Position Summary:The Development & Stewardship Officer is a key member of the Development and Communications team, responsible for leading the full donor relationship and revenue cycle at Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy. This role owns major and planned gift fundraising, the annual fund, mid-level donor stewardship, commemorative giving, and corporate and foundation relations, while collaborating closely with the Deputy Director to advance the Conservancy\'s philanthropic goals. The Development & Stewardship Officer reports directly to the Deputy Director and works cross-departmentally to ensure donor engagement strategies are aligned with organizational priorities. This position plays a central role in setting and achieving fundraising event revenue goals and serves as a key relationship manager for the Conservancy\'s donor community. This is a full-time position, working 40 hours per week with non-exempt status according to the Fair Labor Standards Act and the NYS Department of Labor. Overtime hours may be required at certain times, with supervisor approval. The workweek may include flexible schedules depending on the workload, with some weekend work necessary.Duties and Responsibilities:Donor Portfolio & Stewardship:Manages a portfolio of donors giving between $500 and $25,000; analyzes donor data to inform strategies for increasing individual contributions and recognizing first-time donors through personalized stewardship effortsManages and cultivates relationships with new and existing donorsDevelop comprehensive plan of work to cultivate, solicit, and steward prospectsInnovates new ways to recognize donors throughout the park systemUpdates the Deputy Director regularly on donor activity and prospect opportunitiesMajor & Planned Giving:Identify and formally qualify prospective major and planned gift prospects giving at the $5,000 level and aboveDevelop and execute individualized cultivation and solicitation plans; actively participate in making asks at the major gift levelPrepare compelling proposals, gift agreements, and manage all related donor communicationsSupport the development and execution of planned giving initiatives and endowment campaign effortsSupport portfolio management for the Deputy DirectorMeet regularly with prospects and donors to advance relationships and document all contactsAnnual Fund & Campaigns:Spearhead annual fund appeals and manage other major fundraising campaigns from strategy through executionTrack, analyze, and report on giving metrics, trends, and campaign performance on a regular basisDevelop and implement donor re-engagement and retention strategiesManage year-end and other major giving appeals in coordination with the Administrative Assistant Commemorative Giving:Manages, updates, and follows standard operating procedures for the commemorative gift program(s) and tracking systems, all to ensure timely fulfillment and acknowledgement with proper and effective donor communicationTakes initiative to grow the commemorative gift program through collaboration on marketing and fulfillment plans, ensuring website and database accuracy and supporting organizational annual goalsServes as the main point of contact for the coordination of commemorative and stewardship eventsDevelops and implements gift acknowledgement procedures in partnership with the Administrative AssistantManages a high level of phone and email correspondence with donors, material orders, vendors, and detailed follow-through with consistent and sensitive communicationAssists with gift pledge reminders, files, and other fulfillment specifications or organizational record keeping needsFundraising Events — Strategy & Revenue:Set fundraising event strategy and revenue goals in partnership with the Deputy DirectorAnalyze return on investment across all fundraising events and provide recommendations for improvementCorporate & Foundation Relations:Identify, cultivate, and manage a portfolio of corporate sponsors and foundation prospectsEnsure fulfillment of all corporate partnership deliverables and maintain strong ongoing relationshipsDevelop and maintain foundation relationships to support both restricted and unrestricted funding goalsResearches and assists with grant proposals to secure funding in partnership with the Deputy DirectorAdditional Expectations:Staffs and manages the Giving & Awareness Committee, serving as recording secretary for monthly meetings, setting and tracking annual targets, and completing assigned tasksManage the Young Professionals for Olmsted Parks (YPOP) program as a donor engagement and pipeline vehicleAligns with the Conservancy\'s commitment to creating an inclusive, equitable, and accountable working environment for all staff and park system for all park usersAdheres to code of ethics for confidentiality, discretion, and policies pertaining to donor rightsPerform other duties as assigned by management Qualifications and Requirements, (Knowledge, Skills and Abilities): City of Buffalo residency within six-(6) months of hire dateBachelor\'s degree in a development-related field such as Business, Public Relations, or Nonprofit Management; or a minimum of four (4) consecutive years in a nonprofit fundraising roleMinimum of three (3) years of experience in development and fundraising, with demonstrated success in major gift solicitationHolds a successful track record of prospecting and soliciting gifts at the $5,000 level and aboveFamiliarity with donor-centric fundraising, moves management, goal setting, and long-term stewardship strategiesExperience managing a portfolio of at least 50 annual and active prospectsInterest in parks, landscapes, historic preservation, and environmental causesExperience with, and/or a desire to own and manage, a tangible gift program, including researching best practices for improving growth performance and resultsEffective verbal and written communication skills, including experience with professional proposal development and presentationsEmpathetic, professional, and responsive communication skills are paramount to the success of this positionSavvy interpersonal skills with an ability and desire to relate to diverse groups of people both internally and externallyCan form respectful relationships quickly with Board members, leadership, and key external constituentsPossesses the ability to maintain a network of colleagues and collaborators as resources for professional best practicesProficiency with fundraising software systems and donor trackingProficiency with Microsoft Office Suite including word processing, spreadsheets, and presentationsProfessional in demeanor and demonstrated commitment to work with diverse constituents; understands and engages in a team environment with a positive attitude for creativity and problem solvingExceptional organizational abilities with attention to detail and accuracyAbility to multitask, prioritize, and work under pressure to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment with constantly changing priorities and/or budget resourcesAbility to be resourceful and proactive in dealing with unforeseen issues which may arise, while being respectful of all Conservancy stakeholders and mindful of actionsPhysical Demands and Working Conditions: Predominantly a desk performance position; with some field work with staff, donors or vendors out in the parksJob duties may require an employee to bend, reach, stoop, sit, stand and/or walk for extended periods of time as well as lift and/or move heavy objects at times up to 30 lbs.;These job duties may require an employee to drive distances between park features or locations;Must continuously foster a team approach to working in the park environment;Some evening or weekend work may be required.Must be able to adapt to ever-changing resources and limited budget.
