COTA Development Director

Posted by Central Oregon Trail Alliance on 09/25/2023

Job Basics

Industry Sector: Bike, Outdoor

Job Categories: Account Executive/Rep, Management, Management - Executive, Management - Sales, Outdoor Education, Trail Management

Company Type: Recreation

State: OR

City: Bend, OR

Country: United States

Required Experience: 3 - 5 years

Contact Name: Emmy Andrews

Contact Phone: 415-531-5732

Job Type: Full Time

Salary: $65,000-$80,000

Required to Relocate: Yes

Required to Travel: Yes

Employee May Telecommute: No

Job Seeker Must Live Within: 25 miles

Job Description & Requirements

The Central Oregon Trail Alliance (COTA) seeks a positive, self-motivated, and experienced Development Director.  The right candidate will learn the organization’s needs quickly and lead all fundraising activities for the organization. The Development Director leads efforts to secure grants, solicit donations from individuals and corporate sponsors, increase COTA membership, and develop fundraising campaigns. Key responsibilities include strategic planning, prospecting, cultivating, and retaining funders, and grant compliance and reporting.  

 

The Development Director will embody COTA’s mission to develop, protect, and enhance the Central Oregon mountain bike experience. This position reports to the Executive Director. 

 

 

About You

 

• Proactive, self-motivated and driven--you maintain a sense of urgency about meeting COTA’s financial goals and work hard every day to meet them. 
• Gratitude-minded--you relish showing others they are appreciated.  
• Open-minded and respectful—you love engaging with a diverse array of people and remain respectful at all times.
• Leader and team player--you are equally comfortable leading a team or working as a team member. 
• Outgoing and mission-driven--you relish talking with supporters and prospects and sharing your passion for COTA and mountain biking trails!  

 

 

Responsibilities

 

The Development Director plans, leads, and executes COTA’s fundraising activities. The Development Director works with the Executive Director and Board of Directors to establish annual fundraising goals, and assumes responsibility for reaching those goals. The Development Director is actively supported by the Executive Director, Program Coordinator, Board of Directors, Development Committee, and Grants Committee.   

 

• Build and steward positive relationships with existing donors and show them the gratitude they deserve. 
• Identify and approach prospective donors.
• Analyze donor data to identify opportunities. 
• Meet frequently with current donors and prospects.
• Lead a team of volunteers and staff to fully implement COTA’s Development Plan and update the plan as needed. 
• Develop initiatives to increase COTA’s membership.  
• Develop collateral to explain COTA’s mission, publicize sponsorship opportunities, and invite donations. 
• Seek grants by finding grant opportunities, working with others to develop projects, preparing grant applications, and monitoring compliance with grant requirements. 
• Plan and manage fundraising events. 
• Work with the Program Coordinator to maintain COTA’s membership database and communicate with COTA members. 
• Ensure that records are kept thoroughly and accurately.
• Develop fundraising performance reports for the Executive Director, Board of Directors, funders, and public. 
• Other duties as assigned. 

 

 

Required Qualifications

 

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in nonprofit or business administration, public relations, or a related field.
• Minimum of 3 years of successful development experience in the nonprofit community, demonstrating increasing levels of responsibility. 
• Proven ability to meet or exceed fundraising targets.
• A true love of engaging with all kinds of people, building positive relationships, and showing gratitude.
• Grant-writing and grant management experience. 
• Excellent public speaking, oral, and written communication skills.
• Experience planning large events on a tight budget and managing event logistics. 
• Proven ability to analyze data to draw relevant conclusions. 
• Proven ability to maintain appropriate and well-organized documentation.
• Proven ability as a proactive self-starter who can work independently with minimal supervision to meet defined goals and deadlines. 

 

 

Hours, Compensation, and Location

 

• Full-time position, with minimum of 40 hours per week. Evening work is routinely required; weekend work is occasionally required. 
• Salary up to $80,000 depending on qualifications and experience.
• Annual stipend of $5,000 for benefits, or benefits package.
• Twelve paid holidays and 120 hours paid time off annually. 
• Must reside in Central Oregon, as you will have frequent meetings in and travel throughout Central Oregon. When not in meetings, you will work from home.
• COTA is an equal opportunity employer.

 

 

To Apply 

 

Send a cover letter and resume that includes at least three professional references in PDF format to emmy.andrews@cotamtb.com no later than October 15, 2023.  

 

The anticipated start date is January 8, 2024.

About Central Oregon Trail Alliance

Central Oregon Trail Alliance (COTA) is a non-profit organization that focuses on the development, protection, and enhancement of the Central Oregon mountain biking experience. This goal is achieved through trail stewardship, advocacy, collaboration, and education. COTA currently has 6 chapters that collectively maintain over 600 miles of singletrack trails.