Development Director

Development Director

Organization: Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy

Posted: June 29, 2026 \u2022 Open until filled

WHO WE ARE: The Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy has been the leading legal and scientific voice for Minnesota's environment since 1974. To learn more about our history and programs, please visit mncenter.org. A nonprofit with offices in Saint Paul and Duluth, MCEA supports its employees through a commitment to a living wage, a good benefits package, and regular opportunities for professional growth and development. We value diversity, equity, an inclusive culture, and respect in the workplace.

POSITION SUMMARY: The Development Director plays a critical leadership role on the the fundraising team at MCEA. In addition to managing a personal portfolio of individual donors, the Development Director oversees day-to-day operations of the department and is responsible for annual individual giving and institutional revenue goals. This position reports to the Advancement Officer and works collaboratively and strategically to advance the work of MCEA. The Director works closely with the Finance and Communications departments and will supervise up to three additional team members.

We seek an energetic and experienced employee to lead all aspects of our individual donor program and how our donors experience MCEA. This position is responsible for leading daily operations for event and individual giving fundraising activities, in addition to implementing an annual fund development plan.

The successful candidate will develop and implement plans and systems to ensure that MCEA continues to connect with donors and audiences of potential donors. This is a great opportunity to join a nimble team that is committed to working and laughing hard together, and to have a big impact on the state's environmental future. We seek a candidate who is deeply committed to our mission, highly organized, experienced in and capable of leading implementation of organization-wide strategies in a collaborative fashion, brings a long track record of fundraising growth, is a good listener capable of giving and receiving honest feedback, and able to contribute positively to the creation of a diverse, equitable, inclusive team-oriented work environment.

HOW WILL WE SUPPORT YOU? MCEA will provide the successful candidate with competitive wages and benefits, including health, dental and vision insurance, free parking and public transportation support, 401K with match, a hybrid work environment with a full-time option to work 32-hours per week, professional development opportunities, and a collaborative, flexible and supportive work environment.

MAJOR AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

• Donor appeals Our fundraising philosophy is based on moving resources to where they can best benefit community. This position will lead donor engagement and retention strategies, including direct mail, electronic appeals, and direct asks. The Development Director will also manage their own portfolio of donors.
• Supporter engagement From thanking donors to our mail program and engagement webinars, this position will plan and lead how our supporters are engaged, deepening understanding of MCEA's unique role in Minnesota's environmental sector, and organizational trust.
• Campaigns and innovative strategies. Design campaigns, workplans and calendars to meet budget goals while also leaving space for creativity and experimentation. Create strategies to identify and cultivate current donors and new contributed revenue sources.
• Events and sponsorships This position will play a leadership role in our internal events team, partner with our external event consultants, and lead sponsorship solicitation.
• Planning Working with the Fund Development Team to create clear plans and actions to bolster the success of our impactful organization.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Eight or more years of experience in individual nonprofit fundraising with a focus on direct asks and at least three of those years in a leadership role
• Proven track record of soliciting and closing gifts, building and cultivating supporter relationships
• Demonstrated ability to set priorities, meet deadlines and lead teams
• Experience in data-driven campaign design, managing budgets, and setting revenue targets
• Strong project management skills, including coordinating multiple projects and prioritizing tasks

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Deep familiarity with Community-Centric Fundraising, and experience in using the principles to guide fund raising decisions
• Experience designing and leading a major, multiyear campaign
• Strong project management skills, including coordinating multiple projects prioritizing tasks
• Current about changes in the philosophic sector

SALARY & BENEFITS: MCEA strives to create a mission-focused work environment that is equitable and inclusive. MCEA highly values diversity and is an equal opportunity employer. We are proud to support our employees through a range of strategies, including generous benefits for employees and dependents, paid family leave, and support from an executive coach. The annual salary range for this position is $81,000-$90,000.

REPORTS TO: Advancement Officer.

TO APPLY: Send your resume and cover letter as PDFs to hr@mncenter.org by July 22, 2026 for priority consideration. Please use your cover letter as an opportunity to share with us how your skills and experience align with our responsibilities and qualifications. Please also indicate in your e-mail where you located this job posting. You must submit all materials directly to hr@mncenter.org \u2013 no applications via third party website (such as Indeed) will be accepted.