Development Director Jobs in Madison, WI (NOW HIRING)

Wisconsin Conservation Voters (WCV) is seeking a detail-oriented and philanthropic leader to manage our mid-level giving, corporate sponsorships, and fundraising events. The position is full-time and based in Madison or Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Candidates must be willing and able to frequently attend in person meetings and events as well as travel occasionally within the state.
In order to support our team to do their best work, we offer a strong benefits package that includes a 36 hour work week, generous paid time off, parental leave, paid sabbatical, quality health and dental, 401(k) match, and more - details below. We also utilize a transparent pay structure in order to ensure we are equitable and competitive in our salaries.

Who We Are
Wisconsin Conservation Voters is a network of Wisconsinites building political power for a clean environment, healthy communities, and a thriving democracy. We envision a world powered by clean energy, where our water is safe to drink, our air safe to breathe, our climate safe to live in, and all people thrive in a healthy, resilient community. Wisconsin Conservation Voters continues to grow a just, equitable, and people-powered movement, electing leaders who represent us and passing laws that protect people and the planet for a sustainable future. Learn more about us at conservationvoters.org.

What You'll Do
This position will be responsible for the plans, programs, processes, and materials that drive mid-level giving, including coordinating fundraising events and sponsorships, strengthening a sense of belonging and community among supporters, and increasing the organization's donor base. The Donor Engagement Manager will work closely with the Development Director, Membership Manager, and program staff to support fundraising efforts. The Donor Engagement Manager's work is vital for increasing revenue by building long-term relationships, retaining and upgrading donors, executing special events, coordinating event sponsorships, and fostering a positive donor experience.

Areas of Responsibility:

Sponsorships & Events

• Project managing all aspects of special events and fundraising events, including Conservation Lobby Day, the annual Green Tie event, and others
  • Working with vendors, managing registration, designing event materials, collaborating across the organization to ensure events are successful and meet fundraising goals
• Securing sponsorships and ensuring all event sponsorship benefits are fulfilled
• Building relationships with sponsors throughout the year to expand corporate and sponsor partnerships
• Recruiting and managing event volunteers
• Coordinating small-scale community-building events and fundraisers hosted by board members and donors
• Engaging with donors and building long-term relationships at member events
• Engaging with attendees post-event to solicit membership donations and identify mid-level and major gift prospects

Donor Coordination & Stewardship

• Managing mid-level donors and prospects by using a multi-faceted approach to donor relationship-building and fundraising that includes emails, phone calls, meetings, events, and direct mail, including making fundraising asks in donor meetings and calls
• Facilitating the coordination of mid-level and major donor meetings in partnership with the Development Director and Executive Director
• Preparing written content for fundraising emails, direct mail appeals, and other donor and prospect communications
• Designing event materials and coordinating donor materials in collaboration with the Membership Manager
• Tracking and reporting KPI (key performance indicators) for fundraising events and other communications
• Facilitating and assisting board members, Executive Director, and Development Director in fundraising work and donor cultivation
• Developing donor cultivation and engagement opportunities in coordination with program staff, board members, and allied organizations in the environmental justice movement, with a special focus on opportunities that will advance our organizational goal of developing a more racially diverse, younger membership and donor base
  

Other

• Participating in the Conservation Voters Movement Development Cohort

Who You Are
To be successful in this job, you will be an outgoing, confident person who would like to use their skills to identify and engage individuals, partner groups, businesses, WCV board members, and others in the organization's program activities and fundraising.

More specifically, you:

• Are detail-oriented: You are able to manage all aspects of event planning and implementation while balancing other priorities, ensuring accurate and timely donor communications, and ensuring details don't slip through the cracks.
• Are genuinely interested in people - connecting them, understanding their interests, building relationships, and looking for opportunities to engage them in Wisconsin Conservation Voters' program and fundraising.
• Believe in building the sustainability of the organization by growing and deepening a strong base of financial supporters. You are comfortable asking for financial support and understand the value of giving people opportunities to use their financial abilities to support their values.
• Are creative: You are willing to design event materials in Canva, bring new ideas to the development team, and strategize creative ways to develop partnerships.
• Are innovative and entrepreneurial, seeking out new opportunities to expand the organization's base of support and engage new supporters in WCV's mission. You value learning, are curious, and like to seek out new ideas and opportunities for personal growth and improvement.

• Are comfortable with holding supporter information in confidence and with discretion.

• Are enthusiastic about WCV's mission, committed to racial equity, and share the organization's values of leadership, action and results, and building power and community with our partners and those most impacted by environmental injustice and voter suppression.
  
• Have at least two years of development, fundraising, and event management experience (preferred).
• Have demonstrated awareness of how one's life experiences influence one's biases and assumptions. Demonstrated commitment to continual learning. Commitment to equity and inclusion as organizational practice and culture. Understands how environmental and voting rights issues intersect with racism, economic, and social inequality in the U.S. and has a passion for working to dismantle these systems. Read more about our commitment in our Guiding Principles here.

We know there are great candidates who may not have all of the listed experience or check all of the boxes, and we also know you might bring important skills that we haven't considered. If that applies to you, don't hesitate to apply and tell us about yourself.

What You Should Know

Conditions: Position is based in Madison or Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Candidates must be willing and able to frequently attend in person meetings as well as travel occasionally within the state (approximately monthly); access to reliable transportation and a valid driver's license. Able to maintain a flexible schedule (some evenings and weekend hours). Able to do routine office duties such as typing and using a phone.

Status: Full-time, salaried, and classified as exempt.

Salary and benefits: We utilize a transparent and equitable pay structure to determine salaries across the organization. The salary range for this position is $60,111-76,486 depending on experience. We value employee health and work/life balance and offer the following benefits:

• 36 hour work week
• Generous paid time off including vacation, holidays, and two weeks of communal rest (one summer week and one winter week) totaling 44 days of PTO per year plus 12 sick/personal days per year
• 12 weeks paid parental leave
• Paid medical/emergency leave policy that is straightforward and trust-based
• Paid sabbatical after five years of employment
• Health and dental insurance with a generous employer contribution
• 401(k) retirement plan with company matching contribution after one year
• Flexible Spending Account (medical, dependent care, and transit)
• Life insurance and short-term disability insurance
• Phone stipend
• Flexibility in working hours
• Hybrid office/work from home schedule if desired
• Professional development support

Reports to: Development Director

Please note that as a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization, Wisconsin Conservation Voters employees are not eligible to participate in the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

To Apply

Please submit your resume, cover letter, and three references. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled; however, preference will be given to applications received by July 20, 2026. The start date for this position ideally will be in early September.