Wallowa Land Trust Development Director

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Wallowa Land Trust

Enterprise, Oregon

Job Type: Full-Time

Salary: $63,000–$68,000 annually, DOE

BACKGROUND
Wallowa Land Trust (WLT) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Enterprise, Oregon. Founded in 2004, our mission is to protect the rural nature of Wallowa Country by working cooperatively with private landowners, Indigenous people, local communities, and governmental entities to conserve land.

POSITION DESCRIPTION
Wallowa Land Trust is seeking a values-driven, strategic Development Director to lead and strengthen the organization’s philanthropy program. This role is responsible for building and managing the systems, strategies, and structures that support sustainable fundraising for a place- based conservation nonprofit.

The Development Director works closely with the Executive Director, Board of Directors, and staff to align fundraising strategy with organizational priorities and to foster a strong culture of philanthropy across the organization. As a new position, the Development Director will have a unique opportunity to design and implement fundraising infrastructure that supports long-term organizational resilience and continuity.

Importantly, this role is designed to support the Executive Director as WLT’s primary external fundraiser and relationship-builder. While the Development Director will steward some donor relationships directly, the emphasis of the position is on preparation, coordination, systems development, and follow through—ensuring that fundraising efforts are organized, intentional, and successful regardless of staff transitions.

This position focuses primarily on donor growth and retention, including major gifts and planned giving, while providing strategic oversight of foundation and agency grant fundraising in collaboration with a long-term external grant writer. The Development Director also helps give voice to the work of the Land Trust within the community through thoughtful storytelling and donor engagement strategies.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Organizational Leadership & Strategy

Serve on WLT’s Leadership Team, contributing to organizational strategy and aligning conservation, fundraising, and operational goals
Lead the development and implementation of annual and multi-year fundraising plans with clear goals, deliverables, and metrics for success
Design and maintain clear, documented fundraising systems, processes, and tools that ensure continuity, transparency, and organizational resilience over time
Develop and manage the fundraising and outreach budget in coordination with the Executive Director
Contribute to annual organizational planning, goal-setting, and budgeting processes

Executive Director Fundraising Enablement

Build and manage donor pipelines, engagement strategies, and tracking systems that support effective cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship by the Executive Director and Board
Prepare donor research, briefing materials, talking points, and solicitation strategies to support Executive Director donor meetings
Track donor engagement activity, follow-up actions, and next steps to ensure consistent and timely stewardship
Coordinate scheduling, materials, and internal alignment to maximize the effectiveness of Executive Director donor interactions

Board Engagement & Culture of Philanthropy

Serve as lead staff liaison to the Board of Directors and Development Committee, supporting board engagement in donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship
Foster a strong culture of philanthropy across staff and board, building shared ownership of fundraising success

Donor Fundraising & Relationship Management

Personally cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of donors and prospects, while prioritizing systems and processes that support long-term organizational fundraising success
Develop and implement a Major Donor and Planned Giving Program appropriate to the organization’s size, capacity, and community context
Support donor engagement through in-person meetings, written communications, events, and thoughtful follow-up

Grants Oversight & Coordination

Provide strategic oversight of foundation and agency grant fundraising in collaboration with a long-term external grant writer, including proposal review, timeline management, internal coordination, and funder stewardship
Coordinate internally to ensure program staff and leadership provide timely information, data, and reporting needed to support successful grant proposals and compliance

Communications & Campaigns

Provide strategic leadership for fundraising-related communications and outreach, ensuring alignment between messaging, marketing materials, and fundraising goals
Collaborate with staff and consultants to ensure communications effectively support development strategies
Contribute to planning and implementation of future organizational fundraising campaigns and special initiatives
Participate in regional, state, and national fundraising conversations related to broader conservation initiatives and partnerships

Qualifications / Experience Level Required:

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Passion for the mission of Wallowa Land Trust and a commitment to community-based conservation
Demonstrated track record of fundraising success, particularly in support of major gift cultivation and donor stewardship
Strong strategic thinking and systems-building skills
Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to build trust through thoughtful listening, integrity, and follow-through
Exceptional organizational and time-management skills with attention to detail
Experience using relational donor databases (e.g., DonorPerfect or similar systems)
Experience collaborating on effective fundraising communications and marketing for nonprofits
Proficiency with general office software
Demonstrated commitment to promoting equity and inclusion in the workplace
Cultural competence working with people of diverse races, ages, genders, abilities, and economic backgrounds

Also helpful, but not required:

Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) credential
Experience working for a land trust or conservation-focused organization
Experience with inclusive and equitable fundraising practices, including community-centered or movement-based approaches

WORKING CONDITIONS

This position is based in Wallowa Land Trust’s office in Enterprise, Oregon, with a hybrid schedule requiring at least 50% in-office presence
Work requires minor physical exertion; occasional outdoor work may occur in all weather conditions and uneven terrain
Valid driver’s license and proof of auto insurance required
Some evening and weekend work required
Work is often fast-paced and requires attention to multiple detailed projects with deadlines

This position description serves as a general overview of the role’s responsibilities and requirements. Duties and expectations may evolve to meet the organization’s changing needs.

Wallowa Land Trust is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We recruit, hire, train, and promote individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, disability, veteran status, or age. People of color, LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities, and members of other historically disenfranchised populations are strongly encouraged to apply.

Housing: No

Contact:

Kathleen Ackley

541-426-2042

kathleen@wallowalandtrust.org

Apply for This Position: kathleen@wallowalandtrust.org

Application Closes: Open Until Filled

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