Development Manager

Title:                         Development Manager

Reports to:                 Executive Director

Status:                       Full Time, Exempt

Salary range:              $75,000 to $100,000 (commensurate with experience)

Start Date:                 February 27, 2025

Organization:             Land Trust of Virginia

Office Location:         119 The Plains Road, Middleburg, Virginia 20117

Mailing Address:        P.O. Box 14, Middleburg, Virginia 20118

Website:                    www.landtrustva.org

The Organization

Founded in 1992, the Land Trust of Virginia (LTV) has helped hundreds of landowners protect their properties in perpetuity through accepting and thereafter stewarding conservation easement donations. Although there are many facets of land conservation work, LTV exclusively handles conservation easements. With this concentrated focus, LTV has achieved a high level of expertise in the field. Our easement program is the largest among Virginia’s non-profit land trusts and is highly regarded within the conservation community. We have been accredited since 2009 with the nationwide Land Trust Accreditation Commission.

LTV currently holds 270 conservation easements consisting of more than 35,000 acres of protected land. Although the highest concentrations of our easements are located in Loudoun and Fauquier counties, we are active throughout the state of Virginia and we currently hold easements in 35 counties.

LTV staff currently consists of a tight-knit group of six individuals, including the Executive Director, Communications and Marketing Manager, Conservation Director, Conservation Associate, Stewardship Associate, and Office Manager.

Position Description

The LTV Development Manager is responsible for planning, organizing, and directing LTV’s fundraising efforts, including the major gifts program, planned-giving, annual fundraising, special events, the volunteer program, and the annual corporate sponsorship program. The Development Manager works closely with the Executive Director, the Communications and Marketing Manager, and the LTV Board of Directors in all development and fundraising endeavors. The Development Manager position will be a full-time position with an anticipated start date of February 27, 2025.

Qualifications

The qualifications of the Development Manager include:

• Embracing the mission of the Land Trust of Virginia.
• Having strong interpersonal skills for building relationships and/or networking with donors, sponsors, volunteers, and community partners, and for initiating donor visits and fundraising calls.
• Having strong writing skills for communicating with donors and creating fundraising materials.
• Having knowledge and experience in fundraising techniques, particularly major gift fundraising.
• Having project management and event planning skills and experience.
• Having expertise in budget management and reporting.
• Being proficient with donor management systems (e.g., Little Green Light) and MS Office Suite.
• Being organized, detail-oriented, proactive, and exhibiting “follow through” on tasks and goals.
• Possessing the skills to work with and motivate staff, board members and other volunteers.
• Being a team player and exhibiting a collaborative mindset.
• Being self-confident, having a positive attitude, and caring about people and community.

Actual Job Responsibilities

Donor Relations & Fundraising:

• Developing and implementing fundraising strategies to meet annual and campaign-specific goals including unrestricted and restricted giving.
• Identifying, soliciting, cultivating, and stewarding relationships with major donors, other donors, corporate sponsors, and community partners.
• Meeting with current and prospective donors and supporters (in person, by phone, by Zoom, etc.) on a regular basis to establish or maintain effective communications with them.
• Continuing to grow the planned-giving program with a focus on deferred gifts such as bequest expectancies.
• Continuing to grow the monthly giving program.
• Directing the annual fundraising program, including mailings and annual fundraising drives.
• Writing donor-centric fundraising letters in support of annual fundraising drives.
• Directing capital campaigns (as needed) and other major fundraising drives.
• Creating and managing the annual Corporate Sponsorship Program.
• Managing and coordinating the Volunteer Program.
• Managing and coordinating LTV’s Adopt-a-Highway Program.

Event Coordination:

• Organizing and overseeing the three main fundraising special events (the spring Garden Party, the “Bike the Gravel” cycling event, the “Sunset in the Field” party)
• Organizing and overseeing other LTV outreach events, as well as LTV tabling at events held by other organizations.
• Managing event logistics, invitations, volunteer coordination, and sponsorships.
• Organizing and managing Major Donor events (e.g., Major Donor Cocktail Parties).

Communications:

• Collaborating with the Communications and Marketing Manager on publications, marketing pieces, invitations, and other materials related to fundraising activities.
• Collaborating with the Communications and Marketing Manager in preparation of donor materials, including appeal letters, acknowledgment letters, the annual Business Sponsor packet, and the Volunteer packet.
• Collaborating with the Communications and Marketing Manager to maintain consistent messaging across platforms.
• Occasionally representing LTV at community and donor-focused events (i.e., non-LTV events), and otherwise supporting outreach and/or educational initiatives, with the goal of promoting LTV’s mission and increasing community engagement.

Data Management:

• Overseeing and maintaining accurate donor records in LTV’s donor management system, tracking interactions and contributions, and ensuring correct contact info.
• Analyzing donor trends to identify growth opportunities.

Strategic Development:

• Creating and preparing the annual “Development - Fundraising Plan”, the annual “Marketing Plan - Donor Engagement Report”, the annual “Development Scorecard”, and the semi-annual “Development-Fundraising Worksheet”.
• Otherwise monitoring fundraising metrics and reporting progress to stakeholders.
• Working with the Executive Director, Board Members, and the Development Committee to align fundraising with organizational goals.

Benefits

• Ability to participate in LTV’s group health insurance.
• 15 days of paid leave per year.
• 10 paid holidays and 10 sick days.
• Maternity/Paternity leave after one year of employment.
• Contribution to a Simple IRA of 2% of annual salary.
• Option for an alternative work schedule (“9/80” or “4/10”).
• Ability to work remotely following training period.
• Mileage reimbursement when using your personal vehicle for property visits or other work-related travel (at the federal reimbursement rate). LTV also has a company vehicle that employees can use for work-related travel.
• Professional development opportunities

Please send cover letter, resume, and three references to Ari@landtrustva.org by February 21st. No phone calls, please.