Chief Investment Officer - Development

Company Description

Since 1995, The Forest Stewards Guild’s national network of members, staff, and partners have advanced the culture of forest stewardship based on ethical principles, best-available science, and diverse experience. Practicing what we preach through real-world projects is a distinction that brings value and substance to investors. We explore and demonstrate what works in the woods and showcase effective forest management practices through outreach, training, and policy development. In other words, we combine strategy and action to position ourselves as the heart of the forest stewardship movement, driving its growth and impact nationwide.  

Three decades of thought-meets-practice leadership from the Guild has brought the concept of ecological forestry from the fringes to the expected standard for management in much of the U.S. Now, our obligation is to broaden the culture of stewardship, so it takes root in small woodlots, vast forests, company tracts, and public lands across the country. The Guild has an ambitious growth strategy based on a five-year investment-grade business plan. The Chief Investment Officer will be the lead ambassador and drive an increase in contributions.   

Job Description

Please join our team and help us forge a healthy future for people and forests! The Forest Stewards Guild is hiring a Chief Investment Officer to build and lead a nationwide philanthropy program as the engine of organization-wide growth. We need you to cultivate new strategic relationships and expand our fundraising program. We have a high-performing team of dedicated professionals who work effectively together, have fun, and share a passion for positive impact across the US. Now we need you! 

The CIO will have the primary responsibility for establishing and maintaining relationships with a portfolio of community leaders and individuals who are prospective partners and investors in the Guild’s work. The CIO will report to the Executive Director and work closely with the Communications Manager. The Guild has not had an investment team in the past, so the CIO will be able to assemble the team from the ground up. The Guild has a tremendous network including over 200 individual donors and corporate sponsors that we have yet to fully engage for financial support. The CIO will cultivate these relationships and take the leadership role in developing a new team of dedicated professionals to engage individuals and corporations across the country and earn their investment of time, talent, and financial support. The CIO will:  

• identify major investors;  
• develop and deploy individualized cultivation strategies which harness the full range of Guild’s people and programs;  
• develop solicitation and closure strategies; and  
• deliver consistent, high touch stewardship.  

Major Responsibilities 

• Lead the development and implementation of the new Office of Investments & Partnerships, including establishing procedures and goals for philanthropy. 
• Oversee a dynamic portfolio of approximately 200 current and prospective significant financial supporters. Ensure that each individual in the portfolio receives continuous, personalized attention and ongoing engagement in furtherance of that individual’s relationship with and support of the Guild.  
• On average, conduct a minimum of one and ideally three quality personal contacts with current and prospective supporters each business day.  
• Support the outreach, advocacy, and relationship building efforts of the Board of Directors and the Executive Director to a carefully identified set of influential leaders in philanthropy, industry, government, nonprofit, and the wider community.  
• Ensure that the Guild’s Neon database protocols and procedures are comprehensive, efficient, and executed with discipline and accuracy by all staff, so that the donor database is accurate, up-to-date, and organized.  
• Oversee the production and distribution of fundraising projections and results to ensure the organization is on track to meet goals.  
• Guarantee that the Guild adheres to the Code of Ethical Standards of the Association of Fundraising Professionals as well as the Guild’s own Principles.  

Qualifications

The Guild needs a seasoned development professional to build a team and create the Office of Investments & Partnerships team. Requirements for the CIO: 

• Experience in a mid- to senior position in a nonprofit fundraising or development department 
• At least five years of experience with individual donors, corporate fundraising, and business strategy 
• Highly tuned listening skills 
• Exceptional interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills 
• Demonstrated record of successful team building and staff supervision 
• Confidence, profession