Montana Director of Development

USA The Nature Conservancy

Bozeman, Montana

JOB DETAILS
LOCATION
Bozeman, Montana
POSTED
20 days ago
What We Can Achieve Together:

The Montana Chapter of The Nature Conservancyseeksan inspiring, strategic, relationship-driven Director of Development to lead our fundraising program and secure transformational support for conservation across Montana's iconic working and natural landscapes.

This highly external facing role focuses on building deep, long term donor relationships that advance TNC's mission. They partner closely with the State Director, trustees, and cross functional staff to advance a unified fundraising strategy, ensure alignment with conservation priorities, and cultivate a strong, mission aligned team culture.

Success requires exceptional relationship building skills, strong interpersonal understanding, and the ability to inspire philanthropy through authentic engagement with Montana's diverse people, communities, and landscapes. The Montana Director of Development reports to the State Director and serves as an active member of the Montana Chapter's leadership team.

We're Looking for You:

Specific responsibilities for this position include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following areas and duties:

Organizational Leadership & Accountability
  • Set the Montana chapter's long-term fundraising vision and annual revenue goals that align with Montana conservation objectives and TNC's North American and global priorities.
  • Accountable for the team portfolio currently delivering $4M+ in annual funding, with clear expectations to cultivate growth and maintain long term financial sustainability.
  • Lead a multi-year, donor-centered strategy that builds continuity, trust, and high-impact, place-based engagement.
  • Establish clear expectations, operating rhythms, and transparent communication across development, conservation, and TNC's state, local, and global leadership teams.
  • Act as a public representative of The Nature Conservancy in Montana with colleagues, partners, donors, community leaders, and the broader public.
  • Ensure adherence to TNC policies, financial controls, ethical standards, and reporting requirements.

Donor & Prospect Management
  • Manage a personal portfolio of approximately 10-15 major donors, collectively contributing more than $1M annually; drive personalized cultivation, well-crafted solicitations, and disciplined stewardship
  • Identify and cultivate new prospects through trustee, partner, and Montana community networks; leverage TNC tools and best practices.
  • Bring strong familiarity with nationally and globally connected philanthropic networks to expand opportunities and inform prospect strategy.

Development Team Leadership & Culture
  • Guide and support a seasoned development team to excel through clear priorities, constructive, data-driven feedback mechanisms, and alignment around shared mission outcomes.
  • Foster an inclusive, trust-based culture anchored in learning, accountability, and shared success.
  • Drive budgeting, revenue targets, performance analysis, and decisive financial adjustments for Montana's development program.

Partnership with State Director & Board of Trustees
  • Maintain a close, candid, collaborative partnership with the State Director, sharing ownership of donor strategy, portfolio moves, and fundraising results.
  • Engage trustees as strategic partners, providing high-level updates and opportunities for meaningful contribution.

General
  • Bozeman is the preferred location for this position, with potential for flexibility in Missoula or Helena.
  • Travel frequently, as much as 50% of their time, frequently on short notice and outside normal business hours including weekends.
  • Maintains confidentiality of frequently sensitive and emotionally charged information.
  • Develops and administers budget and fundraising objectives, evaluates results and develops corrective strategies as needed
  • Ensures that programmatic commitments, TNC policies and procedures, financial standards, and legal requirements are met and managed for ethical compliance.
  • Directs or participates in negotiations for complex, high profile or sensitive agreements.
  • Understands and conforms to all Conservancy gift-related policies and procedures and ensures ethical compliance, as defined by the Association for Fundraising Professionals.
  • Work environment involves only infrequent exposure to disagreeable elements and minor physical exerti

About the Company

U

USA The Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy is the leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. The mission of The Nature Conservancy is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends.

We address the most pressing conservation threats at the largest scale. Thanks to the support of our more than 1 million members, we’ve built a tremendous record of success since our founding in 1951:
  • We've protected more than 119 million acres of land and thousands of miles of rivers worldwide — and we operate more than 100 marine conservation projects globally.
  • We work in all 50 states and more than 72 countries — protecting habitats from grasslands to coral reefs, from Australia to Alaska to Zambia.
  • We address threats to conservation involving climate change, fresh water, oceans, and conservation lands.
COMPANY SIZE
2,500 to 4,999 employees
INDUSTRY
Nonprofit Charitable Organizations
FOUNDED
1951
WEBSITE
http://www.nature.org