Development Director
| Organization | Oregon Environmental Council |
| Date Posted | July 20, 2026 |
| City | Portland |
| State | Oregon |
| Location | Hybrid |
| Type of Position | Full-Time |
| Primary Job Function | Fundraising |
| Secondary Job Function | Other |
| Educational Requirement | Bachelor's Degree |
| Salary Range | $105,000 – $123,000 annually |
Description & Details
Position Summary:
OEC’s Development Director oversees the strategy and implementation of OEC’s fundraising activities, including donor communications, major donor cultivation and stewardship, membership, planned giving, foundation and corporate giving, events, and development operations. This position is personally responsible for raising major and planned gifts, with an emphasis on cultivation, solicitation and stewardship. The Development Director reports to the Executive Director and supervises a multi-person development team. This position works closely with the Executive Director, the Board, and other staff to provide organizational leadership, ensure financial health and stability, and support a strong team and a healthy work environment.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Leadership & Strategy (20%)
In collaboration with the development team, develops and implements an annual plan, ensuring that revenue goals, donor engagement priorities, and staffing capacity are aligned and actively managed
Leads and supports the team in the development and implementation of OEC’s organizational fundraising strategies, including but not limited to major gifts, planned gifts, foundations, membership, corporate sponsorships, and fundraising events
Manages performance evaluations for development staff, including goal setting, annual reviews, and continuing professional development
Collaborates with the Executive Director and Board of Directors and serves as staff liaison to the Board fundraising committee
Works with OEC’s Communications Director to develop plans and materials that engage, inform and inspire OEC’s donors
Promotes a culture of philanthropy, fostering an understanding of philanthropy across the organization
Planning & Implementation (20%)
Utilizes Salesforce and donor analytics to guide decision-making, monitor performance, track activity and revenue progress
Partners with the Executive Director, finance and development teams to provide fundraising revenue projections, monitor progress against budget, identify risks and opportunities, and recommend strategy adjustments
Leads regular portfolio review meetings to identify leads, ensure assigned prospects have clear strategies, solicitation timelines, documented activity, and realistic revenue projections
Donor Stewardship & Fundraising (60%)
Directly manages, stewards, and engages a portfolio of 60-80 major and planned gift donors and prospects
Manages and grows the planned giving program
Creates tailored strategies for donors across portfolios, focusing on multi-year campaign commitments, major donor retention and upgrades
Participates in all aspects of the gift cycle:
Initiates contact with prospective leadership and major gift donors
Develops appropriate cultivation strategies for them, including working with volunteers
Moves potential donors in an appropriate and timely fashion toward solicitation and closure
Makes solicitations when appropriate
Maintains stewardship contacts with donors; adheres to the highest ethical standards; demonstrates empathetic disposition and perseverance; reflects optimistic and positive attitude, and conveys sensitivity to needs of the donor
Qualifications:
Required Knowledge, Experience and Certifications
Minimum five years of major gift solicitation experience, with an emphasis on building relationships with prospects and key community members
Minimum 3 years of supervisory experience with a firm commitment to collaborative, team-oriented management and proficiency in culturally sensitive supervision
Demonstrated experience soliciting six figure gifts and planned gifts
Valid driver’s license with a clean motor vehicle and background check
Required Skills, Abilities and Qualities
Excellent interpersonal skills; an eagerness to work collaboratively in a dynamic team environment; positive, flexible attitude
Excellent verbal & written communication
Strong organizational and time management skills; ability to work under pressure; ability to manage multiple projects while keeping a “big picture” strategic view
Demonstrated ability to help staff plan, manage, and complete complex projects on time and within budget
Effective problem-solving skills; ethic of continuous improvement
Self-motivation and initiative; ability to work independently; entrepreneurial approach
Performance-oriented mindset with a strong work ethic and commitment to achieving goals
Willing and able to bear high levels of responsibility; always accountable for one’s own decisions and work product
Detail-oriented with high standards for accuracy
An understanding of the concepts of institutional and structural racism and bias; a commitment to advancing equity, diversity and inclusion within the organization and as part of the position
A passion for OEC’s mission
Energized to support Oregon Environmental Council’s Values and Beliefs and workplace culture as described in our Team Charter
Ability to maintain strict confidentiality of all employee and other sensitive organizational information
Desirable Qualifications:
Experience with planned giving programs
Existing relationships with Oregon’s philanthropic community
Experience working in a non-profit environment with a mission driven staff and board
Knowledge of environmental issues
Event development and management
Salesforce and Kindsight expertise
Bachelor’s degree
Other Details:
Travel: This position requires travel and frequent meetings for 50% of the position, including overnight or multi-day travel throughout Oregon.
Work Schedule: OEC’s standard office hours are Monday – Friday, 9 am – 5 pm. This role requires flexibility about one’s schedule and work hours, including occasional evening and weekend hours. As a salaried and exempt position, this role may occasionally require time spent outside of the standard work week in order to achieve deliverables.
Physical: This job operates in a professional open-floor office environment with a moderate level of noise associated with personal conversations and office machinery. You must be able to see, hear and talk and have the physical ability to move around, lift light objects, and use standard office equipment such as computers, photocopiers and filing cabinets.
Salary and Employment Benefits:
The starting salary range for this position is $105,000 – $123,000 per year for 1.0 FTE. Starting salary offers are made based on an assessment of the candidate’s skills, experience, and abilities in relation to the job description, and also in relation to peer roles in the organization.
OEC endeavors to increase all staff wages annually to account for cost of living as well as to recognize and honor experience gained over time. We review and adjust the organizational pay scale every 2-3 years. Employees can expect to move up in the range for their position’s pay grade as they gain more experience in their roles.
OEC offers a collaborative, team-oriented, flexible, family-friendly workplace. Excellent benefits include:
Generous paid leave, including
4 weeks of vacation (3 in first year)
Fridays off in August
Weekdays between Christmas and New Years
All state of Oregon observed holidays
4 personal days
12 sick days annually
401k contribution (up to 6% after the first year)
Employer-paid medical and dental coverage for employee, with significant employer support for dependents’ coverage
At OEC, you will learn a lot, laugh a lot, and feel great about helping Oregon communities become better, healthier places to live.
Application Instructions
Please have your cover letter & resume ready (.pdf preferred, .doc or .docx accepted). Designed to be quick and easy, this form usually takes less than three minutes to complete.