Development Associate

Position Title: Development Associate (Exempt)

Location: Conservation Lands Foundation Headquarters, Durango, CO

Applications are accepted from January 16th through February 7th.

Ideal Start Date: March 25, 2025

This position reports to the Vice President of Development

WHO WE ARE:

The Conservation Lands Foundation (CLF) is a national nonprofit organization headquartered in Durango, Colorado. Team members are based in various locations, including Alaska, Northern and Southern California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, and Washington, DC.

Established in 2007, CLF was founded on the belief that our public lands are best protected when a national network of local advocates is working to advance a shared conservation vision. CLF works hand-in-hand with 80 + grassroots groups - our Friends Grassroots Network - to protect the National Conservation Lands, our nation’s newest collection of premier lands and waters under the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)’s jurisdiction. These lands encompass 37 million acres and 2,400 miles of National Monuments and National Conservation Areas, Wilderness and Wilderness Study Areas, Wild and Scenic Rivers, and National Scenic and Historic Trails. National Conservation Lands are primarily located across the Western United States and Alaska.

Our mission is to protect, restore, and expand the National Conservation Lands through education, advocacy, and partnerships.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Conservation Lands Foundation seeks a Development Associate to join our four-person multi-office Development Team. Reporting to the Vice President of Development, this position coordinates and implements fundraising support activities to meet the Conservation Lands Foundation’s annual and long-term philanthropic goals. The Development Associate updates and manages the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) database, ensuring data integrity, sends timely gift acknowledgments and contributes to the overall success of the Development team. The Development Associate also leads entry-level donor initiatives, including CLF’s monthly "Sustainers” program, supports digital and social media outreach related to fundraising, and contributes to organizing donor-related special events and field trips. They will play a role in identifying and researching donor prospects, donor stewardship, and administrative functions. This position offers a fantastic opportunity to join an accomplished, collaborative, and passionate fundraising team.

The Conservation Lands Foundation’s philanthropic goals include growing all revenue sources and building a high-functioning fundraising team and systems to support these goals. The position is an exciting opportunity for a detail-oriented candidate eager to help implement a large-scale public lands defense and expansion vision.

OBJECTIVES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Fundraising

• Work closely with the Finance department to process all donations timely and accurately. Notify the Development team and CEO of all gifts received weekly.
• Execute and refine CLF’s donor stewardship program, including gift acknowledgments, thank you calls, donor gifts, and new donor welcome communications. Manage the logistical side of running Zoom webinars, meetings, and other donor engagement tactics.
• Implement and grow entry-level donor programs, including monthly “Sustainers” and an annual digital/social media fundraising initiative program.
• Work with the Development and Communications teams to create fundraising support materials, including collateral, donor notecards, holiday cards, and website content.
• Coordinate all direct mail and e-appeals, including pulling lists, cleaning up addresses, setting up and sending e-blasts, and tagging and logging contacts.
• Prepare donor prospect research profiles, screen new contacts for their giving capacity, and support the Development team’s ability to cultivate new prospects effectively.
• Database Management and Data Integrity:
• Serve as the lead for maintaining and improving the CRM platform
• Generate development reports and donor/funder lists from the CRM
• Identify and implement processes and improvements to ensure data integrity, including troubleshooting and implementing regular processes for data cleanup.
• Ensure data accuracy, security, and confidentiality, especially for gift entry and reconciliation.
• Monitor and evaluate current CRM performance to discover ways to enhance it (e.g., new technology upgrades).
• Maintain and update donor and funder information in the CRM, including detailed profiles, timely meeting notes, and other relevant data to ensure accuracy and support engagement efforts.

Event and Trip Planning Support:

• In partnership with the Executive Coordinator and other Development team members, support the execution of logistics and other preparations necessary to make CLF’s trips and excursions with donors and prospects as successful as possible, including developing and following a trip budget, managing all trip logistics (booking accommodations, outfitters, and car rentals, managing trip-related questions from the guests, coordinating with outfitters, etc.), and performing other duties as assigned for trips.
• Coordinate fundraising events (catering, site logistics, guest lists, materials) and other duties as assigned for events.

Administrative and Finance:

• Manage daily financial transactions: accurately record and process daily deposits, ensuring all cash, checks, and electronic payments are appropriately accounted for and discrepancies are resolved in a timely manner.
• Assist with scheduling meetings with prospective and existing donors
• Assemble information packets for donor meetings based on the prospect’s affinities
• Provide administrative assistance to the Development team, specifically with agendas and notes for team meetings and retreats.
• Participate in team and organizational-wide meetings, events, and the Friends Grassroots Network Summit.
• Actively participate and support equity, inclusion, and diversity work to help ensure its evolution as an organization-wide priority.
• Other duties as assigned by the Chief Philanthropy Officer, Vice President of Development, or Director of Donor and Funder Relations.

WHO YOU ARE:

The successful candidate is committed to the Conservation Lands Foundation’s mission and to advancing equity, inclusion, and justice within the organization and in the environmental movement.

Qualifications may include:

• Associate’s or bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent work experience
• Demonstrated passion for fundraising and three or more years of experience in fund development administrative support or comparable field
• Familiarity with nonprofit fundraising best practices
• Excellent attention to detail and logistical planning skills
• An orientation toward delighting donors and funders
• Ability to anticipate internal needs and be proactive in fulfilling job duties
• Ability to prioritize and organize work assignments and make sound decisions
• Comfortable working in hybrid team-oriented environments, with the capacity to inspire cooperation among others
• Fluency with technology, including CRM systems and donor research platforms
• Experience handling confidential information appropriately
• Commitment to advancing equity, inclusion, and diversity within the organization and in the environmental movement
• High degree of integrity, intellectual curiosity, and a positive attitude.
• Excellent communication skills, team player, and willingness to go above and beyond

The Conservation Lands Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. veteran. Reasonable accommodations will be made so that qualified disabled applicants may participate in the process. Please advise in writing at the time of application.

• This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.