Development Director
Berkshire Agricultural Ventures
Job Description
Position Overview:
Berkshire Agricultural Ventures (BAV) seeks a strategic and results-driven Development Director to lead our fundraising efforts. This position is responsible for leading the day-to-day operations of the development team and overseeing all aspects of fundraising, donor relations, and stewardship. The Development Director is responsible in a leadership capacity for cultivating and maintaining relationships with Board members, donors, foundations, and corporate partners to support the organization’s mission and growth. The Development Director is also responsible for stewarding donors, overseeing foundation and corporate grant applications, and for designing campaigns that grow financial support for BAV’s mission. This role will work closely with the Executive Director to grow and implement BAV’s fundraising strategy. This role is an opportunity to join a dynamic and evolving organization, and to work with a small team of people who are passionate and dedicated to the work of helping local farmers and food entrepreneurs thrive.
Position Responsibilities:
Fundraising Strategy & Implementation
- Develop and execute a strategic fundraising plan to increase revenue from individual donors, foundations, and corporate sponsors.
- Identify and pursue new funding opportunities that align with BAV’s mission.
- Work with Executive Director and finance team to set and achieve annual fundraising goals.
- Identify and solicit gifts from individuals, corporations and foundations.
- Oversee fundraising for BAV’s annual giving campaigns, special campaigns and Market Match Fund.
Donor Cultivation & Stewardship
- Cultivate relationships with major donors and prospects, ensuring engagement and long-term commitment.
- Plan and execute donor stewardship activities, including personalized outreach, events, bi-annual appeals, and impact reports.
- Oversee donor data management, ensuring accurate records and timely follow-ups.
Grant Management & Institutional Giving
- Oversee tailored grant proposals and reports to foundations.
- Oversee tracking of grant deadlines and compliance requirements.
- Build and maintain relationships with institutional funders.
Special Events & Donor Communications
- Oversee fundraising events and community engagement initiatives.
- Develop donor-specific materials and donor communications in collaboration with the communications team.
Additional
- Manage/Provide support to the Board of Directors, Committees and prepare for Board meetings
- Supervise the Communications and Development Manager
- Other duties as assigned
Required Qualifications:
- Demonstrated experience in leading successful individual giving programs at nonprofits or campaigns with significant fund development experience, and a track record of successful fundraising results, with a minimum of three years of experience in a lead fundraising role.
- Experience cultivating and soliciting individual donors, foundation and corporate funders.
- A passionate interest in and/or knowledgable about farms, local agriculture, food systems, and economic development.
- A self-starter, with experience building and executing a fundraising plan to reach revenue goals.
- Excellent relationship-building skills with examples of cultivating authentic relationships with donors of varying backgrounds, interests, and giving capacity.
- A clear approach for donor research to identify new prospects, diversify the donor base, and tailor pitches accordingly.
- Demonstration of exceptional writing, editing and proofreading skills, along with strong verbal communication skills.
- Strong work ethic, organized, excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
- Team player, able to collaborate on projects, mentor staff on relationship building and fundraising strategies and also complete work independently. Supervisory experience is a plus.
- Strong technical skills and experience working with a team remotely using collaborative workplace technology tools, e.g. Google suite; Adobe Acrobat; Zoom; Donor Perfect, Asana.
We recognize that knowledge, experience, and potential are expressed differently for different people. We encourage anyone with an interest in the position to apply, even if they do not meet 100% of the desired qualifications!
Location/travel: This is a hybrid position and requires office hours at our Great Barrington, MA office at least one day per week. Periodic travel, including occasional weekends and evenings, is required for in-person meetings and events in our four-county service area.
Location/travel: This is a hybrid position and requires office hours at our Great Barrington, MA office at least one day per week. Periodic travel, including occasional weekends and evenings, is required for in-person meetings and events in our four-county service area.
Salary & Benefits: This is a full-time position. A part-time position may be discussed, depending on qualifications and agreed upon scope of responsibilities. Salary is $82,000 to $86,000 commensurate with experience and qualifications for full-time position. BAV provides health care benefits, matching 401K Plan, a generous time off policy (including three weeks vacation plus office closure for the December holiday week, floating holidays, volunteer days and sick days), and opportunities for professional development.
To apply please submit a resume and cover letter to jobs@berkshireagventures.org. Applications will be reviewed through May 7, 2025. Applications received after that date will be reviewed on a rolling basis only if the position remains unfilled. Berkshire Agricultural Ventures is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. For questions, please contact jobs@berkshireagventures.org.
About Berkshire Agricultural Ventures:
Berkshire Agricultural Ventures (BAV) is a non-profit organization that provides strategic support to farms and food businesses in order to build a thriving and equitable local food economy in the Berkshire-Taconic region: Berkshire County, Massachusetts; Litchfield County, CT and Columbia and Dutchess County, New York.
Berkshire Agricultural Ventures (BAV) is a non-profit organization that provides strategic support to farms and food businesses in order to build a thriving and equitable local food economy in the Berkshire-Taconic region: Berkshire County, Massachusetts; Litchfield County, CT and Columbia and Dutchess County, New York.
Our Values:
Equity is a core value at Berkshire Agricultural Ventures. We know that food justice is racial justice, and local food is still not accessible to all. Our hope is to increase food access and land stewardship for more communities in our service area through our work. We acknowledge that much of what we have to do is listen, learn, and engage in community dialogue to inform and guide our work as an organization. As a staff, we are committed to learning more about food justice, and we invite you to do the same as a BAV staff member.