The Nature Conservancy of Hawai’i works with colleagues around the world to implement donor-driven strategies that maximize overall giving to the Conservancy. The Director of Philanthropy (DOP) is responsible for all aspects of fundraising and development functions for the Hawai’i Chapter, which includes the State of Hawai’i and Palmyra Atoll, a U.S. territory. The DOP works independently and with teams to secure all private funds necessary to meet our conservation goals. S/he also establishes, implements and tracks measures, and indicators of fundraising program progress and success, manages a team of fundraising professionals, and reinforces compliance and consistency with related organizational policies and procedures. S/he leads diverse activities, develops complex processes, achieves project outcomes, and initiates solutions to improve the effectiveness of the Hawai’i Chapter’s philanthropy strategy. The DOP reports directly to the Hawai’i Executive Director.
The Director of Philanthropy leads a Philanthropy team in planning and implementing a comprehensive fundraising and development program that secures significant philanthropic resources from foundations, corporations, and individuals to support the Conservancy’s conservation priorities within Hawaiʻi, at Palmyra Atoll, and around the world. The DOP recruits, develops, inspires, and manages a team of high-performing fundraising and support professionals.
The DOP carries out these specific duties and others as needed:
- Works with staff in the Hawai’i Chapter and across the Conservancy to raise critical funding for the Conservancy’s high-priority conservation projects in Hawai’i, at Palmyra Atoll, and around the world. Develops and implements fundraising plan and strategies to secure annual fundraising goals of $4.5-7 million per year in donations and planned gifts.
- Is a critical member of the Hawai’i Management Team.
- Provides senior leadership to establish fundraising campaigns, and works with senior staff to establish and execute annual and multi-year fundraising goals and plans for the Hawai’i Chapter.
- Ensures the Philanthropy work is a collaborative and well-integrated effort across the Hawaiʻi Chapter. Works closely with Finance, Conservation and Communications Programs in developing fundraising, messaging and marketing strategies and providing guidance for funding proposals and related materials.
- Informs chapter budget planning to align with market potential and funding opportunities.
- Develops a written development plan for identified conservation priority areas, including specific funding opportunities aligned with strategies.
- Recommends and implements fundraising strategies.
- Assesses effectiveness of the chapter’s development plan in support of conservation goals.
- Leads, inspires, and manages the Hawai’i Chapter’s Philanthropy Team to achieve relationship-building and funding objectives:
- Sets and meets fundraising objectives, evaluates results and develops effective strategies as needed;
- Recruits, develops, and retains high-performing Philanthropy Team staff and nurtures effective team collaboration; and
- Directly manages a portfolio of high-level donors and/or fundraising volunteers.
- Works closely with the Hawai’i Chapter Board of Trustees to maximize its role in major gift fundraising, and collaborates with the Executive Director and Trustees in the identification, recruitment, onboarding and development of new volunteer leaders.
Actively fosters collaboration with The Nature Conservancy’s Worldwide Office, and with fundraising programs of other chapters to achieve the Conservancy’s goals.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE
- Broad management responsibility for a team of administrative and professional staff, including recruitment, retaining, professional development, establishing clear directions, setting “stretch” objectives, coaching, performance management, and overseeing the execution of day-to-day work.
- Broad financial responsibility including setting and meeting fundraising objectives, evaluating results, and developing corrective strategies as needed.
- Develops and administers the annual Hawaiʻi Philanthropy Program budget.
- Provide timely and accurate fundraising reports, analysis, and recommendations to Trustees, senior staff, and project managers.
- Experience asking for and closing major gifts.
- Experience building and maintaining long-term relationships with fundraising constituents including major donors, foundations, and corporations.
- Experience in developing and delivering budgetary responsibilities.
- Experience in developing accurate fundraising projections.
- Experience managing and supervising a multidisciplinary team.
- Experience working in a large, complex, not-for-profit organization.
- Experience, coursework, or other training in principles, practices, and procedures of private gift fundraising or relevant field.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Extensive management experience including the ability to motivate, lead, set objectives, and manage performance of a mid-size, multi-disciplinary team. Ability to foster an environment of collaboration, creativity, and professional growth.
- Expert knowledge of current and evolving trends in major gift giving and solicitation and strategic funding campaigns.
- Proven success in asking for and closing major gifts and building and maintaining long-term relationships with fundraising constituents, including major donors, foundations, and corporations.
- Working knowledge and effective understanding of the basics of charitable gift planning. Knowledge of more advanced gift planning concepts is desired.
- Possesses or can acquire necessary skills to access, interpret, and inform specialized software used by the Conservancy to capture donor information.