Director of Advancement

South Carolina Coastal Conservation League•North Charleston, SC

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Advancement is a senior leadership position responsible for designing and executing a comprehensive fundraising strategy to support the mission of the Coastal Conservation League. This role oversees all development functions—including major gifts, institutional giving, annual fund, and donor engagement—while also providing input on strategic communications to elevate the organization’s visibility, influence, and impact. The Director of Advancement partners closely with the Executive Director, Board of Directors, and program leadership to secure critical resources, strengthen donor relationships, and align messaging with policy and advocacy priorities. This position plays a key role in advancing environmental protection, resilience, and equitable growth across South Carolina’s coastal communities. This position reports to the Executive Director.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required
Minimum of 8 years of progressive experience in nonprofit fundraising, development, or related field
Demonstrated success in meeting or exceeding fundraising goals
Experience managing donor relationships, including major gifts
Experience in environmental, conservation, or advocacy organizations
Experience in managing and developing high performing teams.

Nice To Haves

10+ years of experience in advancement, development, or related leadership roles
Master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., nonprofit management, public administration, environmental studies, communications)
Familiarity with South Carolina’s policy landscape and coastal issues.
CFRE

Responsibilities

Develop and implement a comprehensive, multi-channel fundraising strategy to meet annual and long-term revenue goals.
Develop and manage the annual Advancement revenue budget using data-driven analysis of the donor base, including donor capacity, giving history, and pipeline opportunities to establish realistic and strategic fundraising goals.
Lead and grow major gifts program, including identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of high-capacity donors.
Oversee institutional giving strategy, including foundation and corporate partnerships.
Direct annual fund campaigns and donor engagement initiatives to broaden and deepen the base of support.
Collaborate with the Executive Director and Board to actively engage them in fundraising efforts.
Plan and execute a range of events tailored to engage the organization’s various constituencies.
Build and maintain strong, long-term relationships with key donors and stakeholders.
Ensure high-quality donor communications, recognition, and stewardship practices.
Track and analyze donor engagement metrics to inform strategy and improve retention.
Lead, mentor, and develop Advancement team members across development and communications functions.
Foster a collaborative, high-performing, and mission-driven team culture.
Establish clear goals, performance metrics, and accountability structures.
Partner with Communications and Program staff to align fundraising strategies with policy and conservation priorities.
Collaborate across departments to ensure consistency in messaging and donor engagement.
Support organizational planning and contribute to strategic initiatives.
Oversee fundraising systems, data integrity, and reporting (e.g., CRM management).
Develop and manage Advancement budget.
Monitor progress toward revenue goals and provide regular reporting to leadership and Board.
Support organizational events, campaigns, and special initiatives.
Perform other duties as assigned.