Company Overview: Sustainable Iowa Land Trust (SILT) is a mission-driven nonprofit dedicated to conserving productive farmland for growing food in Iowa, supporting equitable access to land for farmers, and protecting agricultural landscapes in perpetuity. SILT acquires and holds conservation easements, partners with landowners and communities, and supports sustainable farming practices that advance food security, climate resilience, and equitable land access across Iowa.
Job Summary: The Director of Philanthropy leads SILT’s fundraising strategy and execution to secure the revenue needed for land protection, stewardship, and program growth. This senior role builds and manages major gift and annual giving programs, expands foundation and corporate support, develops planned giving, and strengthens donor stewardship and data systems. The Director partners closely with the Executive Director, Organizational Development Manager, staff, and board to translate SILT’s mission into compelling philanthropic opportunities and measurable revenue growth. The successful candidate will also play an active role in shaping and refining this new position; their insights and recommendations will be solicited and considered to define final responsibilities, priorities, and performance expectations.
Duties:
- Philanthropic Funding Strategy & Execution
- Lead philanthropic funding functions and processes, working with the SILT team, on all philanthropic funding strategies through execution to include individual giving, corporate partnerships, private foundations, planned giving, events, and annual campaigns.
- Provide strategy support for prospect moves-management, cultivation plans, and solicitation strategies to secure funding; create, manage, and track cultivation, acknowledgement, and stewardship processes in ways that foster long‑term engagement, partnership, and investment.
- Coordinate with the Organizational Development Manager and program teams on strategy, grant applications, institutional relationships, site visits, reporting, and compliance to ensure fundraising asks align with program outcomes.
- Work with the board of directors to define board fundraising roles, prepare briefing materials, support board solicitations, train and coach board members on donor conversations, and provide regular pipeline and performance updates.
- Embody and adhere to philanthropic funding best practices, ethical gift acceptance policies, and equity‑centered fundraising approaches; stay current on sector trends and incorporate new approaches that improve effectiveness and donor experience.
Research, Prospecting & Pipeline Development
- Lead data‑driven research, national and local funder prospecting, planning, and implementation of activities, meeting preparation, appeals, and follow‑up for aligned opportunities; leverage funding and marketing expertise and resources to achieve goals.
- Design structure for a scalable funding prospect pipeline and portfolio management process, including moves‑management stages, qualification criteria, and forecasting.
Events & Stewardship
- Manage strategy and execution of key cultivation and stewardship events in consultation with the internal team and board of directors; track attendance, engagement metrics, costs, and provide accurate and timely post‑event follow‑up and ROI reporting.
- Emphasize stewardship in all activities: ensure timely acknowledgements, personalized stewardship plans, impact reporting, and donor recognition that build trust and long‑term retention.
Data & Systems Management
- Manage donor database migration, implementation, and ongoing daily activity; ensure integrity of donor and prospect data, enforce entry standards for portfolios, and produce database reports, tracking, and analytics to meet team goals.
- Maximize database functionality by working in close partnership with staff and vendors to identify and implement process improvements, automation, segmentation, and better reporting workflows.
Operations & Reporting
- Prepare meeting materials (memos, agendas, briefing notes, and collateral), reports, and presentations for board meetings, committees, partners, and key stakeholders.
- Monitor and track assigned expense budgets, revenue goals, and KPIs; recommend adjustments to tactics and resource allocation based on performance.
Role Development & Team Contribution
- Play an active role in defining and refining this new position; provide input on priorities, scope, performance expectations, and operational needs during the first 90-180 days and ongoing as the role evolves.
- Perform other duties as assigned; remain flexible to changing organizational needs while maintaining high standards of professionalism and accountability.
- Contribute as a collaborative team member: share knowledge, support colleagues across programs and operations, participate in cross‑functional planning, and help build a positive, mission‑focused workplace culture.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience/certification
- Experience: 5-7+ years professional fundraising; success closing major gifts and managing portfolios.
- Skills: Strategic planning, donor cultivation, data-informed decision-making, clear communication.
- Tools: Proficiency with donor CRMs (LGL or similar), analytics, and Google Workspace.
- Attributes: Mission-driven, relationship-focused, accountable, collaborative.
- Requirements: Background check prior to final offer; valid driver’s license for donor travel.
Work Environment:
- Location: Must reside in Iowa or be willing to relocate. This position can be fully remote within Iowa, but we do have office space available in West Branch if desired.
- Anticipated Travel Required: 30% (In Iowa)
Compensation & Benefits:
- Salary:
- $70,000 base pay
- Bonus potential
- Relocation expenses available, if applicable
- Ability for base pay to grow with fundraising
- Benefits:
- Medical offered to employee only
- Employee only pays $150 per month, and SILT picks up the remainder
- Dental:
- Two dental plan options available through Delta Dental
- 100% employee paid
- Vision
- Two vision plan options available through Delta Vision
- 100% employee paid
- $50,000 of Guaranteed Life Insurance provided by SILT, with the option for employees to purchase additional Vol Life
- Internal Short-Term Disability
- Employer Paid Long-Term Disability
- 60% of salary up to $10,000 per month
- Voluntary critical illness, accident, and hospital indemnity
- Legal and Identity Theft
- FSA and DCA
- Medical offered to employee only
PTO
Years 0-1: 14 days
Years 2-3: 19 days
Years 4-7: 24 days
Years 8+: 29 days
*Employees have the opportunity to earn additional PTO throughout the year
Paid Holidays: SILT offers 13 paid holidays + Birthday PTO
Reduced Work Week: SILT offers a reduced work week between Christmas and New Year’s
Sabbatical Leave: Eligible employees may take a paid sabbatical after five years of continuous service.
Remote Work: All SILT staff can work from home. We do have an office in West Branch for anyone wishing to work from a traditional office.
Remote Work Month: To support work-life balance and flexibility, our organization offers a “Fully Remote Month” benefit for our staff. We are committing to not scheduling any SILT events during the month of March & employees can work remotely from anywhere in the world with WiFi.
Other: Employee Development, Bereavement
SILT provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and is committed to an inclusive workplace.