Associate Vice President for Development

The Everglades Foundation (the Foundation) seeks a dynamic and
highly accomplished development executive to serve as its Associate
Vice President for Development (AVP).

The Everglades is a national treasure. The ecosystem is home to
thousands of species of beautiful and fascinating wading birds,
mammals, fishes, reptiles, amphibians, and plants. It is home to
more than 70 threatened and endangered species, provides fresh
water to nearly eight million Floridians, and is an international
destination. However, America’s Everglades is on life support. More
than 100 years of ditching and draining have reduced the wetland to
half its original size; its wading bird population has diminished
by 90%; and pollution and other impacts have harmed much of the
remaining ecosystem resulting in toxic algae outbreaks and regional
environmental and economic loss. The Everglades Foundation supports
the science, education, and public funding efforts needed to
restore and protect America’s Everglades. The Everglades Foundation
is dedicated to restoring and protecting one of the world’s unique
natural ecosystems — providing economic, recreational, and
life-sustaining benefits to millions of people who depend on its
future health.

The Associate Vice President will report to the Vice President for
Development (VP). The team of professionals raises support for
scientific research, education programs, and bold advocacy
initiatives to propel forward the restoration of America’s
Everglades, the world’s largest ecosystem restoration effort. The
Everglades Foundation is the preeminent organization fighting for
the restoration of America’s Everglades. With an annual budget of
approximately $15 million, it is powered entirely by philanthropic
support. In 2022,The Everglades Foundation launched its first
endowment campaign, an ambitious three-year initiative to raise $75
million by the end of 2024 to ensure perpetual protection of
America’s Everglades. To date, almost $60 million has been
raised.

The AVP will help to continue in building infrastructure and
fundraising programs to support future science, education,
advocacy, and capital needs. Candidates should have an established
history of raising seven- and eight-figure gifts and be a seasoned,
metrics-driven fundraising leader and inspirational manager with a
strong dedication to the important environmental and educational
missions of the Foundation.

The Associate Vice President will be part of bringing the
Foundation’s philanthropic support to a new level. The new AVP will
be a strategic thinker and possess exceptional leadership qualities
such as an open, creative problem-solving approach and a
collaborative and collegial spirit. The candidate should have a
minimum of five to seven years of progressive experience in
development and direct management experience. Demonstrated
fundraising success in a complex organization is required. In
addition, the successful AVP candidate will have excellent
leadership skills to mentor and motivate a team and help the Vice
President create awareness of the Foundation’s most notable
scientific research, educational programs, and advocacy initiatives
to identify potential philanthropic funders for the Foundation’s
most pressing needs and priorities.

The Associate Vice President can be based either in Miami or South
Florida, with a strong commitment to spending significant time in
the Palmetto Bay office, a suburb of downtown Miami. The
Foundation’s new AVP will have the opportunity to play a key role
in the Foundation’s evolution to national and international
prominence for its critical and cutting-edge scientific research
and education programs dedicated to ensuring a strong and secure
future for America’s Everglades.

All applications, nominations, and inquiries are invited.
Applications should include, as separate documents, a CV or resume
and a letter of interest addressing the themes in the leadership
profile available at
www.wittkieffer.com.

WittKieffer is assisting The Everglades Foundation in this search,
which will remain open until an appointment is made.

Application materials should be submitted using WittKieffer’s
candidate
portal.

Nominations and inquiries can be directed to:

Mercedes Chacón Vance and Sarah Seavey
EvergladesFndnAVPDevelopment@wittkieffer.com

The Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. Employment
decisions with respect to employees, vendors, or contractors shall
be based on merit, qualifications, and competence. Employment
decisions and practices shall not be influenced or affected by an
applicant’s or employee’s race, color, religion, gender, sexual
orientation, national origin, age, marital status, disability,
veteran’s status, or any other category protected by law.

This policy governs all aspects of employment, promotion,
compensation, assignment, termination, and other terms and
conditions of employment. The Foundation is committed to
understanding, valuing, and incorporating diversity within the
organization. Diversity enriches the performance and service to
partners and donors.

jeid-a5bdb963a25f594791ca76ad3b7924dd