Chief Development Officer

Who We Are:

Founded in 1891 by a group of visionary volunteers The Trustees of Reservations (The Trustees) is Massachusetts premier conservation and preservation organization. The Trustees preserves for public use and enjoyment properties of exceptional scenic historic and ecological value in properties are open to all and we thrive by involving as many people as possible in all that we do. We aim to protect special places for future generations to enjoy in perpetuity and have helped protect more than 50000 acres including 27000 acres on more than 120 reservations that are open to the public. As a non-profit conservation organization we are funded and supported entirely by our visitors supporters volunteers and our85000Member encourage you to learn more about The Trustees on our website.

Salary:$258125-$331875

Please note that new employees are placed in the rangebetween $258125 and$295000to allow foran equitablestarting salary process and continual salary growth during an employees time at the Trustees.

Job Classification:Full-Time Exempt

JobLocationType:Hybrid

Location:Boston MA

Start Date:Flexiblebutthisroleisanticipatedtobegin inFall2026

WhatYoullDo:

Your Impact:

The Trusteesisentering a transformational chapter in its history through the implementation ofFor Everyone Forever our bold strategic plan to save steward and share Massachusetts special places for generations to come. As Chief Development Officer (CDO) you will play a critical leadership role in shaping the future of philanthropy at The Trusteesbuilding the relationships strategies and culture necessary to sustain and grow support for our mission statewide.

While The Trustees is currently engaged in the largest fundraising effort in the organizations history this role is about far more than leading a campaign. It is an opportunity to help evolve how The Trustees connects mission to philanthropy by building a fundraising strategy that deepens engagement expands philanthropic support and inspires new audiencesand institutionsto invest in our work.

As a member of the executive teamyoullhelp lead the organization through a period of strategic and cultural evolutionstrengthening collaboration across teams fostering an organization-wide culture of philanthropy and helping programmatic and functional leaders translatetheirexpertiseinto compelling philanthropic across the organization to shape fundraising priorities and create compellinginvestmentopportunities that resonate with donors and reflect theimpactand relevance of The Trustees mission.

This role requires a strategic and adaptable fundraising leader with a strongtrack recordof securing transformational and unrestricted support cultivating new donor relationships and navigating complex organizational a sophisticated understanding of donor motivationsacross philanthropic sectors philanthropy trends and external market dynamics while helping position The Trustees for long-term fundraising success and mission will have significant team management experience and the ability to lead culture changeand inspire success.

The Role:

As the Chief Development Officer (CDO)youllprovide enterprise-wide strategic leadership on Trustees development activities including oversight of a comprehensive fundraising strategy that advances the organizations strategic priorities and long-term sustainability. As a key member of the executive team you will lead and help successfully execute The Trustees historic $300M comprehensive campaign in support ofFor Everyone Foreverwhile also strengthening the long-term fundraising infrastructure donor relationships and culture of philanthropy needed to sustain impact well beyond the campaign itself.

In partnership with the President and CEO CFO Board Development Committee campaign leadership and senior leadership team you will set annual campaign and long-term fundraising goals for The development strategies and execute plans aligned with The Trustees overall Strategic Plan with a focus on sustaining annual giving revenue levels increasing unrestricted philanthropic support expanding major donor engagement and successfully advancing campaign priorities and milestones.

Specificallyyoullbe responsible for:

Strategic Fundraising Leadership

• Leada successful $300M comprehensive fundraising effort in support of our Strategic Plan working closely with consulting partners the CEO CFO Board leadership and senior staff.

• Serve as a trusted advisor and strategic partner to the CEO including proactively supporting leadership priorities preparing for donor and Board engagement opportunities and helping maximize executive effectiveness in fundraising and external relationship managementacross the organization.

• Develop and lead an integrated fundraising strategy that strengthens annual giving major gifts membership institutional supportplannedgivingand donor engagement to maximize long-term philanthropic growth and supporter lifetime value.

