Job Description

<p>Reserve connects people to nature with key mission priorities in horticulture, design, conservation, well-being, and creativity. Reserve is dedicated to continuing its work to become a community-focused organization, expanding support, and ensuring long-term financial sustainability. Currently, we are focusing on building general operating support to ensure financial stability to continue serving a record number of guests each year while maintaining healthy membership growth.</p><p>The Director of Development will play a crucial role in the transition by developing and implementing strategies to enhance financial sustainability. Key initiatives include major gifts, planned giving, annual giving, and membership programs in collaboration with Reserve’s President/CEO, staff, and board members.</p><p>The Director will manage the Development department staff, guiding the future direction and strategies for Reserve’s philanthropy plan. We are passionate about nature and community engagement in sustainable development, and we invite you to join us in making a lasting impact at Bloedel Reserve.</p><p>Bloedel Reserve is a 140-acre wonder of nature created from the imagination and vision of the founders, Prentice and Virginia Bloedel. Working with the rugged geography of the land, they artfully transformed the rough-hewn Northwest forest into a harmonious series of curated gardens and structural features within distinctive landscapes. The Reserve is located on the north end of Bainbridge Island, just a short 35-minute ferry ride from downtown Seattle, and shares the wonders of nature with visitors from around the world through unguided walks and targeted programs that support connection to nature, horticulture, and the environment.</p><h3>Essential Duties and Responsibilities</h3><ul><li>Develop and implement creative and compelling initiatives and strategies for identifying and engaging diverse constituencies to expand the donor base and meet Bloedel’s fundraising goals.</li><li>Develop strategies for identification, solicitation, cultivation, and stewardship for the growth of major gift donors.</li><li>Manage a portfolio of leadership major gift donors, including solicitation and gift completion.</li><li>Create and implement comprehensive strategic fundraising and membership development plans to support annual and multi-year institutional vision goals.</li><li>Assure effective planning processes are established for strategy development, goal setting, reporting, metrics evaluation, and results.</li><li>Develop compelling philanthropic cases for support that align with the institutional vision and goals, engaging key stakeholders.</li><li>Serve as the staff lead for the board Development Committee, developing and supporting board engagement and donor development activities.</li><li>Manage the performance of assigned staff, including hiring, developing, and evaluating.</li><li>Exercise expertise in evaluating and aligning development functions and processes needed to meet objectives.</li><li>Build and maintain strong collaborative relationships with staff across the organization, focusing on strong partner relationships.</li><li>Represent Bloedel at speaking engagements and internal/external events as appropriate.</li><li>Ensure successful communications, public relations, and marketing efforts support strategic annual plans.</li><li>Manage the membership program, including Canopy Support member levels.</li><li>Innovate and create new pathways for community members to learn and engage with Bloedel Reserve in an authentic way.</li></ul><h3>Qualifications</h3><ul><li>Development Experience: Five (5) years of nonprofit philanthropy experience or equivalent.</li><li>Brings progressive thinking with understanding of development trends and best practices in fundraising.</li><li>Knowledge of facets of fundraising campaigns, with direct experience in setting and implementing prospect/donor stewardship, cultivation, and solicitation strategies.</li><li>Proven major gift solicitation skills and success.</li><li>Leadership Planning: Proven track record in building a culture of philanthropy.</li><li>Significant strategic planning experience with the ability to influence leadership and mobilize stakeholders behind a vision supporting a plan.</li><li>Relational and Collaborative: Ability to successfully develop and build relationships and strategic alliances, resulting in collaboration across the organization with volunteers, staff, and board members.</li><li>Building and Leading Teams: Successful experience in building, developing, and leading a team, including excellent facilitation skills and the ability to engage assigned teams in collective work for success.</li><li>Experience working with Board Members and Volunteers: Experience in creating appropriate avenues for successful participation in fundraising strategy activities, including skills needed to help volunteers identify and qualify new prospects.</li><li>Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.</li><li>Emotional intelligence: Demonstrates the ability to work in harmony at all levels, listens to and respects the viewpoints of others, and shares recognition.</li><li>Education: Undergraduate degree from a college or university is preferred; evidence of continuing education, graduate degree, or participation in conferences, seminars, and workshops related to fundraising techniques is a plus.</li><li>Demonstrated passion for horticulture, the arts, and/or community involvement.</li><li>Must pass a background check.</li><li>Must comply with and maintain a smoke-free and drug-free work environment.</li></ul><h3>Authority and Reporting Structure</h3><p>This position reports directly to the President/CEO and oversees a Development Team comprised of a Development Manager and Development Coordinator. The Director of Development is one of Bloedel Reserve’s public faces, responsible for interacting with volunteers, staff, and Board members every day.</p><h3>Salary and Benefits</h3><p>This is a full-time, exempt position. The starting salary is $100,000 – $115,000 annually, depending on the candidate’s skills and experience. Reserve also offers a generous benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision insurance (97% of employee-only premiums paid by Reserve), life insurance, short-term and long-term disability (100% of premiums paid by Reserve), flexible spending accounts (health care, dependent care, and transportation plans), a 401(k) retirement plan with a discretionary 5% employer match after one year of service, support for professional development and training, and generous vacation and sick leave plus 8 paid holidays and 2 personal holidays.</p>