Executive Director

~ The Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin is a nonprofit 501c3 that was formed in 1986 as declining budgets severely compromised critical programs of Wisconsin’s Department of Natural Resources. ~

With the support of our donors and members, the Foundation has boosted private sector investment and involvement for Wisconsin’s lands, waters and wildlife. Here you can learn more about our history and mission, meet our staff and board, and stay connected through news, reports, and our member magazine.

Position Overview

The Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin is looking to hire its new Executive Director. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director is responsible for overseeing the administration, programs and strategic plan of the Foundation, and its team of three full-time and eight part-time staff. Other key duties include fundraising and community outreach.

Responsibilities

Strategy and Vision

• Oversee and coordinate strategic planning/impact map process with staff and board.
• Help set annual organizational work plan with staff to meet strategic plan and impact map goals and objectives.
• Work with staff and board to identify conservation focus areas and strategies.

Financial Management

• Oversee financial health of the Foundation and prepare annual budget with staff, board and accountants.
• Monitor and be accountable for the Foundation’s financial standing through review of such tools as weekly projected cash reports, monthly financial reports, the unrestricted funds position, bank statements, escrow accounts, and investment reports.
• Prepare revenue and expense projections for the budget.
• Coordinate the meetings of the Finance & Audit Committee and the Investment Committee.
• Engage in the audit process.

Staff Management

• Manage a staff of three full-time and eight part-time staff, leveraging their skills and delegating work to them effectively.
• Oversee development of annual staff work plans.
• Conduct annual performance reviews with direct reports.
• Foresee and fill organizational staffing and operational gaps to ensure the team is staffed with the needed capabilities.
• Encourage and provide professional development opportunities.
• Recruit for a diverse mix of talented staff members.

Fundraising

• Cultivate, solicit and steward major individual, foundation and corporate donors throughout Wisconsin.
• Solicit and secure major program and unrestricted gifts, planned gifts, and endowed gifts and help meet organizational fundraising goals.
• Work with the Director of Philanthropy and the Fundraising Team to set the annual organizational fundraising plan, activities and goals.

Board of Directors

• Serve as liaison between staff and board.
• Staff board's Executive, Finance, Audit and Investment Committee, and Board Development & Nominations Committees.
• Work with the office manager to set board and committee meetings and agendas, and prepare materials for quarterly board of directors meeting.
• Work with Board's Nomination and Development Committee to recruit and on board new board members.
• Coordinate committee assignments with chair of Executive Committee.

External Relations and Partnerships

• Foster and sustain internal and external relationship with conservation partners.
• Hold meetings and conduct presentations throughout state to partners and stakeholders.
• Serve as spokesperson for the Foundation with external entities.
• Maintain key relationships with government officials (notably including Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources leadership and staff), and other conservation partners, to align the Foundation’s fundraising strategies with its conservation grant making focus.
• Participate in field trips, both domestic and international, with conservation partners and donors.

Qualifications

• A proven track record of success in a leadership position overseeing operations of an organization r program with exposure to foundations, while maintaining solid relationships with staff, board, donors and community.
• A minimum of 5 years of senior level nonprofit leadership experience.
• Successful resource development, fundraising and philanthropy experience.
• Successful experience managing staff teams.
• Significant financial sophistication for foundation management, accounting, budgeting, and management of financial operations.
• Extensive experience in leading the process of ongoing strategic planning.
• Extensive experience in public speaking/public relations.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite.
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, or equivalent in education and related experience.