Associate Vice President of Development – East Coast Only

Organizational Mission:

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s mission is to protect,
manage and advocate for the Appalachian National Scenic Trail.

Organizational Vision:

The Appalachian Trail and its surrounding landscape are
protected forever for all to enjoy.

Position Summary:

The Associate Vice President (AVP) of Development reports to the
Chief Growth Officer (CGO), is a key leader within the Engagement
Team and is ATC’s chief fundraiser. The position provides
leadership and guidance to a committed team responsible for
individual and institutional giving. The AVP for Development will
lead the creation and implementation of a comprehensive annual
fundraising program and strategy to identify, cultivate and secure
new donors and steward existing donors; advance a comprehensive
planned giving program; formulate and execute plans to increase
corporate and foundation philanthropic partnerships; and ensure
facilitation of all gifts from prospective donors, including
non-cash and deferred gifts. This position will also provide direct
support, as appropriate, to the Board of Directors and Board
sub-committees and regularly report to the Engagement Committee and
the CEO’s Campaign Executive Committee regarding ATC Development
activities.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

The AVP of Development is primarily responsible for establishing
and implementing the infrastructure needed to grow a $14M annual
budget and the endowment through soliciting major gifts, mid-level
and annual giving, corporate and foundation grants, bequests and
planned gifts.

The position is responsible for expanding and diversifying ATC’s
donor base/pipeline and working closely with other team members to
secure funding for new initiatives that support the strategic plan.
The AVP is expected to build relationships and actively meet with
current and future donors and foundations. In addition, the AVP of
Development will work closely with the board of directors and
support board members as they take on a more active fundraising
role. The amount raised by ATC is expected to increase in future
years as the AVP of Development systematically and effectively
strengthens the organization’s fundraising capacity.

The position is responsible for managing a team of
professionals, including corporate and foundation relations, major
and mid-level gift programs, annual giving, and gift planning.

Strategy, Planning and Operations Management

• Work closely with the CGO and the Chief Finance and
  Administrative Officer (CFAO) to ensure ATC’s overall financial
  health, stability, and compliance with financial and accounting
  requirements for fundraising, grants acquisitions, and gift
  planning.
• Assess and evaluate the organization’s fundraising performance
  relative to long-term operational goals, budgets and
  forecasts.
• Develop the Campaign development strategy, plans, activities,
  and timeline.
• Create and establish yearly objectives that align with the
  organization’s strategy for growth and determine the priority
  activities.
• Work with the President & CEO, CGO, CFAO, Vice President of
  Conservation and Policy, and Vice President of Regional and Trail
  Operations to identify key goals and opportunities outlined in the
  strategic plan that can ultimately be converted into fundraising
  priorities.

Create long-range fund development and annual development
strategic and operating plans.

• AVP of Development, in collaboration with the CGO and ATC’s CEO
  and President, will lead the organization’s efforts in carrying out
  any comprehensive fundraising Campaigns.
• Works to ensure, directly and with the team, that the
  organization maximizes opportunities, meets its goals, and grows
  funding while building sustainability.
• Set ambitious yet feasible revenue, donor quantity, and
  retention benchmarks to achieve immediate (current FY) and
  long-term (next 3-5 years) development goals and growth plans.
• Develop and implement strategies and tactical plans to achieve
  goals for different donor segments.
• Develop a balanced funding mix of donor sources and
  solicitation programs tailored to ATC’s needs that will enable it
  to attract, retain and motivate donors and prospects.

Cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of
donors.

• Manage a portfolio of top prospects and donors (in terms of
  highest giving potential and inclination).
• Manage the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of a
  personal portfolio of principle-level and prospective donors,
  including the board of directors.
• Personally participate in fundraising activities, including
  cultivation and soliciting contributions on behalf of the ATC.
• Build and execute strategic plans to expand the donor base and
  increase donor renewal and upgrade rates.
• Make strategic recommendations on when to deploy the CEO and
  President, CGO, other V.P.’s or Board members to make solicitations
  of prospective donors and prepare/support the CEO and President,
  CGO and Board Members to execute.
• Support the Campaign Executive Committee and work closely with
  its leadership volunteers to ensure the campaign’s success.
• Conduct excellent donor interactions and communications (i.e.,
  events, meetings, newsletters, grants)
• Create pitch proposals, briefing decks, briefing documents,
  etc., to prepare ATC executives for fundraising meetings,
  conversations or events.
• Support the Communications Team in developing effective
  internal and external messaging and methods of fundraising
  communication.

