancy (“TPC”) is a nonprofit corporation dedicated to preserving the natural resources and scenic beauty of the Pisgah National Forest and enhancing the recreational experience of its users.  We support the maintenance and construction of trails and other infrastructure, work to keep waterways clean, remove non-native invasive species, remove waste, litter, and graffiti, improve wildlife habitat, and conduct educational activities to enhance public awareness of environmental concerns in Pisgah.  We fund certain operations through collaborative agreements with the U.S. Forest Service, raise money through periodic raffles or auctions, and receive funding from the sale of license plates.  We also use traditional fundraising methods such as face-to-face solicitations, special events, direct mail appeals, grant writing, and planned giving to raise project revenue and annual operating funds. 

The Director of Development is responsible for developing and implementing an aggressive, comprehensive fundraising operation.  He or she must be a self-starter, with a creative, entrepreneurial spirit, great interpersonal skills, an innate drive for fundraising, and a passion for TPC’s mission.  The Director of Development will work with the Executive Director, staff, and Board members to create and implement all fundraising goals. 

Duties and Responsibilities

We have listed duties and responsibilities below for the benefit of candidates considering this position.  The crux of the message, however, should be that the Director of Development should “own” TPC’s fundraising and marketing activity.  He or she should help us develop appropriate fundraising goals, prioritize his or her activity effectively, and find a way to reach those goals. 

• Fundraising
  
  
• Drive increase in core (non-restricted) funding
  • Build donor network through personal outreach and management of outreach efforts by Executive Director and Board.
  • Assist in identifying and recruiting qualified new Board members.
  • Manage and expand direct mail, e-blasts, telephone, and web solicitation program for individual gifts.
  • Build and cultivate major donor list.
  • Build TPC corporate gifts program.
  • Coordinate and deliver successful fundraising events, including raffles.
  • Expand and promote TPC’s Planned Giving Program.
  • Expand geographic base of TPC donors.
    
    
• Provide Support for Capital Campaigns
  • Support Executive Director, staff, and Board on capital campaigns (generally focused at specific projects in the forest).
  • Write proposals for grants and provide reports to grantors.
    
    
• Annual Giving & Major Gifts
  • Develop and manage the TPC Major Gifts program.
  • Plan and administer an annual giving program that increases both the number of donors and annual gift totals.
  • Manage reports and use statistics to evaluate current annual giving programming and make recommendations for program improvement. Analyze giving trends to achieve fundraising goals during the fiscal year, and to set annual goals and objectives.
  • Manage the development of annual giving materials.
  • Work with the Executive Director on identification and cultivation of major gifts and endowments.
    
    
• DonorRelations
  
  
• Conduct research to assess prospect/donor capability.
• Convert prospects to donors and increase gifts.
• Drive donor acquisition, acknowledgement of gifts, and donor recognition.
• Ensure that all prospective donors are tracked, solicited, and engaged in fundraising events.
• Manage donor database (Bloomerang).
  
  
• Marketing/Communications
  
  
• Direct all social media activity and content for TPC.
• Manage all public communications and marketing for the development function.
• Produce monthly newsletter.
• Collaborate with internal and/or external marketing resources on branding message.
• Work closely with Executive Director as a constituent builder and solicitation partner.
• Seek and build collaborative relationships with various constituencies of TPC, including the TPC Board of Directors, Advisory Boards, public officials, friends, volunteers, staff, foundations, and corporations in alignment with TPC’s goals.
  
  
• Planning/Administration
  
  
• Develop annual and 3-year goals that support the TPC Strategic plan and inform the annual budget.
• Track and report achievement of goals on regular basis.
• Stay abreast of current trends and technology in the development and fundraising field.
  
  
• Metrics
• Face-to-face meetings with prospects or donors -- 200+ per year
• Increases in core (non-restricted) revenue
  • Equal to 50% of Director’s Salary in 2022 (versus 2021 actuals)
  • Equal to 90% of Director’s Salary in 2023 (versus 2021 actuals)
  • Equal to 150% of Director’s Salary in 2024 (versus 2021 actuals)

• Annual increases of number of donors in all donor categories, particularly in the $500/Year, $1000/Year, $5000/Year, and $10,000/Year-and-Above categories.
• Annual increases in raffle income.
• Successful publication of monthly newsletter.
• Successful expansion of geographic donor base.

