Bloedel Reserve
Director of Development
Bloedel Reserve, Bainbridge Island, Washington, United States, 98110
Bloedel Reserve is seeking a dynamic, effective, and collaborative Director of Development to join our team and further advance our mission "to enrich people's lives through a premier public garden of designed and natural Pacific Northwest landscapes." The Reserve connects people to nature through its key mission priorities of horticulture & design, conservation, well-being, and creativity.
The Reserve is dedicated to continuing our work to become a community-focused organization, expanding our support, and ensuring long-term financial sustainability. We are currently focusing on building our general operating support and ensuring our financial stability to continue serving a record number of guests each year and maintaining healthy membership growth.
The Director of Development will play a crucial role in this transition by developing and implementing strategies to enhance our financial sustainability. Key initiatives will include major gifts, planned giving, annual giving, and membership programs, in collaboration with the Reserve's President/CEO, staff, and board members. The Director will manage the Development department and its staff, guiding the future direction and strategies of the Reserve's philanthropy plan.
If you are passionate about nature, community engagement, and sustainable development, we invite you to join us in making a lasting impact at Bloedel Reserve.
About Bloedel Reserve
Bloedel Reserve is a 140-acre wonder of nature, created by the imagination, vision, and a passionate love of the natural world shared by our founders, Prentice and Virginia Bloedel. Working with the rugged geography of the land, they artfully transformed a rough-hewn Northwest forest into a harmonious series of curated gardens, structural features, and distinctive landscapes. The Reserve is on the north end of Bainbridge Island, a short 35 minute ferry ride from downtown Seattle. We share the wonders of nature with visitors from both around the world and close to home, through unguided walks and targeted programs to support a connection with nature, horticulture, and the environment.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
Develops and implements creative and compelling initiatives and strategies for identifying and engaging diverse constituencies and expanding the donor base to meet Bloedel's fundraising goals.Develops strategies for the identification, solicitation, cultivation, stewardship, and growth of major gift donors.Manages a portfolio of leadership and major gifts donors, including solicitation and gift completion.Creates and implements comprehensive strategic fundraising and membership development plans to support annual and multi-year institutional vision and goals. Assures effective planning processes are established for strategy development, goal setting, reporting, metrics, and evaluation of results.Develops compelling philanthropic cases for support aligned with institutional vision and goals through the engagement of key stakeholders.Serves as the staff lead for the board Development Committee and develops and supports board engagement in donor development and giving activities.Manages the performance of assigned staff, to include hiring, developing, and evaluating. Exercises expertise in evaluating and aligning development function and processes needed to meet objectives.Builds and maintains strong collaborative relationships with staff across the organization with a focus on strong partner relationship with the Leadership Management Team (Director colleagues) to advance development and membership initiatives in accordance with the Master Plan.Develops and manages development and membership program budgets.Represents Bloedel in speaking engagements at internal and external events as appropriate.Ensures successful communications, public relations, and marketing efforts in support of strategic and annual plans.Manages our membership program, including our Canopy of Support member levels.Innovates and creates new pathways for community members to learn about and engage with Bloedel Reserve in an authentic way.Qualifications
Development Experience: five (5) years of nonprofit philanthropy experience or equivalent. Brings progressive thinking and understanding of development trends and best practices in fundraising. Knowledge of all facets of Campaigns. Direct experience in setting and implementing prospect/donor stewardship, cultivation, and solicitation strategies. Proven major gift solicitation skills and success.Leadership & Planning: proven track record in building a culture of philanthropy. Significant strategic planning experience and the ability to influence leadership and mobilize stakeholders behind a vision and supporting plan.Relational & Collaborative: ability to successfully develop and build relationships and strategic alliances resulting in collaboration across the organization with volunteers, staff, and board members.Building & Leading Teams: successful experience building, developing, and leading a team, including excellent facilitation skills and the ability to engage assigned teams in the collective work and success of the group.Working with Board Members and Volunteers: experience working with board members and volunteers; ability to create appropriate avenues for their successful participation in fundraising strategy and activities, including the skills needed to help volunteers identify and qualify new prospects.Communication: exceptional written and verbal communication skills.Emotional intelligence: demonstrates the ability to work in harmony at all levels, listens to and respects the viewpoints of others, and shares recognition.Education: undergraduate degree from a college or university is preferred. Evidence of continuing education through a graduate degree, conferences, seminars, and workshops in fundraising techniques is aDemonstrated passion for horticulture, the arts, and/or community involvementMust pass background checkMust comply with and maintain a smoke-free and drug-free work environment
Authority & Reporting Structure
This position reports directly to the President & CEO and oversees the Development Team, which is comprised of Development Manager and Development Coordinator. The Director of Development is one of the Bloedel Reserve's most public faces and will be responsible for interacting with volunteers, staff, and Board members every day.
Salary & Benefits
This is a full-time, exempt position. Starting salary is $100,000 - 115,000 annually, depending on the candidate's skills and experience.
