THIS IS A HYBRID POSITION BASED IN SANTA ROSA, CALIFORNIA. SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES WILL WORK OUTSIDE OF THEIR HOME OFFICE AT LEAST 50% OF THE TIME INCLUDING ONSITE IN SANTA ROSA OR ON SLT PROPERTIES IN SONOMA COUNTY.
ABOUT SONOMA LAND TRUST
Sonoma County is one of the most beautiful and biologically diverse regions in the United States. Sonoma Land Trust (SLT) believes this land is a treasure to be enjoyed today and protected for future generations. Through land acquisition, conservation easements, ecological restoration, and community engagement, SLT preserves the vitality and beauty of Sonoma County.
SLT is a local, non-governmental, nonprofit organization funded largely through membership contributions. The organization partners with private landowners, Sonoma Ag + Open Space, public agencies, foundations, and fellow nonprofits. Since 1976, SLT has protected nearly 61,000 acres of land in and around Sonoma County. It is accredited by the national Land Trust Accreditation Commission and is a member of the California Council of Land Trusts.
SLT maintains a diverse and expansive network of partnerships to carry out a wide range of conservation projects, thanks to the generosity of its supporters.
Learn more about the important conservation work of Sonoma Land Trust.
OPPORTUNITY HIGHLIGHTS
Salary: $145,000-$163,000
Benefits include:
PTO starts at two weeks annually, increasing with tenure
13 paid holidays, plus 2 floating holidays
10 days of paid sick leave per year
Medical, dental, and vision insurance (100% premium paid for employees, 75% for dependents)
Health Savings Account (up to $300/month SLT contribution with eligible plan)
403(b) retirement savings plan
Section 125 pre-tax benefits
Employee Assistance Program
Lifestyle Wellness Program
The opportunity to make a lasting impact in Sonoma County conservation
YOU ARE
A dynamic, strategic fundraising leader with deep experience in major gifts
A collaborative and skilled relationship builder who values donor engagement and stewardship
Passionate about protecting natural lands and fostering a culture of philanthropy
POSITION OVERVIEW
The Deputy Director of Philanthropy (DDOP) plays a key leadership role in supporting the Director of Philanthropy in the development and implementation of the organization’s overall fundraising strategy. The DDOP serves as the lead architect for SLT’s Major Gifts program and is responsible for cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding a personal portfolio of 50–75 major donors and prospects.
This position also oversees a three-person team responsible for planned giving, major gifts, mid-level gifts, donor relations, and events. The DDOP guides strategy and provides operational support to increase the effectiveness of the Philanthropy team, while collaborating with staff, board members, and volunteers to grow philanthropic support.
During capital campaigns, the DDOP works closely with the Director of Philanthropy, Executive Director, and board to secure leadership-level gifts including annual, multi-year, and planned giving commitments. This individual is a seasoned development professional with an entrepreneurial spirit and excellent relationship-building skills. The DDOP will engage with donors primarily in Sonoma County and throughout the North Bay region. Executive Director of Sonoma Land Trust, Eamon O’Byrne, shares: “We have intentionally built and cultivated a culture of philanthropy at SLT. At SLT, fundraising is everyone’s job! We believe that donors engaging in this work are bringing about systemic change on how we care for and support the life support systems of our planet.”
REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS
The Deputy Director of Philanthropy reports to Shannon Nichols the Director of Philanthropy and directly supervises the Planned Giving and Donor Relations Manager, Major Gifts Officer, and Events Coordinator.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
Serve as the lead strategist for SLT’s Major Gifts program, guiding cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship efforts.
Manage a personal portfolio of 50–75 major donors and prospects, seeking multi-year and planned gift commitments.
Supervise and support a team responsible for major gifts, planned giving, donor relations, and events.
Collaborate with the Director of Philanthropy, Executive Director, and board members to build and execute donor strategies.
Lead donor strategy meetings and ensure best practices in donor engagement are upheld across the team.
Assist with campaign planning and implementation, including securing leadership gifts.
Oversee the Donor Communications database and coordinate with communications professionals to produce high-impact materials.
Work with the Database Administrator to support dynamic portfolio management and moves tracking.
Contribute to budget development and oversight for the Major Gifts and related philanthropy programs.
Champion a culture of philanthropy across the organization and with external partners.
COMPETENCIES
Minimum of seven years of experience in fundraising, including major gifts and donor portfolio management.
Demonstrated success closing five and six-figure gifts and securing multi-year commitments from individuals and family foundations.
Strong leadership and supervisory skills with the ability to coach and mentor a team.
Excellence in public speaking and donor communications.
Skilled in navigating conversations on sensitive issues such as conservation, housing, or land use.
Highly organized and capable of managing multiple priorities with keen attention to detail.
Fluency in Microsoft Office tools and donor database systems.
Flexible schedule with availability for evening/weekend events and regional travel.
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required; campaign experience preferred.
Deep commitment to the mission and values of Sonoma Land Trust.
EQUITY STATEMENT
Sonoma Land Trust serves a diverse audience with broad cultural heritages, socioeconomic backgrounds, genders, and sexual orientations. We strongly encourage applications from candidates who reflect and value the communities we serve.
We are committed to building and sustaining an inclusive and equitable working environment. We believe that having varied perspectives strengthens our ability to solve complex conservation challenges and to equitably protect Sonoma County’s lands. These values are integral to our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Plan.
OUR LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT STATEMENT
As we pursue our mission of conserving land in Sonoma County, we recognize that we stand upon the unceded ancestral lands of many Indigenous peoples. We honor their knowledge, care, and stewardship of this special place across the ages and acknowledge the deep and lasting damage that colonization has inflicted on them. We embrace our responsibility to learn from and protect their cultural and traditional connections to the land.
TO APPLY
For more information, or to apply for the Deputy Director of Philanthropy position, please upload your resume and cover letter below.
All applications will be kept confidential, and every applicant will receive a response.
Sonoma Land Trust is an Equal Opportunity Employer.