Chief Development Officer

Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences, headquartered near Plymouth, MA, is seeking a Chief Development Officer (CDO). As one of the nation’s oldest non-profit, independent research centers, Manomet is pioneering new models for businesses, communities, and government to work together to create a more sustainable planet. Manomet is seeking an ambitious Chief Development Officer who will report to President John Hagan and who will grow investment from high-end donors and build an innovative, best-practice development program.  This position will play a key role in Manomet’s next phase of organizational growth and mission impact.  

About Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences

One of the nation’s oldest and most respected conservation organizations, Manomet is a 41-year-old environmental research center dedicated to creating a more sustainable world through unbiased science.   A national leader in the field of sustainability, Manomet convenes relevant stakeholders and decision makers to solve some of the world’s most pressing environmental problems.  Society’s economic, social, and environmental values are inextricably connected, and new, integrated thinking is needed to create sustainable systems. Manomet has a special ability to use science, build partnerships, and reach out to communities of all sizes to effect lasting change. Rather than focusing on advocacy, Manomet creates informed civil conversations among people and organizations with diverse values key to solving the problem. Manomet’s core initiatives are:

• Climate Change & Energy Initiative - focuses on adaptation and mitigation strategies for human communities and wildlife habitats
• Natural Capital Initiative - helps in the stewardship of nature’s goods and services like clean water and air, soil, and open space
• Shorebird Recovery Project -one of the most ambitious and extensive approaches to hemispheric, large-scale wildlife conservation

Manomet offers an entrepreneurial atmosphere of 35 dedicated professionals who support each other in a common vision of creating a more sustainable planet.  Its headquarters is located on a bluff overlooking beautiful Cape Cod Bay, about 40 minutes south of Boston. Manomet also has offices in Maine, Vermont, and Chile.

The Opportunity

In 2008, John Hagan became Manomet’s third President in its 40-year history.  John began his career at Manomet as a Senior Scientist with the Landbird Program and went on to establish Manomet’s Forest Conservation Program. Upon the occasion of Manomet’s 40^th anniversary, President Hagan and Manomet leadership used this milestone to reflect, evaluate, and plan for increasing mission impact and improving fiscal sustainability. Guided by a strong business plan, Manomet anticipates steady growth of its programs over the next five years and a parallel need to increase institutional and programmatic financial support. Under the leadership of the new CDO, the Center seeks to grow unrestricted and restricted donor revenue significantly over the next three years. Manomet’s annual budget of $4.3M is funded currently by individual donors (30%), competitive grants (50%) and contracts, while also benefiting from a significant and well-managed endowment. Manomet’s President and Board of Trustees are committed to building the organization’s philanthropic culture and view fundraising as vital to the organization’s continued growth and mission delivery. 

The Chief Development Officer (CDO) will have the opportunity to partner with the President, dedicated staff, and strong volunteer leaders in shaping the next phase of Manomet’s fundraising accomplishments. Managing relationships with major donor prospects, supporting leadership solicitations, and staffing the Development and Marketing Committee of the Board of Trustees will all be components of this close collaboration. The CDO will have a significant role in continuing Manomet’s efforts to expand and enhance its Board of Trustees and in engaging commitment with new philanthropic leaders. S/he will also collaborate with program leaders to identify areas of fundraising potential and opportunities for donor engagement. 

The Position

Manomet seeks a Chief Development Officer with ambitious, strategic, energetic, and creative talent. The Chief Development Officer will be responsible for increasing philanthropic support for Manomet through managing and directing all aspects of fundraising. Reporting to the President and working closely with the Vice President of Finance and Operations, the Chief Development Officer will guide strategy to successfully expand Manomet’s individual giving and to build a sophisticated, broad-based philanthropic program. The CDO will craft and execute plans to identify, cultivate, solicit, close and steward high net worth donors and prospects and will conduct personal visits both independently and in collaboration with volunteers. Given these responsibilities, the CDO must be able to travel regularly. The CDO will also lead and inspire a small development team with the potential for growth as the program is built.  This position will play a pivotal role in supporting Manomet’s strategic growth initiatives and will be encouraged to explore creative and innovative philanthropic opportunities.

Working closely with the Board of Trustees and Board of Councilors, the CDO will expand Manomet’s donor network and regularly report fundraising progress to the President and Board. As a primary spokesperson for Manomet, the CDO will promote the organization’s message through multiple vehicles including social networking and other web-based forms of communications. Qualified candidates will possess leadership ability, strategic capability and maturity to work collaboratively with senior and volunteer leadership.   

Responsibilities:

• Partners closely with the President to develop strategic vision for resource development, refine case for philanthropic support, and implement annual fundraising plan in support of existing programs and new initiatives
• Creates and executes a strategic fundraising plan and annual plans in collaboration with senior leadership
• Expands major gift pipeline, identifying prospects and building a donor base that supports a new scale of individual giving
• Staffs the president and volunteer leadership for donor and prospect cultivation and solicitation activities’
• Cultivates, solicits, closes and stewards major gifts either independently or with leadership.
• Develops, manages, and reports regularly to the President and the Board on fundraising plans, activities and outcomes  
• Supervises, leads, and inspires a small development team in the successful execution of fundraising activities to support institutional goals
• Works closely with Board and volunteer leaders in support of fundraising goals and activities, including staffing committees and participating in recruitment efforts
• Implements fundraising best practices

Qualifications:

• Appreciation of science and the ability to effectively communicate Manomet’s mission and programs
• 10 years’ fundraising experience with success cultivating soliciting, closing and stewarding 5- and 6-figure gifts from individuals
• Ability to grow a broad-based development program
• Knowledge of fundraising best practices
• Ability to engage with Board and volunteer leadership, donors, and prospects
• Ability to lead, motivate and inspire staff
• Strong collaboration skills
• Experience with development communications
• Excellent interpersonal and communications skills (written and verbal)
• Ability to think strategically and creatively
• Ability and willingness to travel regularly

E-mail resume and cover letter in confidence to:

manomet@developmentguild.com 

Lisa Gell, SPHR
Senior Consultant
Development Guild/DDI
233 Harvard Street, Suite 107
Brookline, MA 02446
Boston (617) 277-2112 

More detailed information may be found at
www.developmentguild.com