The Reserve also offers a generous benefits package.Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance - 97% of the employee-only premiums paid by the ReserveLife Insurance, Short-Term Disability, and Long-Term Disability - 100% of the premiums paid by the ReserveFlexible Spending Accounts - Health Care, Dependent Care, and Transportation plans401k Retirement Plan - discretionary 5% employer match after one year of serviceSupport for professional development and trainingGenerous vacation (3 weeks/year), sick leave (12 days/year), and personal holidays (13 days/year)
The Reserve is dedicated to continuing our work to become a community-focused organization, expanding our support, and ensuring long-term financial sustainability. We are currently focusing on building our general operating support and ensuring our financial stability to continue serving a record number of guests each year and maintaining healthy membership growth.
The Director of Development will play a crucial role in this transition by developing and implementing strategies to enhance our financial sustainability. Key initiatives will include major gifts, planned giving, annual giving, and membership programs, in collaboration with the Reserve's President/CEO, staff, and board members. The Director will manage the Development department and its staff, guiding the future direction and strategies of the Reserve's philanthropy plan.
If you are passionate about nature, community engagement, and sustainable development, we invite you to join us in making a lasting impact at Bloedel Reserve.
About Bloedel Reserve
Bloedel Reserve is a 140-acre wonder of nature, created by the imagination, vision, and a passionate love of the natural world shared by our founders, Prentice and Virginia Bloedel. Working with the rugged geography of the land, they artfully transformed a rough-hewn Northwest forest into a harmonious series of curated gardens, structural features, and distinctive landscapes. The Reserve is on the north end of Bainbridge Island, a short 35 minute ferry ride from downtown Seattle. We share the wonders of nature with visitors from both around the world and close to home, through unguided walks and targeted programs to support a connection with nature, horticulture, and the environment.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
Develops and implements creative and compelling initiatives and strategies for identifying and engaging diverse constituencies and expanding the donor base to meet Bloedel's fundraising goals.Develops strategies for the identification, solicitation, cultivation, stewardship, and growth of major gift donors.Manages a portfolio of leadership and major gifts donors, including solicitation and gift completion.Creates and implements comprehensive strategic fundraising and membership development plans to support annual and multi-year institutional vision and goals. Assures effective planning processes are established for strategy development, goal setting, reporting, metrics, and evaluation of results.Develops compelling philanthropic cases for support aligned with institutional vision and goals through the engagement of key stakeholders.Serves as the staff lead for the board Development Committee and develops and supports board engagement in donor development and giving activities.Manages the performance of assigned staff, to include hiring, developing, and evaluating. Exercises expertise in evaluating and aligning development function and processes needed to meet objectives.Builds and maintains strong collaborative relationships with staff across the organization with a focus on strong partner relationship with the Leadership Management Team (Director colleagues) to advance development and membership initiatives in accordance with the Master Plan.Develops and manages development and membership program budgets.Represents Bloedel in speaking engagements at internal and external events as appropriate.Ensures successful communications, public relations, and marketing efforts in support of strategic and annual plans.Manages our membership program, including our Canopy of Support member levels.Innovates and creates new pathways for community members to learn about and engage with Bloedel Reserve in an authentic way.Qualifications
Development Experience: five (5) years of nonprofit philanthropy experience or equivalent. Brings progressive thinking and understanding of development trends and best practices in fundraising. Knowledge of all facets of Campaigns. Direct experience in setting and implementing prospect/donor stewardship, cultivation, and solicitation strategies. Proven major gift solicitation skills and success.Leadership & Planning: proven track record in building a culture of philanthropy. Significant strategic planning experience and the ability to influence leadership and mobilize stakeholders behind a vision and supporting plan.Relational & Collaborative: ability to successfully develop and build relationships and strategic alliances resulting in collaboration across the organization with volunteers, staff, and board members.Building & Leading Teams: successful experience building, developing, and leading a team, including excellent facilitation skills and the ability to engage assigned teams in the collective work and success of the group.Working with Board Members and Volunteers: experience working with board members and volunteers; ability to create appropriate avenues for their successful participation in fundraising strategy and activities, including the skills needed to help volunteers identify and qualify new prospects.Communication: exceptional written and verbal communication skills.Emotional intelligence: demonstrates the ability to work in harmony at all levels, listens to and respects the viewpoints of others, and shares recognition.Education: undergraduate degree from a college or university is preferred. Evidence of continuing education through a graduate degree, conferences, seminars, and workshops in fundraising techniques is aDemonstrated passion for horticulture, the arts, and/or community involvementMust pass background checkMust comply with and maintain a smoke-free and drug-free work environment
Authority & Reporting Structure
This position reports directly to the President & CEO and oversees the Development Team, which is comprised of Development Manager and Development Coordinator. The Director of Development is one of the Bloedel Reserve's most public faces and will be responsible for interacting with volunteers, staff, and Board members every day.
Salary & Benefits
This is a full-time, exempt position. Starting salary is $100,000 - 115,000 annually, depending on the candidate's skills and experience.
The Reserve also offers a generous benefits package.Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance - 97% of the employee-only premiums paid by the ReserveLife Insurance, Short-Term Disability, and Long-Term Disability - 100% of the premiums paid by the ReserveFlexible Spending Accounts - Health Care, Dependent Care, and Transportation plans401k Retirement Plan - discretionary 5% employer match after one year of serviceSupport for professional development and trainingGenerous vacation (3 weeks/year), sick leave (12 days/year), and personal holidays (13 days/year)