• Personally manage andsolicita portfolio of the organizations highest-capacity donors securing transformational and unrestricted gifts in partnership with the CEO andBoardleadership.

• Drive the identification and cultivation of new major donor prospects and philanthropic audiences broadening The Trustees network of support and deepening donor engagement statewide.

• Partner with and mobilize the Board of Trustees to advance fundraising goals equipping members to effectively engage cultivate andsolicitdonors.

• Serve as a strategic thought partner to programmatic and functional leaders helping shape mission-driven initiatives into compelling funding opportunities and narrativesthat are relevant to donors.

• Help evolve The Trustees fundraising approach toward storytelling and impact-centered engagement ensuring donors clearly understand the tangible outcomes of their philanthropic investment.

• Ensure high-quality individualized and meaningful stewardship of donors coordinating with colleagues throughout The Trustees and/or personally stewarding donors as needed.

• Ensure events strategy is aligned with major gift cultivation and donor engagement priorities maximizing opportunities to deepen relationships and strengthen philanthropic outcomes.

• Develop andmaintaina strong understanding of The Trustees programs strategic priorities and externallandscapeto effectively position the organization with donors and partners.

• Collaborate with Marketing and Communications colleagues to ensure consistent compelling and coordinated messaging across all fundraising and engagement channels.

• Work closely with the Finance Department to ensure the highest levels of customer service compliance gift processing accuracy and stewardship reporting.

• Ensureaccurateallocation in line with donor intent andmaintainoversight of multi-year gifts and endowment reporting.

• Regularly report on fundraising performance benchmarks forecasts and strategic opportunities to executive leadership and the Board.

Team Development and Management

• Oversee the hiring training mentoring professional development and evaluation of a talented Development teamof20professionals.

• Assess and evolve the Development team structure capabilities and workflows to support organizational priorities fundraising growth and long-term sustainability.

• Lead organizational and team culture change efforts that foster collaboration accountability innovation and a shared commitment to philanthropy across the organization.

• Setappropriate annualproduction goals andmonitorprogress regularly to maximize performance related to prospect strategy cultivation solicitation stewardship volunteer engagement and events.

• Oversee growth maintenance and enhancement of the development teams technologicalproficiencyand tools including Salesforce CRM.

• In partnership with the Director of Development Operationsestablisha data-driven fundraising operation ensuring robust pipeline managementaccurateforecasting and strategic use of CRM systems to drive performance and decision-making.

• Set clear expectations around collaboration communication strategic priorities and shared outcomes while motivating and inspiring the team during a period of organizational growth and change.

Exceptional Collaborationand Communication

• Regularly prepare detailed and transparent reports and analyses on Development Department activities for the CEOBoardleadership and broader dissemination asappropriate.

• In collaboration with the CFOestablishand monitor fundraising benchmarks and long-term financial goals.

• Analyze development activities and benchmark against peer institutions to ensure The Trusteesremainsinnovative competitive and aligned with fundraising best practices and emerging philanthropy trends.

• Serve as an ambassador for The Trusteesrepresentingthe organization externally with donors partners and stakeholders across Massachusetts and beyond.

• Travel as needed to support The Trustees priorities including donor cultivation and solicitation strategic communications andspecial eventswhich may take place on nights or weekends.

This is a full-timeexempt positionreporting directly tothe CEO/ role often requiresevening and weekend work.

What Youll Need:

Skills and Experience:

• 15 years of progressive leadership experience in fundraising and development includingsignificant experienceleading complex multi-faceted fundraisingorganizationsand strategies.

• Proventrack recordof securing transformational and unrestricted gifts from high-net-worth individuals family foundations corporations and institutional funders.

• Demonstrated success leading large-scale multi-year fundraising initiatives or comprehensive campaigns while also building sustainable fundraising strategies that extend beyond campaign goals.

• Deepexpertiseacross a broad range of philanthropic disciplines including Major Gifts Annual Giving Campaigns Corporate and Foundation Relations Planned Giving Membership Donor Stewardship and Board Engagement.

