Current Job Opportunities

posted 8.13.08

Development Director

LightHawk, the nonprofit specialist in results-oriented environmental aviation campaigns throughout much of North and Central America, is seeking a talented Development Director to manage the fundraising work of the organization.

Because we are an unusual organization, we are looking for an unusual person who is a bit of an overachiever, and who will bring to this role a passion for aviation, conservation and the environment in order to sell LightHawk’s mission to others.

In addition to successful management experience, you’ll need to show a superior track record raising money for a nonprofit through your ability to persuade and inspire. Your personal skills must include sound professional judgment and intuition. And if asked, your colleagues would describe you as outgoing, cultivated, proactive, flexible, organized, ethical and goal-oriented. As a prospective LightHawk ambassador, you must possess an extraordinary ability to communicate through the written and spoken word. Above all, you must be self-motivated, and genuinely derive inner satisfaction from building lasting personal relationships with prospective LightHawk contributors

Location
This is a full-time, home-office based position with preference given to candidates located in the western half of the U.S. As Development Director, you will travel frequently to visit LightHawk contributors and prospects, so you should live within convenient travel distance of a major airport. You will report to the Executive Director located in Portland, Maine, and will be an integral part of a collaborative management team.

About LightHawk

LightHawk is a nonprofit environmental aviation organization. As such, we are an unusual hybrid: our mission is environmental but our specialty is using aviation to catalyze positive change. Founded in 1979, we are today the largest and oldest volunteer-based environmental aviation organization in North America. We donate approximately 1000 flights each year to our conservation partner organizations without charge, using a corps of qualified pilots volunteering their services (and in most cases, their aircraft and fuel). Much like the organization Doctors Without Borders connects volunteer physicians to desperately needy people around the world, LightHawk connects volunteer pilots and planes with the issues, conservation partners, and people who make or influence on-the-ground environmental out­comes.

• Rocky Mountains: UT, AZ, NV, NM, CO, ID, MT, WY, Alberta (limited)
• Pacific: CA, OR, WA, limited operations: AK, British Columbia, Baja California
• Northeast: CT, DE, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT
• Other: Southern FL, with limited operations in MI, WI, MN
• Mesoamerica: Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama

LightHawk is an equal opportunity employer. See www.lighthawk.org for more information.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Create and manage the development plan and key metrics, where success is measured by growth in contributor numbers, retention, and dollars raised.
• Manage a personal portfolio of major gift prospects, including identifying, qualifying, cultivating and soliciting gifts from individuals, corporations, and foundations.
• Collaborate with the Executive Director in joint and individual cultivation and solicitation efforts.
• Create individualized stewardship plans for top contributors.
• Personally acknowledge contributors and the impact of their gifts.
• Manage all major gift activity including development of cultivation and solicitation strategies.
• Manage the development budget, and assist the Executive Director in educating Board members about resource and time requirements.
• Effectively position/prepare the Executive Director and Board members for interactions with major contributors and prospects.
• Manage the foundation grant application process.
• Initiate capital campaign(s) and planned giving processes and programs.
• Provide ongoing inspiration, support, resources and training in fundraising to the Board and staff.
• Recognizing that everyone in LightHawk is a fundraising resource, help the Program staff find ways to identify and cultivate prospective contributors.
• Collaborate with other LightHawk staff in the timely development of written communications such as annual appeals, direct mail and advertising.
• Manage the Development staff for the most effective use of the eTapestry contributor database, moves management and other tools, including cause-related marketing, cultivation events, etc.
• Travel frequently to meet with top contributors throughout the U.S. (primarily west of the Mississippi), in addition to fundraising events and 3x/year board meetings.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree required, Masters preferred
• Four to six years successful fundraising track record, with emphasis in major or planned gift fundraising, preferably in an environmental organization
• Ability to understand the needs and interests of major gift contributors in order to develop relationships between them and LightHawk
• Sincere interest in and dedication to LightHawk’s mission and values.
• Demonstrated leadership and a successful track record in developing cultivation and solicitation strategies
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Self-motivated and willing to take the lead in the designated major gifts area
• Must be a team player, willing to collaborate with all of the LightHawk staff
• Willing to travel as needed; estimating 25-35% depending upon your location

Compensation
Salary will be commensurate with experience. LightHawk offers medical, dental, vision, and long-term disability benefits, a 401(k) retirement plan, and some flexibility in work schedule.

How to Apply
We expect to fill this position as soon as we find a suitable candidate. Initial interviews will be conducted over the phone; and we would expect to conduct in-person interviews for finalists. Qualified applicants should send a cover letter and resume by email to BGabe@lighthawk.org with “Development Director” plus your last name in the subject line, together with contact information for at least 3 references. Also, please indicate your salary expectations. Due to the volume of interested applicants, we ask that you not telephone our offices about the position unless specifically invited to do so for an interview.