PEPPERWOOD FOUNDATION
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

 
 

THIS POSITION IS HYBRID. THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE WILL BE IN THE SANTA ROSA OFFICE THREE DAYS A WEEK.

ABOUT PEPPERWOOD FOUNDATION
Since 2005, the Pepperwood Foundation has been dedicated to advancing climate and fire science, restoring ecosystems, and connecting people with nature. As a result, Pepperwood has become a community hub for science, stewardship, environmental education, and art. Moreover, they foster conservation partnerships across the North Bay region and beyond.

At Pepperwood, they innovate climate-smart solutions and train the next generation of environmental leaders. Their work strengthens the bonds between people and the natural world. For them, data drives action, and stewardship creates lasting change. As they look to the future, their vision remains clear: a world where science and community work hand in hand to protect the places and people. Join them in their mission of inspiring conservation through science.

Pepperwood is entering an important new chapter for its fundraising program. They have a deeply committed base of long-standing donors, while also recognizing the need to cultivate the next generation of supporters and build a broader, more sustainable philanthropic community. Pepperwood is a financially stable organization with an annual operating budget of approximately $4 million and an ambitious vision for continued growth, with a goal of reaching approximately $6 million within the next five years.

OPPORTUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

  • Salary Range: $145,000 - $160,000

  • Benefits include:

    • Employer-covered Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance

    • Employer-covered Chiro/Acupuncture and Group Life

    • 15 vacation days (minimum) accrued annually

    • 40 hours (5 days) paid sick leave

    • 13 paid holidays, in addition to the week off between Christmas and New Year’s

YOU ARE

  • A passionate fundraising professional who knows how to establish a culture of philanthropy characterized by mutual respect, active listening, collaboration, accountability, and trust.

  • Passionate about land preservation, environmental education, and conservation.

  • A strong and caring leader, who nurtures and mentors staff with compassion.

  • Comfortable working with long-time donors and planned giving donors.

  • Creative and strategic in your approach to reach new donors.

POSITION OVERVIEW
Pepperwood Foundation seeks an experienced, relationship-driven Director of Development (Director) to lead and grow its comprehensive fundraising program.

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Director of Development will provide strategic leadership for individual giving, major gifts, annual and legacy giving, foundation relations, donor stewardship, and future fundraising initiatives. The Director will work closely with the Executive Director and Board of Directors to strengthen existing donor relationships, while expanding Pepperwood's reach to new generations of philanthropists, particularly in the Silicon Valley, San Francisco, and technology communities.

This is an opportunity for a seasoned fundraiser who is equally comfortable developing strategy and personally engaging donors. The successful candidate will bring the confidence to make a significant gift ask, coupled with the emotional intelligence and humility to listen first, build trust, and understand what motivates each donor.

The Director will inherit a strong foundation of relationships and a talented team, while also having the opportunity to assess the current development operation and determine how it should evolve. Pepperwood anticipates adding a Major Gifts Officer in the future but will look to the incoming Director to help shape the timing, structure, and priorities of that investment.

The organization is also beginning to think about its future as a potential global hub for fire stewardship, creating exciting possibilities for major fundraising and potentially a future capital campaign.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIP
The Director of Development reports to the Executive Director. The role currently has one direct report and oversees a team of five, including communications and development programs.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
Fundraising Strategy

  • Develop and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy aligned with Pepperwood's mission, strategic priorities, and financial goals.

  • Provide leadership for an annual philanthropic program of approximately $2.5 million and help position the organization to grow its overall budget from approximately $4 million toward a five-year goal of $6 million.

  • Establish clear fundraising priorities, goals, metrics, and accountability across the development function.

  • Balance long-term strategic planning with hands-on execution and direct donor engagement.

Major Donor Relationships

  • Manage and deepen relationships with Pepperwood's most significant individual donors and prospects.

  • Personally cultivate, solicit, and steward major gifts, including six-figure and larger commitments.