• Experience developing and executing donor-centered fundraising strategies rooted in storytelling relationship-building and clearly communicating mission impact to diverse audiences.

• Strong ability toidentify cultivate and engage new donor audiencesexpandingphilanthropic networks and pipelines.

• Experience partnering effectively with executive leaders boards and cross-functional teams to shape strategic fundraising priorities and translate organizational initiatives into compelling philanthropic opportunities.

• Demonstrated ability to lead organizational and cultural change efforts including fostering collaboration accountability and an organization-wide culture of philanthropy.

• Exceptional strategic thinking skills with the ability to assess trends in philanthropy donor behavior financial markets and the external landscape to inform fundraising strategy and organizational decision-making.

• Hands-on adaptable leadership style with a willingness tooperatestrategically while also engaging directly in the day-to-day work needed to advance fundraising priorities and organizational goals.

• Exceptional written communication skills with the ability to craft compelling donor communications fundraising proposals strategic narratives and impact-driven messaging tailored to diverse audiences.

• Strong analytical capabilities with experience using data metrics and forecasting to inform fundraisingstrategy assess performanceidentifyopportunities and support strategic decision-making.

• Systems thinker with the ability to understand the interconnectedness of teams functions donor engagement strategies and organizational priorities and to build collaborative integrated approaches that drive long-term success.

• Strong situational awareness sound judgment and the ability to navigate complex organizational environments with diplomacy adaptability and emotional intelligence.

• Proven experience leading mentoring and developinglargehigh-performing teams including managing experienced fundraising professionals through periods of growth and change.

• Experience building and overseeing data-driven fundraising operations including campaign forecasting pipeline management performance benchmarking and strategic use of CRM systems such as Salesforce.

• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills with the ability to serve as a persuasive ambassador listener collaborator and translator between programmatic experts and donor interests.

• Strong project management and organizational skills with the ability to balance strategic leadership and hands-on execution.

• Passion for conservation climate resiliency cultural preservation public engagement or mission-driven nonprofit work preferred.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Current authorization to work in the United States a candidate must have such authorization by his or her first day of employment.
• A valid drivers license as well as a satisfactory driving record as outlined in The Trustees driving policy. if needed
• A satisfactory criminal background (CORI) check.

Dont quite have all the skills and experience listed above We still want to hear from you! Research shows that historically marginalized groups are less likely to apply if they do not meet every single requirement. We are committed to building a diverse team and encourage you to apply even if you are missing some of the skills and experience above.

Questions Contact our People team at

Your Benefits:

• Unlimited PTO

• 12 observed holidays 3 floating

• Health insurance: You are eligible to participate in the Trustees health insurance benefit via Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS). BCBS also offers additional benefits such as fitness reimbursement and rewards for healthy habits.

• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance

• Massachusetts Paid Family Medical Leave

• Life Insurance

• 401k with 5% match after 1 year of employment

• Employee Assistance Program: Free access to a confidential service that helps employees and their communities with personal and work-related issues such as mental health support counseling and financial advice.

• Reciprocity:Employees have access to free and discounted admission and membership to more than 50 nearby museums and cultural institutions.

• Discounts: Enjoy free entry to all Trustees properties discount event tickets and discounted merchandise at our stores and on stays at our inns.

• Day of Wonder: Spend one workday per year to exploring a Trustees property

• Day of Service: Spend one workday per year to helping with a project at a Trustees property

Equal Opportunity and Diversity:

The Trustees is a proud equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any protected status including but not limited to age race ethnicity sex gender sexual preferences nation of origin religion or disability status and strongly encourages applications from people of color persons with varying abilities women and LGBTQ applicants. We aspire to reflect and effectively serve the residents and communities of Massachusetts who are at the core of our mission.

The Trustees commitment to advancing the organizations vision for this work may be found here:Diversity Belonging Inclusion and Equity.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

We are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible work environment. To request reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process please contact us at .

Required Experience:

Chief