Director of Development

Birds Georgia • Atlanta, GA

11d • $80,000 - $85,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Director of Development Birds Georgia Birds Georgia is a member-supported, non-profit organization dedicated to building places where birds and people thrive. We are a flourishing, bird-focused organization that combines serious conservation, education, and community engagement with activities that build community and foster the joy of birdwatching. While we work closely with our partners at the National Audubon Society, we are an independent 501(c)(3) organization based out of Atlanta, Ga. Position Summary The Director of Development is an essential part of Birds Georgia, providing leadership in the fundraising activities of the organization and on the senior management team. Birds Georgia seeks a dynamic individual who will be responsible for creating the strategy and overseeing the implementation of development and fundraising efforts to raise between $1.5 and $2M annually. The ideal candidate will fully embrace the mission, showing an eagerness to understand all aspects of our programming and core values. This position works closely with the Executive Director, Director of Finance & Administration, the Board of Directors, and program staff to sustain and expand the organization's fundraising efforts. The Director of Development is a full-time position and reports to the Executive Director. Leadership and Management The Director of Development leads fundraising activities to support the organization's strategic plan and fundraising goal to significantly grow revenue for the organization. Partnering with the Executive Director and the Board Development Committee, the Director sets annual fundraising goals, develops a fundraising strategy in alignment with the organization's strategic plan, and manages efforts to secure funding for Birds Georgia's programs and operations. The Director of Development will supervise the Events and Membership Coordinator with the potential of more leadership opportunities in the future. This position also oversees and manages Birds Georgia's membership and leadership donors. Fundraising and Stewardship The Director takes responsibility for achieving annual and multi-year fundraising goals, while strategically expanding the organization's fundraising capacity, designing, implementing and managing all fundraising activities, including relationships with foundations, individuals, and corporations. The Director will work with staff to identify and research new foundations and corporations that will support the organization and our programs, targeting sizable and multiyear funding opportunities. They will work with program staff and contract grant writer(s) to prepare and submit proposals, grant applications and maintain deadlines to meet goals and reporting requirements. The Director of Development will: Serve on the senior leadership team, assisting in shaping the organizational culture, fundraising strategy, and collaboration among staff members, the board, and the membership Work with staff to manage and implement the giving circles and donor stewardship strategies to cultivate, track, acknowledge, and recognize donors Manage a cultivation process for the engagement of major donors and other prospects by the executive director or board members Launch strategies to establish and grow a planned giving program Maintain an annual development calendar with relevant dates for appeals, solicitations, applications, renewals, and stewardship reporting Work with staff to create talking points and guiding questions for current and prospective funder meetings with the executive director, staff and volunteers Steward and expand our leadership giving circle ($1,000+ giving; 80-90 donors annually at this level on average) Conceptualize and implement a fundraising campaign around the organization's 100th anniversary (in 2026), in collaboration with the Executive Director and Board of Directors Design and steward a fundraising campaign(s) that will further drive Birds Georgia's priorities and institutional reliability Oversee an annual calendar of grant opportunities, working closely with program staff, the Executive Director, the Director of Finance and Admin, and a contracted grant writer to identify grants and related opportunities, submit proposals, and assist in project reporting Work with the Finance and Admin Director and program staff to pull grant financials, especially for federal funding opportunities and those requiring reimbursement Serve as a liaison with development consultant(s) as needed, providing a broad and well-informed vision for the developmental future of the organization Uphold donor intent while ensuring compliance with nonprofit fundraising regulations

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree with 5+ years of development and/or nonprofit experience required, including experience with institutional partnerships, grant writing/reporting, and major donor management.
• Demonstrated ability to manage a portfolio of institutional and individual donor relationships, raising $500K+ annually, with target revenue growth year-over-year.
• Proven track record of building relationships and closing five- and six-figure gifts from individuals and foundations.
• Ability to build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, both in-person and virtually.
• Experience building and managing relationships with institutional funders.
• Proactive and organized with impeccable attention to detail.
• Must be able to work in a fast-paced multicultural environment, with demonstrated ability to handle multiple competing tasks and demands.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and written communication skills.
• Ability to travel throughout Georgia to meet with donors and for events as needed.
• Proficiency with the Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Canva, etc
• Willingness to learn and master new software platforms and computer techniques.
• An ability to work in both team and partnership settings.
• Capability of being flexible, understanding the complexity of working for a smaller non-profit
• Strong organizational, planning, and problem-solving skills.
• Willingness to travel, including on occasional overnight trips and, on occasion, to work evenings and weekends.
• Valid driver's license and independent, reliable means of transportation to be used for work-related purposes (with reimbursement)
• Have and use a personally owned cell phone for work-related purposes (with reimbursement)
• Willingness to submit to a background check with satisfactory screening results.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with Neon or another CRM database a plus.
• Knowledge of birds, birdwatching, conservation in the Southeast, general ecology, or related topics a bonus
• Additional duties as assigned or needed.

Responsibilities

• Serve on the senior leadership team, assisting in shaping the organizational culture, fundraising strategy, and collaboration among staff members, the board, and the membership
• Work with staff to manage and implement the giving circles and donor stewardship strategies to cultivate, track, acknowledge, and recognize donors
• Manage a cultivation process for the engagement of major donors and other prospects by the executive director or board members
• Launch strategies to establish and grow a planned giving program
• Maintain an annual development calendar with relevant dates for appeals, solicitations, applications, renewals, and stewardship reporting
• Work with staff to create talking points and guiding questions for current and prospective funder meetings with the executive director, staff and volunteers
• Steward and expand our leadership giving circle ($1,000+ giving; 80-90 donors annually at this level on average)
• Conceptualize and implement a fundraising campaign around the organization's 100th anniversary (in 2026), in collaboration with the Executive Director and Board of Directors
• Design and steward a fundraising campaign(s) that will further drive Birds Georgia's priorities and institutional reliability
• Oversee an annual calendar of grant opportunities, working closely with program staff, the Executive Director, the Director of Finance and Admin, and a contracted grant writer to identify grants and related opportunities, submit proposals, and assist in project reporting
• Work with the Finance and Admin Director and program staff to pull grant financials, especially for federal funding opportunities and those requiring reimbursement
• Serve as a liaison with development consultant(s) as needed, providing a broad and well-informed vision for the developmental future of the organization
• Uphold donor intent while ensuring compliance with nonprofit fundraising regulations

Benefits

• Opportunity to enroll in health, dental, vision, disability and life insurance, paid time off, 401(K) with match (after meeting eligibility/length of service requirements), and professional development opportunities.
• Opportunity to participate in the Birds Georgia Master Birder program.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level