Director of Philanthropy - Illinois

Who We Are:
At TPL, we're a team of outdoor advocates who believe in connecting everyone to the outdoors. As an ethos, we believe access to the outdoors is a fundamental human need and essential to our health and well-being. ​We're committed to creating more places that bring us outside—parks, trails, playgrounds, and public lands—and making them available and welcoming to everyone, everywhere, regardless of ZIP code. We also understand that land has meaning; it tells the story of our history. That's why, through our Black History and Culture initiative, we're working to preserve sites that more fully represent the Black American experience; and we're an ally and partner to Tribal and Indigenous communities, working in partnership to reconnect them with their ancestral lands.

One hundred million people, including 28 million children, don't have nearby access to a park within ten minutes of their home. We're determined to change this outdoor equity gap–and as a result, nine million people and counting now have access because of our work. We have miles to go and a plan to get there. We're inclusive change-makers who believe in connecting everyone to the outdoors. We inspire by paving the way forward and strengthening our connection to nature.

“For over 50 years, Trust for Public Land has been working tirelessly towards our vision that every individual should have close-to-home access to the benefits of nature. In today’s world, our land-for-people solutions are even more relevant than ever. Quality parks and natural spaces are a fundamental requirement for sustaining healthy, equitable communities that are resilient and prepared for change. Parks and public lands connect us to each other and to the outdoors. As we enter our fifth decade, we have much to celebrate and even more promising work to pursue. We are a vibrant organization with a new CEO and a new strategic plan that builds on our success. Join us to become part of a growing and forward-thinking team focused on growing our philanthropic partnerships to ensure healthy, livable communities for generations to come.”
- Patricia Watson, Chief Advancement Officer

Position Summary:

Reporting directly to the Great Lakes Region Director of Philanthropy, the Illinois Director of Philanthropy will be responsible for building relationships with and securing six- and seven-figure major gifts from high net-worth individuals in Chicagoland, the state of Illinois, and across the Upper Midwest. The funds will support the Illinois program as well as the organization’s highest priorities and initiatives. We are seeking an entrepreneurial and results-oriented individual who is self-motivated with proven track record of working with this segment of donors, committed to working at the highest level of quality, able to work both independently and in collaboration, manage multiple priorities, and thrive within a results-oriented team.

The Director of Philanthropy will join a team focused on growing existing as well as identifying and engaging new, highly philanthropic individual prospects and work closely with executive, program, and philanthropy leadership to leverage resources across the organization to elevate the work taking place locally, regionally, and nationally. The position is responsible for directly overseeing a portfolio of individuals, corporate, and foundations, with an emphasis on individual high-capacity major gift prospects and donors.

This position is expected to work closely with a variety of internal partners including State Leadership, National Programs, Finance, Marketing, Philanthropy Operations, Philanthropy Programs, and Planned Giving teams to drive the integration of an organization-wide philanthropy program.

Responsibilities:

60% Relationship Manager : Manage a portfolio of approximately 100 donors and prospects with an emphasis on individual major gift ($100K+) donor prospects. Includes donor visits; qualification, cultivation and stewardship activities; and solicitations. Pursues identifying and qualifying new prospects. Creates comprehensive engagement strategies, leads cultivation teams, and leads in the creation and delivery of final solicitation and stewardship materials. Promotes blended gifts, planned giving, and involves peer volunteers, executive leadership, senior management, and project staff in cultivation as needed.

30% Program Oversight : Oversee and accountable for all fundraising activities in the Illinois program. Collaborate with program team to design and implement annual and long-range plans to realize annual on multiyear revenue goals and setting the priorities and focus for the philanthropy team. Track and report progress toward revenue and programmatic goals. Monitor philanthropy associated expenses ensuring proper investment of resources. Oversee donor communications and recognition, coordinating with regional and national marketing and donor relations departments. Has oversight of donor events and tours. Direct and coordinate the involvement of leadership and program staff with donors and in overall fundraising.

Collaborate with Illinois State Director and Advisory Board Chair to identify, recruit, cultivate, and retain Advisory Board members, fostering an environment for continued programmatic and philanthropic success. Leads philanthropy-related board activities, including 100% advisory board giving, philanthropic outreach, and donor cultivation events.

10% Regional Program & National Initiative Strategy : Interacts with internal contacts such as the regional philanthropy team, national program directors, state directors and other fundraising staff to consult on organizational needs, to formulate strategies to promote prospect engagement with the organization and to identify potential donors. Assist with the strategy for and creation of written communications from various program leaders appropriate to a donor’s interests. Typically participates in (often in concert with others) gift solicitations to fund organization-wide or regional programs and to enhance the fundraising efforts of key state programs.

Expectations:
The Director of Philanthropy is expected to:

• Carry a balanced portfolio and actively move them through the four stages (qualification, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship) of the donor cycle.
• Make at least 100 visits with donors and prospects and meet solicitation targets, annually.
• Contribute to Philanthropy’s overall success by assuring budget and goals are met or exceeded.
• Stay abreast of changes and innovations in federal and state tax laws that may be relevant to major gifts prospects.
• Model TPL’s shared values (Belonging, Creativity, Collaboration, Impact, and Hope) to effectively work across the organization.

Experience, Education, and Skills Required

• Minimum five+ years demonstrated major gift fundraising success.
• Ability to organize and motivate others, including peers and volunteers.
• Demonstrated understanding of best practices across all disciplines of fundraising (institutional giving, working with volunteers, major gifts, planned giving, etc.)
• Experience in planning, leading, and managing action plans, campaigns, and projects, including coordinating with peers to achieve desired outcomes, tracking, and reporting on progress to management.
• The ability to focus efforts and train non-philanthropy staff in the discipline of fundraising as appropriate.
• Strong skills in creating powerful, compelling written and oral communications for fundraising. The ability to convey complex ideas via presentations, e-mails, and face to face communications.
• The ability to work with others to reach common goals and objectives.
• Experience establishing and cultivating strong relationships with staff and ability to use good judgment, take initiative, and make recommendations.
• Demonstrated ability to utilize database tools to manage donors and build fundraising strategies.
• Available for significant, independent travel (up to 25%)

Compensation
Trust for Public Land is a hybrid work environment; the Director of Philanthropy will ideally be in the Chicago area. As a full-time employee, you will be eligible for the Trust for Public Land’s comprehensive benefits program which includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, vacation and sick pay plus holidays, a year end office closure, and a 403(b)-retirement plan, currently with up to a 7% company match. We offer competitive salaries commensurate with experience; the anticipated hiring range for this position is $115,000-$125,000

Trust for Public Land’s active goal is to be an inclusive and equitable place to work and build community. As the organization actively works to eliminate racial and other disparities it welcomes candidates with diverse backgrounds and/or multicultural skillsets. We are open to the possibility that a great candidate for this job may not precisely meet all the above criteria; if you believe you are the right person for this job and can persuasively make that case, we encourage you to apply.