Job Description
Job Description
DEFENDERS OF WILDLIFE
POSITION DESCRIPTION
JOB TITLE: Senior Vice President of Development
SALARY: $285,000 - $300,000
FLSA: Exempt
DEPARTMENT: Development
LOCATION: Headquarters, Washington, DC
REPORTS TO: President and CEO
NUMBER OF DIRECT AND INDIRECT REPORT(S): 22
LAST REVISED: January 2026
POSITION SUMMARY
The Senior Vice President of Development is responsible for providing strategic direction and leadership for the Development department, cultivating revenue streams, and developing avenues for fundraising while furthering Defenders of Wildlife’s mission. S/he will set and meet annual restricted and unrestricted revenue goals through planned giving, foundation and federal grants support, special events, and major donor giving, while leading a team of fundraising professionals. In addition, s/he works with the President and CEO and other senior leadership on strategizing on major fundraising campaigns and targeted initiatives. S/he engages with the Board of Directors on Development fundraising, including by providing support to the Board’s Revenue Committee. She/he participates as a member of the Executive Team, helping guide organizational strategy, planning, and leadership decisions in support of Defenders’ mission and long-term goals.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Formulates short and long-term fundraising goals for Defenders of Wildlife in support of the organization’s mission and strategic plan.
- Develops actionable strategies for meeting and exceeding those goals through foundation and federal grants, major gifts, planned giving support, and fundraising campaigns and events.
- Structures and leads the development team to best approach a variety of development goals. Oversees the preparation and implementation by direct reports of work plans, timelines, and actions to meet annual revenue goals.
- Develops and implements annual fundraising plan and budget in consultation with the President and CEO. Establishes revenue goals, benchmarks, and performance metrics, and evaluates progress against past-year performance and budget goals on a quarterly basis. Through regular contact with the Finance department, monitors contributions by source against projections and provides the President and CEO with trend analyses and recommendations.
- Serves as a key architect of the organization’s long-range strategic plan, ensuring philanthropic strategy directly advances institutional priorities and financial sustainability.
- Translates organizational strategic plan into a multi-year fundraising and revenue diversification roadmap.
- Oversees the preparation and implementation of cultivation and solicitation strategies for individual and foundation donors including, but not limited to, travel excursions for important supporters. Cultivates and solicits gifts independently or with the President and CEO, Senior Vice President for Conservation Programs, Development relationship managers, program staff, and members of the Board. Reviews and approves solicitations, proposals, and other communications prepared for donors to ensure quality and accuracy. Is personally responsible for the cultivation and solicitation of a portfolio of donors.
- Works with the Senior Director of Philanthropy, Director of Foundations & Corporate Relations, senior management, and conservation program staff to raise restricted funds for priority programs. Work with conservation program and finance staff to ensure that grants are properly allocated and spent.
- Works with the Director of Planned Giving to develop marketing and engagement strategies for Defenders of Wildlife’s Wildlife Legacy Society.
- Raises awareness of the organization and its mission through outreach efforts and regular event and donor engagement strategies including regular email communications, Leadership Council Webinars, invitation-only trips, project site visits, dinners, and receptions.Build and sustain a high-performance, metrics-driven, and mission-centered fundraising culture across the organization.
- Pursues new revenue streams for expansion of the organization’s fundraising efforts. Tracks revenue and fundraising trends, then uses the information to predict future opportunities for expansion efforts and avoid any downtrends in individual or foundation gifts.
- Working with the President and CEO, engages Board members in supporting the financial development of the organization, organizes and manages the annual Board giving campaign, recommends potential Board members, and oversees the preparation of the department’s quarterly Board reports.
- Partner closely with the President & CEO and board to solicit major gifts and develop tailored proposals in alignment with donors’ interests as well as organizational priorities.
- In collaboration with the Senior Vice President for External Affairs, oversees Annual Report and other donor materials production.
- In collaboration with the CFO, ensures compliance with charitable state agency requests for annual updated organizational information, and ensures compliance with federal grants.
- Evaluates emerging philanthropy trends, market risk, and donor behavior to proactively adapt strategy.
- As part of the Executive Team, participates in organizational strategy meetings and helps develop overall organizational priorities and direction with strategic guidance focused on funding potential or impacts.
- Collaborates with the President and CEO to identify external organizational challenges and spearhead effective solutions.Recommends, reviews, and approves employment actions, including interviewing, hiring, promotions, and raises, in coordination with Human Resources. Partners with Human Resources in the handling of disciplinary issues.
- Ensures communication of duties and responsibilities to direct reports and monitors performance. Provides regular coaching and counseling to department employees, identifies training needs, prepares and delivers salary and performance reviews and reviews and approves performance and salary appraisals as necessary.
- Some travel is required for this position.
- Performs all other related duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS
Education: Bachelor’s (B.A./B.S.) degree or equivalent
Experience: 15 years; 10 years supervisory; 7 years managing 2+ layers
- Ten years of progressively responsible experience in development fund-raising required, with a focus on personal solicitation of large gifts for operational or capital campaigns required. Experience in the conservation, environmental or political field(s) is highly sought after. Verifiable track record of fundraising success required, especially in the upgrading of donors to raise five, six and seven-figure gifts. Demonstrated ability to cultivate, expand, and support a diverse major donor base required.
- Ten years of experience managing teams larger than 10 employees and at least 7 years of senior/executive leadership required.
An equivalent combination of education and experience may be accepted as a satisfactory substitute for the specific education and experience listed above.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities for All Defenders
https://defenders.org/knowledge-skills-and-abilities
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities for Senior Vice President of Development
- progressively responsible experience in development fund-raising required, with a focus on personal solicitation of large gifts for operational or capital campaigns required.
- Experience in the conservation, environmental or political field(s) is highly sought after.
- Verifiable track record of fundraising success required, especially in the upgrading of donors to raise five, six and seven-figure gifts.
- Demonstrated ability to cultivate, expand, and support a diverse major donor base required.
PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES, ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS, PHYSICAL DEMANDS
Physical Activities
Check all that apply
Frequency
(N)Never, (O)Occasionally or (C)Constantly
Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles and the like.
N
Moving self in different positions to accomplish tasks in various environments including tight and confined spaces.
N
Remaining in a stationary position, often standing or sitting for prolonged periods.
C
Moving about to accomplish tasks or moving from one worksite to another.
O
Adjusting or moving objects up to 10 pounds in all directions.
N
Communicating with others to exchange information.
C
Repeating motions that may include the wrists, hands and/or fingers.
C
Operating machinery and/or power tools.
N
Operating motor vehicles or heavy equipment.
N
Assessing the accuracy, neatness and thoroughness of the work assigned.
C
Environmental Conditions
Check all that apply
Frequency
(N)Never, (O)Occasionally or (C)Constantly
Low temperatures.
High temperatures.
Outdoor elements such as precipitation and wind.
Noisy environments.
Hazardous conditions.
Poor ventilation.
Small and/or enclosed spaces.
No adverse environmental conditions expected.
C
Physical Demands
Check only one
Sedentary work that primarily involves sitting/standing.
X
Light work that includes moving objects up to 20 pounds.
Medium work that includes moving objects up to 50 pounds.
Heavy work that includes moving objects up to 100 pounds or more.
Visit www.defenders.org to apply.
All employees are required to satisfactorily perform the essential duties and responsibilities of their positions. The essential duties and responsibilities listed above are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.
Defenders of Wildlife provides equal employment opportunity to all qualified individuals without regard to their race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, genetic information, disability, veterans' status or and any other legally protected class, characteristic or trait per applicable federal, state, or local law.
Please be advised this position is non union-eligible.