Audubon’s strong professional and volunteer leadership have been the voice for conservation of Florida’s birds, unique natural areas and important water resources for 100 years.  With its 35,000 members and 43 chapters statewide, Audubon combines strong science with powerful advocacy, connects people with nature in its sanctuaries and inspires future generations of conservationists through education.

Rooted in community leadership, science-based advocacy and firsthand outdoor experience, Audubon organizes its work around its strategic plan, which identifies six strategically-defined regions in Florida and focuses on five broad conservation strategies. Audubon’s six strategic regions are led by Regional Conservation Committees of professional staff and volunteer leaders from Audubon chapters, who develop and implement conservation action plans. Audubon’s six regions are:

• Northeast Florida Coastal Ecosystem
• Northwest Florida Coastal Habitats
• Central Florida Ecosystems
• Florida Gulf Coast Ecosystem
• Big Cypress/Southwest Florida Ecosystems
• Everglades Ecosystem/South Florida & the Keys

The five broad Conservation Strategies outline Audubon’s priority issues for achieving its mission. These strategies are:

• Land Conservation and Public Land Management
• Growth and Transportation
• Water for the Environment
• Wildlife and Protected Species, and
• Global Warming

Connecting People to Nature

Audubon connects people to nature and provides meaningful outdoor experiences to inspire people and help instill an appreciation of nature and an environmental ethic.  In addition to bird watching and nature tours provided year-round by chapters, Audubon of Florida conserves habitat that is fundamental to protecting birds.  To that end, Audubon owns more than 70 properties in 27 Florida counties, each with varying degrees of accessibility.  Two of the most important places Audubon connects people to nature are its Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary and the Center for Birds of Prey.

Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary: Known as the crown jewel of Audubon Sanctuaries, Corkscrew is a spectacular pristine mix of native plants and animals in Naples, Florida. Ancient 600-year old cypress trees tower into the sky shading the shallow swamp waters.   It is a critical habitat for endangered Wood Storks, an Everglades keystone species.  Volunteer naturalists guide thousands of visitors a year along the Corkscrew boardwalk and educate them about the Wood Storks, its important habitat and the other species that make this sanctuary their home.  The Sanctuary is also staffed by scientists, who conduct ongoing research that informs conservation advocacy and decisions in the Western Everglades.

Farther north in Maitland, Florida, Audubon operates the Center for Birds of Prey, where it rehabilitates and releases raptors, including bald eagles, owls and other important species.  The Center has treated and released more than 300 eagles into the wild since it opened 28 years ago.  Center staff also conducts research and provide interactive education. 

THE CHALLENGE

All of Audubon’s work in Florida is focused on solving immediate threats to the natural environment, water resources and the wildlife that depend on healthy ecosystems for their survival.  In fact, a healthy environment is also essential for human life on earth. As the human population explodes and competition for natural resources increases, achieving Audubon’s mission becomes more urgent.  In Florida, the threat is clear. Florida’s population rank rose from 33rd to 4th place in the country between 1900 and 2000.  More than 200,000 acres of forests, farms and wetlands are being developed each year to accommodate the hundreds of thousands of people moving into the State annually.

In order to face these threats and accomplish Audubon’s strategic vision and Conservation Agenda, the organization must increase conservation advocacy and scientific work, as well as expand its voice of conservation throughout Florida.  Audubon also needs to establish an endowment to manage acquired lands, protect critical habitat, and provide financial stability in the years to come.

To achieve the strategic vision, Audubon of Florida has mounted a comprehensive fund raising campaign, Audubon’s Campaign for Florida.  Specific financial objectives have been allocated to these goals.  The new Chief Development Officer will be responsible for implementing the fundraising plans and pursuing major gifts so that these financial goals are satisfied and the strategic goals can be accomplished.

The Chief Development Officer is responsible for developing and implementing balanced and sustainable annual revenue plans to raise funds for Audubon of Florida’s statewide programs. The Chief Development Officer is responsible for organizing and motivating staff and volunteers to properly and effectively cultivate, solicit, and steward donors and prospects, as well as for personally managing a portfolio of high-end major donors and prospects. This person will direct all development programs and serves as the staff liaison to the AOF Board Development Committee. The Chief Development Officer will also work closely with the Audubon Centers Directors to advise and coordinate development strategies.  The Chief Development Officer will oversee, organize and direct a staff of seven professionals and work closely with the Executive Director.

