Institutional (Corporate and Foundation) Giving Director – Colorado, Texas, Southwest, Northern Rockies

Location: Denver, Colorado (or surrounding communities) 

Who We Are:

At TPL, we're a team of outdoor advocates who believe in connecting everyone to the outdoors. As an ethos, we believe access to the outdoors is a fundamental human need and essential to our health and well-being. ​We're committed to creating more places that bring us outside—parks, trails, playgrounds, and public lands—and making them available and welcoming to everyone, everywhere, regardless of ZIP code. We also understand that land has meaning; it tells the story of our history. That's why, through our Black History and Culture initiative, we're working to preserve sites that more fully represent the Black American experience; and we're an ally and partner to Tribal and Indigenous communities, working in partnership to reconnect them with their ancestral lands.

One hundred million people, including 28 million children, don't have nearby access to a park within ten minutes of their home. We're determined to change this outdoor equity gap–and as a result, nine million people and counting now have access because of our work. We have miles to go and a plan to get there. We're inclusive change-makers who believe in connecting everyone to the outdoors. We inspire by paving the way forward and strengthening our connection to nature. Join us! 


Position Summary:

Trust for Public Land (TPL) is seeking a dynamic and accomplished Institutional Giving Director (IGD) to elevate and optimize corporate and foundation giving relationships, ensuring sustained success and impact. As an integral member of our seven-person Philanthropy team in the region, the IGD will play a pivotal role in achieving revenue targets that support TPL’s initiatives across Colorado, Texas, Northern Rockies (Wyoming, Montana and Idaho), the Southwest (Arizona, Utah and New Mexico), and nationwide.  

This position calls for an individual with a proven track record of building and growing strong relationships that inspire both new and established partners to contribute generously. We seek a mature institutional giving director with strong leadership qualities and exceptional internal and external communication strategic thinking, and collaboration skills. 

The IGD's portfolio will encompass local, regional and national foundations and corporations who currently give in the $50,000 to $500,000+ range and who have potential for growth. Additionally, the IGD will progressively add new institutional donors to the portfolio. The role entails identifying, nurturing, soliciting, and stewarding corporate and foundation contributors and prospects, managing a donor portfolio, orchestrating donor interactions, coordinating corporate engagement initiatives, tracking prospects, composing persuasive proposals and reports, and upholding effective donor stewardship. By undertaking these responsibilities, the IGD will be instrumental in advancing our thriving programs and expanding Trust for Public Land impact throughout the region and nationwide. 
The IGD will have a strategic focus within the larger region, with a special emphasis on cultivating relationships and opportunities within Colorado, the Southwest, Northern Rockies and Texas. Developing fundraising opportunities for National program support is also expected.  


Essential Functions:
 

• Forge collaborative gift opportunities in partnership with internal stakeholders (state directors, philanthropy colleagues, program directors, and project managers) to align with organizational priorities and secure funding for vital initiatives. 

• Identify and assess corporate and foundation prospects. Develop impactful proposals and letters of inquiry, compelling corporate pitches, concept papers, and research briefings. 

• Conduct purposeful visits with corporate and foundation prospects to establish meaningful connections, gather insights, evaluate prospects, present innovative ideas, expand networks, enhance understanding of TPL's initiatives, seek invitations for proposals, and ensure effective stewardship. Collaborate strategically with TPL Leadership, volunteers, and staff for such engagements, preparing meticulously with pre-meeting planning and post-meeting follow-up. 

• Strategize, create, and implement prospect engagement strategies, encompassing prospect identification, qualification, and cultivation. Determine optimal timing and amounts for funding requests, oversee complex proposal creation including collaboration with budgeting and finance personnel, personally solicit prospects during face-to-face meetings, supply requisite verbal and written communications to secure donations, and deliver comprehensive stewardship, including corporate engagement and volunteer events. Report on donations made to the organization. 

• Develop a structured work plan, managing activity timelines for each donor or prospect, encompassing proposal deadlines, reporting dates, cultivation and stewardship events, and simultaneous proposal and strategy management, all within specified deadlines. 

• Collaborate with colleagues in Philanthropy, Finance, Legal, Marketing, State and Program and National departments to construct proposal budgets, facilitate engagement opportunities, and oversee grant agreement deliverables and reporting. 

• Collaborate with fellow philanthropy team members on cross-functional TPL-wide initiatives, such as joint grant solicitations and stewardship activities.  

• Prepare internal teams for foundation site visits and corporate engagements and facilitate donor recognition (when applicable). 

• Fulfill additional responsibilities as assigned.
• Strategically manage and expand a portfolio comprising 60-75 institutional and corporate prospects and donors, primarily within the Southwest, capable of granting $50,000 - $500,000+. 
• Regularly conduct purposeful donor visits, aiming for 45-60+ meaningful engagements annually, with a target of qualifying at least 24 prospects each year. 
• Submit a minimum of three solicitations of $500,000+ and thirty solicitations ranging from $50,000 - $499,999 annually. 
• Contribute significantly to Philanthropy's success within the region and nationwide. 

• A bachelor's degree or an equivalent of five years minimum of experience in nonprofit fundraising, demonstrating expertise in devising strategies, securing substantial funding from, and effectively stewarding major institutional partners. A track record of consistently meeting or exceeding fundraising targets. 

• Familiarity with and experience in navigating the region’s philanthropic landscape, particularly in Colorado, the Southwest, the Northern Rockies and Texas. 

• Proficiency in crafting compelling written and verbal fundraising communications. The ability to convey intricate concepts through presentations, emails, and direct interactions. Substantial experience in composing complex grant proposals, letters of inquiry, and institutional reports. 

• Proven and substantial history of cultivating and maintaining fruitful relationships with foundations & corporations.  

• Experience conceiving and executing corporate engagement initiatives, encompassing networking events, volunteer participation activities, and more. 

• Proficiency in utilizing fundraising databases, Microsoft Office applications, and online research tools. 

• Basic proficiency in accounting and comprehension of nonprofit financial practices, with the capability to collaborate with Finance and Program staff to devise proposal budgets. 

• Self-driven, adept at managing multiple priorities, paying meticulous attention to detail and deadlines, and achieving success with minimal supervision. 

• The capacity to excel both independently as a strong individual contributor and as an active team participant, introducing fresh concepts and opportunities. 

• Genuine interest in and commitment to Trust for Public Land's mission. 

• Willingness to adopt flexible work hours and occasional travel throughout the region. 

Compensation:
Trust for Public Land is a hybrid work environment, and this role will ideally be located near a Trust for Public Land office. As a full-time employee, you will be eligible for the Trust for Public Land’s comprehensive benefits program which includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, vacation and sick pay plus holidays, a year end office closure, and a 403(b)-retirement plan, currently with up to a 7% company match. We offer competitive salaries commensurate with experience; the anticipated hiring range for this position is $115,000-$125,000.

Trust for Public Land’s active goal is to be an inclusive and equitable place to work and build community. As the organization actively works to eliminate racial and other disparities it welcomes candidates with diverse backgrounds and/or multicultural skillsets. We are open to the possibility that a great candidate for this job may not precisely meet all the above criteria; if you believe you are the right person for this job and can persuasively make that case, we encourage you to apply.