Development Director

Development Director

Location

Prefer Pacific Northwest.  Ability to work regular business hours in the Pacific Time Zone required.

Compensation

$80,000 - $100,000 taking into consideration experience and qualifications.  Health insurance benefits, employer match to 401(k) program, and paid vacation benefits are provided.

Application deadline 

Review will begin March 1, 2021. Open until filled. 

About VertueLab

VertueLab sits at the intersection of entrepreneurship, technology innovation, and impact investing on a mission to address and solve global environmental challenges. Our role is to be conduit between promising cleantech companies and the donors and investors who have a desire to support their success through programs and access to capital. At VertueLab we are innovating alongside our portfolio companies by developing new impact investing and catalytic philanthropy models to fuel the growth of these startups and create the tools to measure the environmental and social impact that their success brings. Our donors and investors are excited by cutting-edge climate technologies and the global positive impact they will have.

About the role

This is the decade to solve the climate crisis.  As Development Director at VertueLab, you will be working on the cutting edge of philanthropy and can live out your values by developing new ways of funding innovators and entrepreneurs working to solve the world’s biggest challenge.

We are in the midst of a multi-year transition from a primarily government grant-funded model to a much more diversified funding strategy.  Our new strategy calls for us to secure donations, grants, and impact investments from individuals, foundations, and corporations to support our operations and programs and to capitalize our $5M Climate Impact Fund (25% raised). VertueLab has spent the last decade building a strong network of mission-aligned collaborators who are eager to support our (& your) success.

Responsibilities

• Refine and execute our fundraising plan, aligned with our organization’s strategic plan, with defined goals and timelines
• Lead the execution of VertueLab’s fundraising activities, including being the lead point of contact with potential funders.  Coordinate the engagement of the Executive Director, Board of Directors, program directors, and other VertueLab staff in support of fundraising goals
• During 2021, lead our campaign to capitalize our $5 million Climate Impact Fund from foundation grants and PRIs and individuals via gifts and DAF grants/investments.
• Develop and manage a portfolio of major gift prospects
• Identify target foundations as prospective funders and coordinate relationship development between foundation program/investment leaders and VertueLab staff
• Steward ongoing relationships with donors and key stakeholders
• Contribute content toward the development of electronic and print materials that support VertueLab’s fundraising goals
• Work closely with the Executive Director and Program Directors to align VertueLab program value propositions with targeted fundraising asks.
• Contribute to VertueLab’s goal of becoming a thought leader by occasionally speaking on panels, moderating our events, and writing content regarding philanthropy etc. for media outlets and our blog with the assistance of our communications team.
• Work closely with VertueLab’s communications team to strengthen donor journeys, engagement and retention.

Given our focus on tapping into philanthropic, impact investor, and business networks, we anticipate that successful candidates should have a nonprofit fundraising background, particularly in major gifts/donors, with a strong interest in connecting environmental sustainability to private sector business scalability.

Successful candidates will have all of the following attributes:

• Alignment with VertueLab’s mission to unleash innovation and entrepreneurship that will solve environmental challenges and catalyze shared economic prosperity
• Commitment to helping make the spaces you work in more diverse, equitable and inclusive
• Strong communication skills (both verbal and written) and relationship management
• Professional demeanor and ability to represent VertueLab with a wide range of stakeholders
• Ability to energize and motivate others to take actions to drive positive environmental and social impact
• Track record with personal solicitations and long-term philanthropic relationships
• Familiarity with the landscape for nonprofit fundraising (gifts, foundation grants, PRIs, DAFs, government grants, etc)
• Knowledge of fundraising strategies and techniques
• Well-developed organizational skills, including the ability to create, communicate, and execute quarterly and longer-term plans, and the ability to prioritize your work to be sure the most important things get done
• Team player willing to take on new tasks in a dynamic environment that will help make the organization successful
• Creativity, flexibility, initiative, and a sense of humor.

Bonus points for experience with some of the following:

• Donor-advised funds
• Program-related investing
• Key strategies being pursued by government, nonprofits and businesses to fight the climate crisis
• United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

Regional and national travel to events and to meet with prospective funders will be required (once it is safe to do so).

VertueLab is committed to diversity in our governance, staffing, and programs and we are committed to offering an inclusive workplace.  We are an equal opportunity employer.

To Apply  

Your online application for the Development Director position includes a few basic, voluntary demographic questions included as part of our commitment to ensuring that we have a diverse pool of applicants for this fellowship, plus fields for uploading supporting materials including a cover letter and resume. Feel free to preview a pdf of the application prior to submission here. 

We ask that in your cover letter you address the following:

• How your experience and skills make you a great candidate for this position and would set you up for success in this role.
• What most excites you about this opportunity, in terms of the job scope, our organization’s mission, or anything else.
• What you’d contribute to our team’s culture and diversity of lived experiences and perspectives.

In your resume, please identify two references. We will notify you prior to our contacting any reference.