Development Director ORF

Ohio River Foundation (ORF) is looking for a dynamic, energetic, creative professional to join our team as a full-time Development Director.

Ohio River Foundation (ORF) is a regional conservation non-profit located in Cincinnati, OH. Since 2000, ORF has worked to protect and improve the water quality and ecology of the Ohio River watershed through environmental education, conservation, and advocacy activities.

Ohio River Foundation (ORF) is looking for a dynamic, energetic, creative professional to join our team as a full-time Development Director.

Ohio River Foundation (ORF) is a regional conservation non-profit located in Cincinnati, OH. Since 2000, ORF has worked to protect and improve the water quality and ecology of the Ohio River watershed through environmental education, conservation, and advocacy activities.

Position Summary: 

This position reports to the Executive Director, and serves an integral lead role on the fundraising team. Our ideal candidate will contribute to ORF by being a positive, motivated self-starter with natural abilities for multi-tasking, flexibility, versatility, and organization. Working in collaboration with ORF staff and board, the Development Director will lead and implement fundraising activities for Ohio River Foundation. The Development Director must be comfortable setting up systems and juggling multiple projects, while creatively connecting the dots between fundraising, communications, and programming. This is a key moment of growth for ORF. We plan to expand our base of individual giving, major gifts, and corporate and foundation partners. We are looking for someone ready for the exciting challenge of contributing their energy to ORF and helping grow revenue to amplify our mission impact.

Responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to:

• Lead ORF fundraising efforts to engage, cultivate, and steward existing, new, and prospective donors, develop major donors, and grow and create event and other fundraising strategies and campaigns.
• Corporate donor outreach management and implementation – Identify, develop, prepare, solicit, and submit inquiries, applications, proposals, and reports for corporate and foundation sponsorship and donation funding in partnership with ORF staff. Develop and monitor the solicit database and timeline.
• Fundraising campaign development and implementation – Organize and oversee all individual and corporate fundraising and cultivation events and campaigns. Develop and implement plans and strategies for planned giving, online giving, crowdfunding, direct mail, etc.
• Event fundraising, planning and support – Create and expand event revenue programs for Cincinnati Coffee Festival and Wild & Scenic Film Festival, working with each event’s respective event lead as appropriate.
• Donor database development and management – Maintain donor records and create prospect research reports on funders.
• Work with ORF staff to develop strategies and communications materials for development-specific initiatives and outreach such as organizational marketing collateral for donor prospects, email and direct mail content, sponsorship collateral, website content, graphics, etc.

Minimum Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Bachelor’s degree in non-profit category, marketing or communications with a minimum of three (3) years non-profit experience, including demonstrated success in fundraising, campaign management, and donor development and relations.
• Must possess excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Grant writing success is a plus.
• Possess an interest and passion for ORF’s mission.
• Must have strong project management and planning skills and be able to work well independently on specific projects but also as a team with staff at all levels in the organization, including volunteers and donors.
• Candidate should be deadline-oriented, able to prioritize multiple complex responsibilities while maintaining a high level of attention to detail and performance.
• Demonstrate good judgment, tact, diplomacy, and ability to guard confidentiality.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Windows software and applications is required, especially Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Google Workspace proficiency.
• Familiarity with non-profit CRM and donor management platforms (e.g., Network For Good, DonorPerfect, SalesForce).
• Experience with non-profit crowdfunding and peer-to-peer fundraising platforms is a plus.

Working Conditions:

• This job is hybrid. Candidate must be based in Greater Cincinnati. Occasional site meetings require access to transportation.
• Must have flexibility to attend special events and meetings which may include working evenings and weekends, as necessary.
• The applicant may be exposed to outside weather conditions for events and ORF activities. Applicant must be able to lift/move/carry up to 25 pounds without assistance.
• This job is hybrid. Candidate must be based in Greater Cincinnati. Occasional site meetings require access to transportation.

Compensation package: Salary range $70,000 - $80,000. Benefits: medical, dental & vision coverage; 4 weeks paid time off, remote work flexibility.  
 
To apply for this position: Send a cover letter and resume to rcogen@ohioriverfdn.org.

Applications will be reviewed as they are received, with the intent of filling the position as soon as possible with the best candidate.

Ohio River Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and does not and will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, religion, color, sex, gender, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, genetic information, military or veteran status, and/or any other characteristic or protected status.