  • Maintain the organization’s strong legacy of philanthropic support while developing relationships with the next generation of donors.

  • Expand Pepperwood's relationships with donors in the technology, Silicon Valley, San Francisco, and broader Bay Area communities.

  • Develop and strengthen donor-advised fund (DAF) relationships and individual giving strategies.

Expand Planned and Legacy Giving

  • Build upon Pepperwood's existing legacy and planned giving program.

  • Identify opportunities to cultivate and secure additional planned gifts and bequests.

Institutional Fundraising

  • Develop relationships with private foundations and corporations and pursue unrestricted and restricted philanthropic support.

  • Identify and cultivate opportunities with major foundations whose interests align with Pepperwood's mission.

  • Partner with Pepperwood's scientific leadership to ensure that institutional fundraising complements, rather than duplicates, scientific grant activity.

Board Relations/Fundraising Strategy

  • Partner with the Executive Director and Board leadership to strengthen the Board's role in fundraising.

  • Provide board members with the tools, information, coaching, and opportunities they need to participate meaningfully in donor cultivation and solicitation.

  • Develop opportunities for Board members to introduce Pepperwood to new philanthropic networks.

Team Management

  • Supervise, nurture, and mentor all Development staff.

  • Work with staff to ensure best practices and provide a culture characterized by mutual respect, active listening, collaboration, accountability, and trust.

  • Assess staffing needs of department and hire a Major Gifts Officer accordingly.

Prepare for Future Growth

  • Help Pepperwood evaluate its readiness for larger-scale fundraising initiatives, including a potential future capital campaign.

  • Participate in strategic discussions about Pepperwood's potential evolution as a global hub for fire stewardship.

  • Ensure fundraising infrastructure, donor relationships, and internal systems are positioned to support future organizational growth.

  • Help instill a culture of philanthropy throughout the organization.

  • Evaluate Pepperwood's Salesforce database and broader development technology after becoming familiar with the organization's needs and operations.

COMPETENCIES

  • 7+ years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, with a demonstrated record of securing major gifts from individuals and foundations.

  • Accomplished major gift fundraiser who has managed a major gifts portfolio, personally cultivating and soliciting significant gifts.

  • Experience developing or expanding planned and legacy giving.

  • Proficiency with foundation fundraising.

  • Strong background working with a CEO/Executive Directors and Board members as fundraising partners.

  • Highly attuned emotional intelligence to skillfully balance leading, listening, and strategically engaging key partners in donor relationships.

  • Collaborative, approachable, and comfortable working across departments and levels of an organization.

  • Ability to think strategically while remaining willing to roll up their sleeves and execute.

  • Strong written and verbal communication skills.

  • Data savvy with knowledge and experience using CRM: Salesforce preferred

  • Enthusiastic and passionate about Pepperwood's mission and excited by the opportunity to connect conservation science, environmental education, climate resilience, and philanthropy.

  • Preferred: Experience with conservation, environmental organizations, science-based nonprofits, land trusts, climate resilience, agricultural sustainability, or higher education advancement.

Work Environment
Pepperwood is located on a remote mountain top midway between Calistoga and Windsor, CA—accessible only by car or bicycle. Work is performed primarily in their state-of-the-art facility, but occasionally in the outdoors on uneven terrain at elevations up to 1,500 feet, in conditions that may include wind, rain, dust, and exposure to wildlife and insects. The nearest medical facility is approximately 15 minutes away and cell service is limited. Work schedules may include weekends or early starts.

EQUITY STATEMENT
Pepperwood Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all employees are valued and respected. We prohibit discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), age, disability, marital status, veteran or military status, ancestry, genetic information, citizenship status, reproductive health decision-making, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

TO APPLY
For more information, or to apply for the Director of Development position at the Pepperwood Foundation, please upload your resume and cover letter here. All applications will be kept confidential, and every applicant will receive a response