Vice President of Development
Posted on April 1, 2025
About Peconic Land Trust
Since 1983, the Peconic Land Trust, a nonprofit charitable organization, has worked collaboratively with landowners, communities, municipalities, and partner organizations in securing millions of dollars to protect nearly 14,000 acres of land on Long Island, NY – more than 7,000 acres of farmland, many miles of trail systems, and over 6,000 acres of preserves and natural lands that protect watersheds, shorelines, wildlife habitat, scenic vistas, land sacred to indigenous people and historic resources.
Position Summary
We are seeking a strategic, experienced fundraising professional with a passion for personally raising funds through multiple means and methods and the ability to lead and guide others to fundraise in a variety of settings with sensitivity, competence and confidence. Reporting to the President and serving as a key member of senior leadership, the VP of Development will be responsible for leading and executing the Trust’s fundraising strategy, managing the development team, and driving meaningful donor engagement to meet our multi-million-dollar fundraising goals, including, but not limited to, annual operations, land acquisition, stewardship and reserves.
The VP of Development will have overall accountability for cultivation and solicitation strategies in annual giving, major and planned gifts, donor stewardship, gift acknowledgment, campaigns and database management that foster a culture of philanthropy within a hybrid work environment. In the spirit of collaboration and synergy, an in-office presence in Southampton, NY for this role is critical to our work and
Job Responsibilities
Job Responsibilities
Some essential responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Fundraising Strategy and Execution
- With the President and Sr. Leadership team, develop and implement strategic and comprehensive fundraising plans to support the organization’s strategic goals.
- Oversee the planning and execution of capital campaigns and other large-scale fundraising initiatives to secure significant resources for the organization.
- Personally manage and grow a portfolio of approximately 75 major and planned gift donors and prospects, including conducting regular in-person and virtual meetings along with regular outreach via phone, email, and text.
- Represent the organization and make presentations at donor events and meetings to enhance the Trust’s visibility and advance our goals by being conversant in our work.
Committee Leadership and Board Support
- Engage staff and the Board in best practices related to their roles as Trust ambassadors to thank donors, open doors and make connections to help secure financial contributions by providing action plans and scripts.
- Attend monthly Board of Directors meetings and present meaningful updates using a high-level narrative with supporting data about plans and progress on fundraising activities.
- Participate as the staff lead for the Donor Engagement Committee, including the preparation of agendas and discussion of plans and strategies for increasing the donor pipeline and building donor relationships.
Team Leadership:
- Ensure efficient and effective use of resources. Analyze fundraising data trends, identify opportunities for improvement and growth, and implement key performance indicators to build capabilities and capacity for a high-performing team.
- Develop, implement, and oversee departmental activities for cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors to reduce attrition and increase the donor base and giving levels.
- Recruit, create onboarding and training plans, and proactively manage staff performance, development and productivity.
- Collaborate with Marketing & Communications, and other departments to ensure consistent messaging and alignment in fundraising campaigns and donor communications.
Budget and Database Management:
- Participate in the annual budget planning process by providing timely and accurate forecasts and substantiation with accountability to stay within the projections of our $7M+ operating budget.
- Provide budget data, analytics, and decision-making support to the development team, senior leadership, and board of directors.
- Oversee the Trust’s donor database maintenance ensuring the records are accurate, and reports are readily available in accordance with the best practices and the needs of the organization.
Essential Qualifications
ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS:
- Minimum of 10-15 years of progressive generalist experience in the field of fundraising, including annual giving, major and planned gifts, donor stewardship, gift acknowledgment, campaigns and database management with success in securing five, six, and seven-figure gifts.
- Minimum of 3 years experience in a director-level role with supervisory responsibilities for a high-performing team.
- Bachelor’s degree or at least 12 years equivalent experience.
- Proficient in leading fundraising campaigns for annual, capital, and special purposes with strong fundraising ethics for the confidentiality of donor information.
- Demonstrated track record of setting, achieving, and exceeding aggressive goals on a consistent, sustainable basis.
- Strong public speaking and written communication skills with the ability to craft compelling messages using Microsoft Word and PowerPoint.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills with success in building relationships and trust with all levels of donors and partners across the organization, up to the Board.
- Ability to work with diverse communities and stakeholders, demonstrating cultural sensitivity and inclusiveness in fundraising approaches and donor engagement.
- Proven leadership and people management skills with demonstrated ability in the areas of project management, strategic thinking, and problem-solving.
- Ability to use a donor database, prospect research, wealth screening tools and Microsoft Excel to analyze data. Salesforce a plus.
- Highly organized, reliable, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple projects and requests.
- Enthusiastic, takes initiative, and has strong follow-up skills.
- Valid driver's license with the ability to reliably commute to Southampton and drive locally for meetings.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Knowledge of the Long Island and NYC philanthropic landscapes, along with conservation practices.
- CFRE (Certified Fundraising Executive) or similar advanced certifications.
Position Specifics
POSITION SPECIFICS:
- Hybrid position with at least 2-3 days a week in the Southampton, NY office.
- Full-time, exempt position working at least 35 hours per week Mon-Fri to include some evenings and occasional weekends.
- Local travel by car regularly, NYC and tri-state travel by train, car or ferry, along with air travel out of state when needed.
- 5 direct reports
We Offer
- Starting salary $120k–$150k. The exact amount is commensurate with experience, knowledge, and skills and may vary above or below the range, as permitted by applicable law.
- Subsidized medical, voluntary dental and vision, FS,A and company-funded HRA.
- Company paid profit-sharing pension plan.
- Annual bonus and salary increase potential.
- Generous paid time off.
- Employee contributed 403b plan.
- Kind and supportive culture
The Peconic Land Trust is an equal-opportunity employer
How to Apply
Please email your resume and interests to hr@peconiclandtrust.org