 

CORE COMPETENCIES:

• Lead, organize and manage the capital campaign;
• Provide primary staff leadership and direction to planning and executing the campaign strategies;
• Cultivate, manage and solicit and close gifts on a personal portfolio of potential donors capable of gifts in the six to seven-figure level and assist the Executive Director and Development Committee of the Board of Directors with cultivation and solicitation of donors; 
• Create a culture of fundraising for the staff, volunteers and Board Members that instills the importance and need of raising funds for the organization through the submission of contacts and prospect names.

• Design, develop, and implement a statewide development plan for Audubon of Florida.
• Design an annual fund plan for each Audubon program.
• Develop creative and innovative development ideas to take advantage of the State programs’ assets.
• Identify prospects and direct research for qualifying donors.
• Devise and implement donor cultivation and solicitation strategies while working closely with the Board, Committees, staff and volunteers.
• Work with the Executive Director, national Vice President for Development and development staff to ensure appropriate strategies for donor solicitation.
• Supervise the activities of the development staff to ensure the growth in membership recruitment and retention, the prompt receipt of acknowledgements, the integrity of the donor base and the constant communication with donors and members.
• Know the revenue status against the budget keeping the Executive Director up to date.
• Work closely with the budget manager to assure accuracy.

• Provide creativity and strategic direction to the development staff to organize prospect cultivation and donor recognition events for AOF donors and at select venues.
• Plan, schedule and organize regular informational and cultivation events that attract leadership donors. Match program staff and the executive director with appropriate target cultivations.

• Assist the AOF Executive Director and the Board Chair to recruit, coordinate, and manage members of the Board to support Audubon’s fund raising goals in Florida.
• Identify and cultivate prospective board members from all regions in Florida.
• Coach development staff to work with Chapter leaders to coordinate fundraising activities for the state office and their chapters.
• Develop and oversee the tracking and stewardship strategies for Audubon of Florida’s major individual donors, corporate donors and prospects to ensure regular, personalized contact. 

 

THE PROFILE:

Audubon of Florida seeks an energetic and experienced individual who understands and has a strong commitment to the conservation and restoration of natural ecosystems and is able to articulate that passion to Audubon of Florida members and volunteers, as well as new donors.  The ideal candidate has an entrepreneurial personality, is a team player, and is confident and competent. He/she must be able to think strategically and creatively, manage multiple tasks, meet deadlines and operate in a fast-paced environment where success is achieved through creativity, integrity, reasoned and thoughtful judgment, a sense of urgency, a balance between analytical and intuitive skills and a willingness to “roll up his/her sleeves” to get the job done. A good sense of humor is a must.

Candidates must have specific experience as a lead member of organizational teams in the planning, execution and completion of successful capital campaigns with particular expertise in the integration of public relations/marketing with fundraising strategies. The successful candidate will be able to cultivate, solicit, close and steward major gift prospects that are capable of making gifts in the six to seven figure range. Further, this person must demonstrate success in a variety of fundraising venues and marketing programs. Audubon of Florida seeks a flexible individual capable of mentoring staff (both direct reports and others), managing complex structures, problem solving, and analyzing data.

The successful candidate will possess superb communication skills (written and oral) and diplomacy. He/she must provide evidence of a management style that builds alliances within the organization and emphasizes consensus building, participative management, high ethical standards, collegiality and effective teamwork. Empowering staff and allowing them to be creative and resourceful to achieve their goals are essential. Hands-on experience with fund-raising database systems is essential.

A bachelor’s degree is required and an advanced degree is a plus. Seven years of demonstrated development experience is mandatory, as is a proven track record in closing major gifts from individuals in excess of $100,000. Extensive travel, weekend and evening work, and the necessity to work from a base in South Florida are required.  Experience using Moves Management, and a CFRE or ACFRE certification is preferred.