Chief Development Officer

Job Description:

Chief Development Officer

• Full-time

Company Description

Since 1995, The Forest Stewards Guild’s national network of members, staff, and partners have advanced the culture of forest stewardship based on ethical principles, best-available science, and diverse experience. Practicing what we preach through real-world projects is a distinction that brings value and substance to investors. We explore and demonstrate what works in the woods and showcase effective forest management practices through outreach, training, and policy development. In other words, we combine strategy and action to position ourselves as the heart of the forest stewardship movement, driving its growth and impact nationwide.

Three decades of thought-meets-practice leadership from the Guild has brought the concept of ecological forestry from the fringes to the expected standard for management in much of the U.S. Now, our obligation is to broaden the culture of stewardship, so it takes root in small woodlots, vast forests, company tracts, and public lands across the country. The Guild has an ambitious growth strategy based on a five-year investment-grade business plan. The Chief Investment Officer will be the lead ambassador and drive an increase in contributions.

Job Description

Please join our team and help us forge a healthy future for people and forests! The Forest Stewards Guild is hiring a Chief Development Officer to build and lead a nationwide philanthropy program as the engine of organization-wide growth. We are thinking of this position as a Chief Advancement Officer in terms of moving the Guild forward with fundraising, constituent relationships, marketing, and communications, though we recognize Development is the more common term. We need you to cultivate new strategic relationships and expand our fundraising program. We have a high-performing team of dedicated professionals who work effectively together, have fun, and share a passion for positive impact across the US. Now we need you!

The CDO will have the primary responsibility for establishing and maintaining relationships with a portfolio of community leaders and individuals who are prospective partners and investors in the Guild’s work. The CDO will report to the Executive Director and work closely with the Communications Manager. The Guild has not had a fundraising team in the past, so the CDO will be able to assemble the team from the ground up. The Guild has a tremendous network including over 200 individual donors and corporate sponsors that we have yet to fully engage for financial support. The CDO will cultivate these relationships and take the leadership role in developing a new team of dedicated professionals to engage individuals and corporations across the country and earn their investment of time, talent, and financial support. The CDO will:

• identify major investors;
• develop and deploy individualized cultivation strategies which harness the full range of Guild’s people and programs;
• develop solicitation and closure strategies; and
• deliver consistent, high touch stewardship.

Major Responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of the new Office of Development & Partnerships, including establishing procedures and goals for philanthropy.
• Oversee a dynamic portfolio of approximately 200 current and prospective significant financial supporters. Ensure that each individual in the portfolio receives continuous, personalized attention and ongoing engagement in furtherance of that individual’s relationship with and support of the Guild.
• On average, conduct a minimum of one and ideally three quality personal contacts with current and prospective supporters each business day.
• Support the outreach, advocacy, and relationship building efforts of the Board of Directors and the Executive Director to a carefully identified set of influential leaders in philanthropy, industry, government, nonprofit, and the wider community.
• Ensure that the Guild’s Neon database protocols and procedures are comprehensive, efficient, and executed with discipline and accuracy by all staff, so that the donor database is accurate, up-to-date, and organized.
• Oversee the production and distribution of fundraising projections and results to ensure the organization is on track to meet goals.
• Guarantee that the Guild adheres to the Code of Ethical Standards of the Association of Fundraising Professionals as well as the Guild’s own Principles.

Qualifications

The Guild needs a seasoned development professional to build a team and create the Office of Development & Partnerships team. Requirements for the CDO:

• Experience in a mid- to senior position in a nonprofit fundraising or development department
• At least five years of experience with individual donors, corporate fundraising, and business strategy
• Highly tuned listening skills
• Exceptional interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrated record of successful team building and staff supervision
• Confidence, professionalism, and passion to forge a healthy future for people and forests
• Empathy, perseverance, charisma, optimism, and the highest ethical standards

Additional Information

Compensation and Benefits 

Salary will be based on experience and qualifications ranging from $86,000 to $125,000 annually. In addition, the Guild offers a competitive benefits package. Paid leave is accrued hourly from the first day of employment. Employer-sponsored comprehensive health and dental care coverage is available after 30 days and the Guild covers 80% of the cost. Short and long-term disability policies, accidental death/dismemberment, life insurance, and family leave are paid by the Guild. Participation in a retirement plan with an employer match is available after 90 days.

The Guild is dedicated to providing an open, transparent, and just organization and workplace. We foster a work culture that recognizes the inherent value of our employees, supports a healthy work-life balance, and fosters personal growth. The Guild is an equal opportunity employer.

Location 

Based on a proven record of successful, independent remote work, the CDO can work remotely within the continental U.S. They will travel 20 to 30% of work time to visit prospective and existing partners, attend events, and seize any other fundraising opportunities across the U.S. Given the need to travel, a work location within two hours of a major airport is required.

How to apply 

Interested applicants should visit the job posting on smart recruiters https://smrtr.io/qMVhM, click “I’m Interested” to submit a one-page cover letter, resume, three professional references, a writing sample, and earliest available start date. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis with reviews beginning May 9, 2025. We prefer all application materials to be combined into one PDF. After clicking “Next” on the initial application page, you will have another opportunity to upload more documents. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

DEADLINE: Open until filled

We believe that a diverse workforce reflects the strengths of all members of our community. The Forest Stewards Guild strives to create a collaborative, supportive, and respectful setting for all employees and partners. To meet this goal, we recognize and celebrate the wide range of differences that characterize our members, employees, partners, and collaborators. Indeed, it is those differences that enhance our organization and help us to meet our mission and vision. The Guild values diverse forests because they are more productive, more resilient, more adaptable, and better able to recover from disturbances. Similarly, our community is healthier when we are inclusive of a diversity of people and perspectives. 

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO (Equal Employment Opportunity) guidelines.