Team Leadership and Organizational Collaboration

• Lead, manage, mentor and inspire the team responsible for all
  philanthropic giving.
• Hire, train, inspire and guide the Development team toward
  accountable, goal-oriented outcomes, including annual work plans
  with key performance metrics and revenue and expense
  budgeting.
• Communicate, engage and interact with the Executive Leadership
  Team.
• Collaborate across the Engagement team to ensure development,
  marketing, communications, membership, and visitor experience teams
  are informed of development activities and that activities are
  integrated with overall ATC growth and engagement plans.
• Foster collaboration, communication, and effective
  organizational processes for plans, programs, grants, revenue, and
  expenses.
• Ensure that sound human resource practices are in place and
  maintain an environment that attracts, retains, and motivates a
  diverse team of top-quality development staff.

General Oversight

• Provide general oversight of the ATC’s fund development, manage
  the day-to-day operations, and monitor the adequacy of activities
  through coordination with staff, appropriate committees, and
  governing bodies.
• Ensure development and writing of foundation, corporate and
  grant proposals and solicitation materials.
• Ensure design and maintenance of donor and prospect records,
  gift management and processing systems, and informational
  reports.
• Ensure fundraising report reconciliation with financial
  reports.
• Ensure design and implementation of cultivation, acknowledgment
  and recognition programs.
• Ensure the stewardship plan is followed so all major donors
  feel engaged and appreciated and that funders are well
  stewarded.
• Support and report to the Board of Directors, the Engagement
  sub-committee, and the CEO’s Campaign Executive Committee.

Establish performance measures, monitor results and evaluate
the organization’s development effectiveness.

• Ensure compliance with all relevant regulations and laws,
  maintain accountability standards to donors and ensure compliance
  with the code of ethical principles and standards of professional
  conduct for fundraising executives.
• Keep informed of developments in philanthropy and fund
  development, as well as the general fields of management and the
  nonprofit sector; notify the CEO, CGO, on current trends, issues,
  problems, and activities to facilitate policymaking.
• Recommend policy positions concerning fund development.
• Propose related budget and manage within approved budget and
  related accountabilities for financial results.
• Support the CGO in developing the department’s annual operating
  budget and revenue plan and participate, as required, in the yearly
  financial audit.

Qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree is required, and an advanced degree and/or
  specialized certification is preferred.

• Minimum of eight years of fundraising experience in a
  professional position and demonstrated experience and confidence in
  asking people to contribute time and money.
• Knowledge and experience in the following areas are required:
  the nature and dimensions of philanthropy, ethics, motivations for
  giving, research and cultivation practices, standard fundraising
  techniques, including face-to-face solicitation, proposal writing,
  special events, telephone solicitation, and development office
  functions including gift processing, prospect and donor histories,
  cultivating and soliciting principal and major gifts, and
  fundraising reporting.

• Experience leading a capital campaign is preferred.
• Experience in a recreation or conservation organization is
  preferred.
• People management experience is required, including effective
  leadership and management of a high-performing team, leading in a
  decentralized environment, collaborating with executive staff, and
  working well with people at all levels of an organization.

• Comprehensive management skills and experience should include,
  but are not limited to, short- and long-term planning, evaluation,
  directing and motivating staff and volunteers, oral and written
  communication skills, communicating with board members,
  demonstrated success in strategic planning and project management,
  marketing and financial management, and governance.

• Strong technical and analytical skills, including skills in
  donor database management systems, including Salesforce and Wealth
  Manager, and proficiency in Microsoft Office, are essential.
• The highest degree of professionalism, a results-oriented
  nature, demonstrating leadership and gravitas to reflect the ATC
  brand positively.

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

• Frequent travel (up to 75% annually) to key donor cultivation
  areas, meeting with individual donors, foundations, corporations,
  ATC offices, regional events, partner meeting sites, and limited
  site visits to trail locations.
• Must be willing to travel to work with donors and as a
  representative of the organization.
• Volunteer management meetings require weekend work hours.
• Flexibility to work extended hours during peak season or
  special event periods.
• Working on the computer or telephone for prolonged
  periods.
• Ability to communicate with individuals by phone, video, email,
  and in person.
• At times, it may require the ability to lift or move light to
  moderate weight.

Additional Details:

• Location: Combination of remote and/or shared office
  environments. Remote workstations will require reliable, high-speed
  internet access.
• If working remotely, candidates must have secure internet
  access from which to work.
• Annual salary range: ($140k – $150k)
• Health, dental, and vision insurance available.
• Company paid long-term disability and life insurance
  provided.
• 403(b) Retirement Plan with up to 7% match after 1 year of
  service.

ATC Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) encourages
collaboration, flexibility, and fairness with all employees and
volunteers to enable participation and contributions to their
fullest potential.

We are committed to being a diverse and inclusive
organization and recognize that diversity contributes to an
effective and successful organizational culture and
mission.

The ATC prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis
of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity
and/or expression), national origin, political affiliation, sexual
orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age,
membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental
status, military service, political affiliation, union membership,
or any other status protected by the laws and regulations in the
locations where we operate.

Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s Identity Statement

PI235819278