Working Conditions

• Frequent travel (generally by personal vehicle in the Western North Carolina region).
• Irregular hours are expected and may be require
• Must be able to work from home.
• TPC is a small organization, with limited fundraising staff support. Director of Development must be able to perform as an independent contributor.
• Must be able to lift 40 pounds.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• A minimum of five years’ experience in development and fundrais
• Experience in Western North Carolina and conservation/environmental fields preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge and passion for TPC’s mission, history, and philosophy.
• Proven effectiveness in working within a collaborative team environment to achieve goals.
• A proven track record of:
  • securing leadership and major gifts;
  • applying development best practices;
  • building philanthropic relationships;
  • planning annual giving;
  • developing and supporting the use of technological innovations; and
  • applying prospect cultivation strategies in a progressive development operat
• Exemplary writing, speaking, and presentation skills.
• Experience with special event design and manageme
• Ability to examine effectiveness of fundraising efforts and ongoing trend analysis.
• Effective budget management experience.
• Familiarity and experience with computer databases (preferably Bloomerang)
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs (Word, Excel).
• Be able to clear all background and motor vehicle screening.
• Candidates should provide three references

Compensation and Benefits

• Base salary comparable to industry standards within the non-profit environment in Western North Carolina ($75,000 -- $90,000, depending on candidate qualifications).
• Potential for annual bonus based on performance, subject to Board approval.
• Eligible for full time benefits, including health care and retirement.

TPC prohibits discrimination against, and harassment of, any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, age, religion, sex, gender, pregnancy, genetic information, ethnic or national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, familial status, military or veteran status, qualified individuals with a disability on the basis of the disability, or any other category which may be protected under applicable local, state or federal law. TPC promotes respect for all people and will not tolerate harassment based on any of these characteristics nor on differences based on gender identity or expression.

Requirements

The Pisgah Conservancy

Founded, October 2015

Mission Statement

The mission of The Pisgah Conservancy (“TPC”) is to provide funding to preserve the natural resources and scenic beauty of the Pisgah Ranger District (“Pisgah”) and to enhance the recreational experience of all visitors to Pisgah.

Project Plan

TPC is being founded to support the District because it contributes profoundly to our lives, our organizations, and our communities -- and because it needs our help. Managing National Forest system resources has become increasingly challenging.[1]  In a world of debilitating government budget battles and shutdowns, the private sector has an opportunity to play an increasingly important role in maintaining the richness of the Pisgah for future generations.  TPC is one key mechanism through which we hope to accomplish just that.

Our Goals

Supporting Recreation -- Maintenance and Construction.  A primary goal of TPC will be to enhance the recreational experience of visitors to the Pisgah while protecting the rich natural resources that attract them in the first place. Construction and maintenance of infrastructure on the District, including trails, trailheads, buildings, monuments, parking lots, and other facilities will play a central role in accomplishing that goal.  At the time of the founding of TPC, a substantial majority of the trails on the Pisgah do not satisfy the National Quality Standards for Trails.  For as long as TPC exists, our goal will be that 100% of the trails are upgraded to meet those standards.  We may move toward that goal in slow increments.  No doubt it will take years to accomplish.  But our goal will remain the same – 100% of the trails meeting those quality standards.   

TPC will support the environmental, social, and financial sustainability of Pisgah’s trails for a variety of recreational uses.  This means, among other things, working with federal, state, and local agencies and other interested parties to maintain trail stability, reduce erosion and flow of sediments to waterways, prevent unacceptable trail impacts on wildlife and cultural resources, ensure that trails and trail shelters are not in disrepair and are supported by user groups and volunteers, make sure that they serve a meaningful purpose within a trail complex (or, if not, support their decommissioning), promote user safety (including through improved signage), help open and maintain approved scenic vistas, and contribute sustainable funding for the trails.  Where appropriate, we will support improvements to and maintenance of trailhead complexes and Forest Service roads to help improve parking, sanitation, and access to trails.

We will support planning activities and help secure regulatory approvals (e.g., archeological and botanical approvals) for improvements – where clearly necessary to move specific projects forward.  Our bias, however, will always be to use our resources to produce tangible results in the field.

We also seek to make improvements to trails and trailheads that are aesthetically pleasing.  To the extent reasonably possible they should blend with the landscape and augment the natural beauty of the Pisgah.

