Director of Development

About Native Plant Trust

Native Plant Trust leads the movement to conserve native plants in the wild and use them in designed spaces to increase the beauty and resilience of New England and the planet. From Native Plant Trust's headquarters in Wayland, MA, staff and trained volunteers work throughout New England to monitor and protect rare and endangered plants, collect and preserve seeds to ensure biological diversity, detect and control invasive species, conduct research, and offer a range of educational programs.

Native Plant Trust welcomes over 22,000 visitors a year from all over the world to Garden in the Woods, their renowned native plant botanic garden in Framingham, operates a nursery at Nasami Farm in Whately, Massachusetts and manages six plant sanctuaries in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont that are open to the public. Native Plant Trust is the nation’s first plant conservation organization, and the only one solely focused on New England’s native plants, and among the first organizations worldwide to receive Advanced Conservation Practitioner accreditation by London-based Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI), which included an endorsement by an International Advisory Council representing six continents.

Native Plant Trust is entering an exciting time of transition and expansion. Having recently celebrated their 125th anniversary, they are seeking to elevate the visibility and impact of the organization with an anticipated doubling of staff in the next five years. Doing so requires strategically investing in staff, systems, and programs that facilitate organizational growth and growth in the movement to protect native plants in the wild and use them in the built environment.

Learn more about Native Plant Trust at https://www.nativeplanttrust.org/  

The Opportunity

Native Plant Trust seeks a Director of Development to lead the organization's fundraising and donor stewardship programs during an exciting time of renewal and planned growth. The organization celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2025, has a newly appointed CEO who joined in 2024 after a distinguished career in botanic garden leadership, and a newly elected board chair bringing significant nonprofit and fundraising leadership experience.

The transition of development leadership follows the successful 13-year tenure of Native Plant Trust’s prior director and coincides with the organization’s planning for its next strategic plan, expected to be released in 2026. Native Plant Trust has a strong, engaged board with a clear appetite for growth and increased philanthropic support to fuel mission impact. 2025 saw the organization raise $3.8 million in operational support, exceeding its budgeted goal by $500,000 and realizing a 30 percent increase over the prior year; a testament to the power of the mission and commitment of Native Plant Trust’s supporters. 

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will have the following professional and personal qualities, skills, and characteristics:

Fundraising Strategy and Donor Engagement

• Lead fundraising through donor recognition programs, major gifts work and planned giving programs. Work closely with colleagues across public programs, general membership, and communications to expand and strengthen the donor pipeline and ensure these programs thrive.
• Manage donor relations activities for the organization including individual giving, corporate contributions, foundation and government grants, life income and planned gifts, and gifts-in-wills/bequests.
• In consultation with the CEO and director of Finance, collaborate across departments to prioritize, align, and plan for program funding needs, ensuring strong coordination around budgeting, forecasting, compliance, and short- and long-term financial planning.
• Create and execute short term and multi-year fundraising strategies including campaigns (e.g. annual fund, end of year, operational, capital, and matching). Utilize data and analytics to assess and refine strategies.
• Develop strategies for direct mail, electronic, social media, peer-to-peer, and event-based appeals in conjunction with development and communications staff to ensure consistent messaging, expanded reach, and effective use of organizational resources.
• Establish new and deepen current relationships with prospective and current philanthropic partners. Conceptualize and execute creative and rewarding donor cultivation and stewardship programs.
• Recommend and contribute to communication strategies, social media content, magazine articles and pieces, and eNewsletters in support of development goals.
• Lead grant acquisitions including identification of opportunities, application coordination, reporting, content creation (writing and/or delegation of writing, and sourcing of support materials), and grantee stewardship.

Development Team Leadership and Operations

• Lead a dynamic department of staff (3 direct reports) and numerous volunteers responsible for frontline fundraising, gift and donation processing, prospect identification, and stewardship.
• Supervise, manage, mentor, and hire direct reports and ensure all department staff are set up for success with clear annual work plans, performance goals, performance reviews, and regular professional development opportunities. Ensure development goals are integrated with the organization’s overall strategic goals.
• Develop and manage the department’s revenue and expense budgets to maximize the impact of resource allocation for short- and long-term revenue growth. Draft project, annual, and multi-year fundraising targets. Ensure timely financial reporting.
• Collaborate with communications staff to shape fundraising and donor relations messaging that reflects organizational priorities, strengthens reach, and supports donor engagement. Partner with public programs and membership staff to intentionally integrate donor cultivation, prospect identification, and relationship-building into public-facing programs and events.
• Continually assess and improve operations, resource allocation, and integrations where departmental tasks touch other departments. Ensure technology is being efficiently and effectively leveraged.

Executive Leadership and Board Partnership

• Serve as a member of the leadership team working collectively to run the organization, establish and execute on strategic priorities, and optimize the organization’s impact.
• Contribute to the creation of a productive, rewarding, and professional work culture where individuals, teams, and departments thrive.
• Serve as staff liaison for the development committee, council relations committee, and other board committees as assigned. Actively shape and contribute to the work and productivity of these committees. Present at and prepare committee chairs to present at board meetings.
• Lead board and council giving initiatives and nurture a culture of giving and donor stewardship in these audiences.
• Support the governance committee in nominating and retention activities for the board, council, and honorary trustees.

Skills, Experience, Education, and Certifications

• A demonstrated record of leading multi-million dollar operating fundraising portfolios and developing fundraising strategies resulting in sustained revenue growth over time.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, manage and leverage a team of direct and indirect reports to meet fundraising goals across multiple programs (e.g. donor circles, major gifts, annual funds, and bequests/planned giving).
• Strong relationship-building skills, with significant experience leading work with major donors ($25,000 to $250,000) and planned giving.
• A demonstrated record of improving development operations.
• Exceptional communication skills with the ability to articulate a multi-faceted mission to diverse audiences.
• Extensive experience managing, mentoring, and inspiring staff, board, and volunteers.
• High level of professionalism and integrity, with a strong commitment to the environment.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends, as needed.
• The position requires regular travel (2-4 days a month) in Massachusetts and occasional travel (6-10 days a year) throughout New England.

Native Plant Trust embraces a hybrid work structure, with the expectation that the Director of Development works from the Wayland headquarters 2-3 days per week with the option to work remotely on the remaining days. 

Compensation and Benefits

This is an exempt, salaried, full-time, year-round, benefit-eligible position based at Native Plant Trust’s new offices in Wayland, MA. The salary range for this role is $135,000-$150,000 in addition to a competitive benefits package.

Contact 

DSG | Koya has been exclusively retained for this engagement, which is being led by Anne McCarthy, Liz Lombard, and Angie Sessoms. Submit a compelling cover letter and resume by filling out our Talent Profile or emailing the search team directly at [email protected] All inquiries are strictly confidential.

DSG | Koya is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email [email protected]. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.

Applicants must be eligible to work in the United States. In accordance with company policies and a commitment to a safe working environment, applicants will be subject to a pre-employment screening including a background check and reference checks. Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the US. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.

Employment at Native Plant Trust is on an “employment-at-will” basis. An employee or the organization may terminate employment for any reason, at any time, with or without notice.

Native Plant Trust is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to a culture of inclusion, diversity, equity, and access and to being a welcoming and safe place for all who engage with us. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business need.