Director of Development

Native Plant Trust is seeking its next director of Development to lead the organization's fundraising and donor stewardship programs during an exciting time of renewal and planned growth. The organization celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2025, has a newly appointed chief executive officer who joined in 2024 after a distinguished career in botanic garden leadership, and a newly elected board chair bringing nonprofit and fundraising leadership experience.

The transition of development leadership follows the successful thirteen-year tenure of our prior director and coincides with the organization’s planning for its next strategic plan, expected to be released in 2026. Native Plant Trust has a strong, engaged board with a clear appetite for growth and increased philanthropic support to fuel mission impact. 2025 saw the organization raise $3.8 million in operational support, exceeding its budgeted goal by $500,000 and realizing a 30 percent increase over the prior year; a testament to the power of the mission and commitment of our supporters.

This is an exempt, salaried, full-time, year-round, benefit-eligible position based at our headquarters in Wayland, MA. Starting compensation is $135,000-$150,000 per year.

To apply, email a resume, cover letter, and three references to [email protected] with the subject line “Director of Development Application.” Initial applicant review will begin February 27, 2026, and continue until the role is filled.

Position Overview

The director of Development is a senior leadership role responsible for guiding Native Plant Trust’s fundraising and donor relations strategy, strengthening philanthropic systems and operations, and ensuring the organization has the current and future philanthropic support needed to fulfill its mission. Reporting to the chief executive officer, the director of Development partners closely with the board of trustees, development staff, program leadership, volunteers, and philanthropic partners to build an integrated, mission-aligned development function that supports the organization’s next phase of impact and growth.

The director of Development leads all philanthropic and donor engagement activities, including the donor circles program (Supporters, Sustainers, and Conservation Circle), major gifts, annual fund campaigns, planned giving, institutional partnerships, and donor stewardship. As a critical organizational leader and decision maker, this role balances strategic leadership with active relationship management, ensuring strong and sustained growth in philanthropic revenue, optimized development operations, a cohesive and rewarding donor experience, and high visibility of Native Plant Trust’s impact within the philanthropic community.

Essential Job Functions

Fundraising Strategy and Donor Engagement

• Lead fundraising through donor recognition programs, major gifts work and planned giving programs. Work closely with colleagues across public programs, general membership, and communications to expand and strengthen the donor pipeline and ensure these programs thrive.
• Manage donor relations activities for the organization including individual giving, corporate contributions, foundation and government grants, life income and planned gifts, and gifts-in-wills/bequests.
• In consultation with the CEO and director of Finance, collaborate across departments to prioritize, align, and plan for program funding needs, ensuring strong coordination around budgeting, forecasting, compliance, and short and long term financial planning.
• Create and execute short term and multi-year fundraising strategies including campaigns (e.g. annual fund, end of year, operational, capital, and matching). Utilize data and analytics to assess and refine strategies. Develop strategies for direct mail, electronic, social media, peer-to-peer, and event-based appeals in conjunction with philanthropy and communications staff to ensure consistent messaging, expanded reach, and effective use of organizational resources.
• Establish new and deepen current relationships with prospective and current philanthropic partners. Conceptualize and execute creative and rewarding donor cultivation and stewardship programs.
• Recommend and contribute to communication strategies, social media content, magazine articles and pieces, and eNewsletters in support of development goals.
• Lead grant acquisitions including identification of opportunities, application coordination, reporting, content creation (writing and/or delegation of writing, and sourcing of support materials), and grantee stewardship.

Development Team Leadership and Operations

• Lead a dynamic department of staff (3 direct reports) and numerous volunteers responsible for frontline fundraising, gift and donation processing, prospect identification, and stewardship.
• Supervise, manage, mentor, and hire direct reports and ensure all department staff are set up for success with clear annual work plans, performance goals, performance reviews, and regular professional development opportunities. Ensure development goals are integrated with the organization’s overall strategic goals.
• Develop and manage the department’s revenue and expense budgets to maximize the impact of resource allocation for short- and long-term revenue growth. Draft project, annual, and multi-year fundraising targets. Ensure timely financial reporting.
• Collaborate with communications staff to shape fundraising and donor relations messaging that reflects organizational priorities, strengthens reach, and supports donor engagement. Partner with public programs and membership staff to intentionally integrate donor cultivation, prospect identification, and relationship-building into public-facing programs and events.
• Continually assess and improve operations, resource allocation, and integrations where departmental tasks touch other departments. Ensure technology is being efficiently and effectively leveraged.

Executive leadership and board partnership

• Serve as a member of the leadership team working collectively to run the organization, establish and execute on strategic priorities, and optimize the organization’s impact.
• Contribute to the creation of a productive, rewarding, and professional work culture where individuals, teams, and departments thrive.
• Serve as staff liaison for the development committee, council relations committee, and other board committees as assigned. Actively shape and contribute to the work and productivity of these committees. Present at and prepare committee chairs to present at board meetings.
• Lead board and council giving initiatives and nurture a culture of giving and donor stewardship in these audiences.
• Support the governance committee in nominating and retention activities for the board, council, and honorary trustees.

Skills, Experience, Education, and Certifications

• A demonstrated record of leading multi-million dollar operating fundraising portfolios and developing fundraising strategies resulting in sustained revenue growth over time.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, manage and leverage a team of direct and indirect reports to meet fundraising goals across multiple programs (e.g. donor circles, major gifts, annual funds, and bequests/planned giving).
• Strong relationship-building skills, with significant experience leading work with major donors ($25,000 to $250,000) and planned giving.
• A demonstrated record of improving development operations.
• Exceptional communication skills with the ability to articulate a multi-faceted mission to diverse audiences.
• Extensive experience managing, mentoring, and inspiring staff, board, and volunteers.
• High level of professionalism and integrity, with a strong commitment to the environment.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends, as needed.
• The position requires regular travel (2-4 days a month) in Massachusetts and occasional travel (6-10 days a year) throughout New England.
• Must be eligible to work in the United States. In accordance with company policies and a commitment to a safe working environment, applicants will be subject to a pre-employment screening including a background check and reference checks.

Physical Demands and Work Environment Factors

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to lift boxes or other items weighing at least 20 lbs. They will frequently sit for long periods of time and may use repetitive wrist and hand motions involved in sorting and handling documents. The employee is regularly required to reach, with hands and arms, to listen and to speak. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and color vision. The employee will have frequent periods of close visual contact with a computer monitor. They are often required to drive short and long distances.