Our mission is simple: to bring Oregonians together to improve our environment and build a legacy of stewardship.
For over 50 years SOLVE has been bringing people together to clean our beaches, parks, neighborhoods and natural spaces. With an unstoppable force of thirty thousand volunteers, we are protecting and restoring Oregon's unique places. Our core strengths of engaging and educating volunteers serve as the foundation of our action - to preserve the quality of life we enjoy in Oregon.
AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXCEL: The Business Development Manager has the primary responsibility for developing and implementing an aggressive annual and long-range corporate giving strategy. Working closely with the Development Director and the Development Team, this person will identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward relationships with corporate and government supporters while fostering strong statewide awareness and financial support for SOLVE. People who excel at this job will be outgoing and motivated to represent SOLVE's mission within Oregon's greater business community through in-person meetings, networking events, and other high value touchpoints.
TITLE: Business Development Manager
REPORTS TO: Development Director
BENEFITS: Comprehensive benefits package, including 401k with employer match, 100% employer-paid medical, vision, and dental coverage, with an option for dependents, 2 Employee Assistant Programs, Medical Flex Spending Account, long-term disability, 3 weeks starting vacation and 2 weeks sick time, paid volunteer time, office closure for an all-staff wellness week, and 14 additional paid holidays.
COMMITMENT: Full-time/Exempt. Flexible schedule. Some nights/weekends as needed. Office location is Portland, Oregon.
SALARY: $56,000 to $76,000
TRAVEL: Local travel required.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis until September 14, 2026. Priority consideration for applications received by September 8, 2026.
Essential Functions
Sales and Fundraising (75%)
- Secure corporate and government support, including event sponsorships, partnership support and annual philanthropic gifts to maintain long-term financial longevity of the organization.
- Manage and facilitate existing relationships and agreements with corporate partners, while looking for additional points of collaboration and funding throughout the calendar year.
- Seek out new business opportunities and corporate partners that have a vested interest and synergy with SOLVE's mission and accomplishments.
- Track corporate gifts, maintain relationships, and ensure sponsorship deliverables are accurately and effectively communicated to the team.
- Oversee SOLVE's 'Out of Office' Corporate Volunteer Program, which includes coordinating and executing private volunteer events for various corporate groups.
Oversee Grant and Foundation Program (20%)
- Manage End-to-End Grant Lifecycle: Oversee the application, review, award, and reporting processes for community-level environmental grants, ensuring alignment with organizational funding priorities.
- Develop and track proposals and reports for foundation and corporate fundraising
- Evaluate SOLVE programs to decide best fit for funding; submit proposals
- Search for nontraditional grant funding sources, including but not limited to travel funding, advertising and marketing, personnel development and overhead costs.
- Support & Liaise with Grantees: Serve as the primary point of contact for awardees, providing ongoing technical assistance, guidance, and troubleshooting throughout their project cycles.
Metrics and Reporting (5%)
- Document and maintain clear and timely records and call reports to track contacts, pledges, donations, and special notes; assist in the maintenance of an accurate donor management database
- Other duties as assigned
Supervisory Responsibility
This position does not have any supervisory responsibilities.
Required Qualifications
- Experience: Minimum 2? years of progressive experience in corporate sales and fundraising or equivalent. Willingness to meet, engage, and development relationships with Oregon's business community.
Preferred Qualifications
- Education: Bachelor's degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience.
- Software: Microsoft 365 suite, QuickBooks, SalesForce, DonorPerfect, other job specific software requirements.
- Language: Able to speak a language other than English
Competencies
- Communication: Ability to convey information clearly, listen actively, and tailor communication based on the audience and situation.
- Teamwork: Collaboration with others to achieve common goals, understanding team dynamics, and contributing effectively within a group.
- Adaptability: Willingness and ability to adapt to new circumstances, learn from change, and work effectively in various situations, embracing continuous learning and improvement.
- Time Management: Efficiently managing your time, prioritizing tasks, and meeting deadlines to optimize productivity and performance.
- Leadership: Guiding, motivating, and influencing others to achieve shared objectives, even without a formal managerial role.
- Emotional Intelligence: Understanding and managing your own emotions and recognizing and empathizing with others' emotions to build better relationships.
- Attention to Detail: Thoroughness and accuracy in tasks, ensuring quality and precision in your work.
- Customer Service: Attending to constituent's needs and concerns effectively, providing exceptional service, and maintaining a positive experience.
- Partnership Building: Building and maintaining relationships with professionals in your field, fostering opportunities for collaboration and growth.
- Decision Making: Making informed and timely decisions, considering available information, and weighing potential outcomes.
- Mission Focus: Demonstrated commitment to the organization's mission and values.
- Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice: Demonstrated in-depth awareness and understanding of one's own cultural background and privilege, how it influences perceptions, values, and practices, and engages in the way they shape their relationship with volunteers, community members, and co-workers.
- Flexibility: Flexible schedule for occasional evening and weekend work.
Physical Requirements
The following physical requirements 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.
- Physical Ability: Duties are primarily performed in an office setting. Position requires the ability to sit and/or stand for extended periods, use a computer for extended periods, and lift 25 pounds. Occasional participation in events may require standing and walking on uneven or varying terrain outdoors.
- Visual and Auditory Ability: Required to have visual acuity to operate a computer terminal, read written materials, and communicate with others. Must be able to hear and speak clearly for effective communication.
- Focus/Memory: Ability to maintain focus and memory in environments with distractions such as heavy foot traffic, background noise due to public conversations and the gathering of people, etc.
- Driving: Able to operate a vehicle for extended periods. Valid Driver's License required.
Hiring Timeline
We want applicants to be aware of our process and timeline in advance (dates subject to change).
- Applications reviewed: Rolling basis, beginning immediately
- Phone interviews: Early September
- Panel interviews: September 21-27
- Final interviews: September 28 - October 3
- Target start date: October 19
Apply
Please submit a PDF or Word attachment to larissa@solve.org of your resumé and cover letter describing your work experience and your approach to corporate relations. Priority will be given to applications received by September 8, 2025. Final application deadline: September 14.
SOLVE is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to expanding the diversity of our team. Women, people of color, and members of the LGBTQIA(+) community are strongly encouraged to apply.