Watershed Improvement.   Through our trail maintenance and education programs we will help reduce sediment runoff and keep trash from fouling our streams and rivers.  When needed, we will take other steps to improve riparian health, including  opening clogged culverts, reducing damage from river access sites, and the like.

Invasive Species Eradication.  We will support the eradication of invasive species from the Pisgah in conjunction with the efforts of the Forest Service and other agencies.

Removal of Waste, Litter, & Graffiti. We intend to support the Forest Service and organizations employed by the Forest Service in keeping the Pisgah pristine.  It is not acceptable to have waste, litter, and graffiti spoiling our campgrounds, trails, rivers, and forests.  We plan to help through our education and volunteer activities to keep them clean and beautiful.

Wildlife Habitat Improvement & Restoration.  We will take steps to maintain and improve the environment for wildlife on the Pisgah, in conjunction with the Forest Service and in accordance with its policies.

Education.  Our goal is to enhance the awareness of individuals in local communities and users of the Pisgah about its importance to our region and what is needed to protect it.  We will promote “leave-no-trace” principles, encouraging methods of trail usage that reduce damage to the environment.  We will provide mechanisms both for educating users and for improving feedback to government agencies and volunteer trail maintainers on trail conditions.

Funding Sources.  We intend to seek contributions and grants from individuals, corporations, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies aggressively and creatively, and in a manner that is consistent with the ongoing activities of the U.S. Forest Service in the District.  We intend to put 20% of every unrestricted dollar raised into a fund that over time will provide a dependable, ongoing income stream (based only on earnings from the fund) to support the goals of TPC.

Cost Management.  Our ultimate goal is to have 80% or more of our revenues go into projects that support our mission (i.e., supporting recreation--maintenance and construction, watershed improvement, invasive species eradication, removal of waste, litter, and graffiti, wildlife habitat improvement, and education) rather than into overhead, such as general/administrative and fund raising expenses.  To succeed in that goal we will have to be insanely cost conscious and lovingly supported by volunteers in all aspects of our activities.  Having said that, we will also need professional staff to drive the organization to become an important contributor to the future of the Pisgah.  We will spend administrative money when we must, but to repeat – we will be insanely cost conscious.  Our donors deserve nothing less.

Organizational Structure.  TPC is a North Carolina nonprofit corporation that has been approved by the IRS for tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.  TPC does not have “members” under the NC nonprofit statute (meaning essentially that we do not have anything akin to a shareholder).  We are managed by a board of directors.  The board appoints the officers of the organization who manage the day-to-day affairs of the organization.  The board appoints an advisory council composed of individuals representing a variety of user groups and volunteer organizations.  The advisory council makes recommendations to the board regarding projects to fund. 

Spending and Prioritization.  The board will approve all significant expenditures and ensure that the projects approved are generally consistent with prioritization strategies developed in conjunction with the Forest Service from time to time.  Occasionally there may be deviations from this strategy, for example when a donor wants to earmark a substantial sum to a particular project that might not be at the top of the Forest Service’s priorities.  So, although TPC’s goal is to support the Forest Service in a collaborative, supporting manner, it will have flexibility, at the board’s discretion, to support somewhat different initiatives on occasion.

User Groups.  The Pisgah is a treasure enjoyed by hikers, mountain bikers, equestrians, fishermen, hunters, trail runners, and others.  It is the intent of TPC to support projects that are, as much as is reasonably possible, supported by all user groups.  This does not mean we will always have unanimity of opinion.  It means that TPC is intended to be a unifying influence, to provide a forum where different opinions can be heard, and where action can be taken that supports the most important common goals of all groups. 

Future Growth Potential.  Initially, the focus of TPC will be on the Pisgah Ranger District.  Once the organization is well established we will consider expanding our scope to cover all of the Pisgah National Forest.  The timing of such expansion will be at the discretion of TPC’s board, working collaboratively with the Forest Service and other organizations.

[1] The Pisgah National Forest is among the most visited in the nation, with millions of visits annually. Of those visitors approximately 73% participate in hiking, bicycling, or horseback riding.  In recent years, annual non-motorized trail funding for the Pisgah Ranger District has been in the range of roughly $90,000 per year.  This equates to approximately $235 per trail mile.  It can cost $10,000-$15,000 per mile for contracted trail maintenance, and construction of new trails or relocations can be much more expensive.  So, the amount of Forest Service budgetary funding available is far less than that needed to maintain the trails to National Quality Standards.