Director of Philanthropy

• Lead relationship-based fundraising efforts, cultivating and securing philanthropic support from major individual donors, private foundations, and corporate partners.
• Develop and manage a portfolio of prospects, high-capacity donors, and institutional funders, building trust-based partnerships.
• Collaborate across the organization to align funding opportunities with strategic priorities, including developing funding strategies for unrestricted, capacity-building, and strategic initiatives.
• Track fundraising activity, proposal pipelines, and donor engagement using CRM, and analyze portfolio performance to recommend adjustments.

This role directly advances the growth of agroforestry across the Midwest, contributing to climate stability, ecological resilience, and vibrant, equitable communities by securing vital philanthropic support.

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising with a proven track record of developing new relationships and securing major gifts.
• Experience writing successful grant proposals and creating impact reports for post-award grant management.
• Exceptional interpersonal and networking skills, with the ability to build and maintain relationships with diverse donors and stakeholders.
• Experience with donor databases and fundraising software; willingness to travel up to 15% and access to personal transportation.

Salary: $75,000-$87,000 based on experience. Benefits include 160 hours (20 days) paid time off annually plus 11 civic holidays, 480 hours (12 weeks) parental/disability leave annually, 401(k) retirement savings plan, monthly home office stipend, and a cafeteria-style benefits plan with options for healthcare reimbursement, dependent care, flex spending, and health savings accounts.

The Savanna Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit based in Madison, WI and Urbana, IL, working with farmers, businesses, and scientists to lay the groundwork for widespread agroforestry in the Midwest US, envisioning a transformed agricultural system centered on trees and perennial crops.