Who We Are

At TPL, we're a team of outdoor advocates who believe in connecting everyone to the outdoors. As an ethos, we believe access to the outdoors is a fundamental human need and essential to our health and well-being. ​We're committed to creating more places that bring us outside—parks, trails, playgrounds, and public lands—and making them available and welcoming to everyone, everywhere, regardless of ZIP code. We also understand that land has meaning; it tells the story of our history. That's why, through our Black History and Culture initiative, we're working to preserve sites that more fully represent the Black American experience; and we're an ally and partner to Tribal and Indigenous communities, working in partnership to reconnect them with their ancestral lands.

One hundred million people, including 28 million children, don't have nearby access to a park within ten minutes of their home. We're determined to change this outdoor equity gap–and as a result, nine million people and counting now have access because of our work. We have miles to go and a plan to get there. We're inclusive change-makers who believe in connecting everyone to the outdoors. We inspire by paving the way forward and strengthening our connection to nature. Join us! 


Position Summary:  

Location: New England;  St. Paul, Minnesota; or Chicago, Illinois (or surrounding communities)

The Manager of Institutional Giving Minnesota, New England, Illinois will maximize institutional giving relationships to ensure their success and longevity. As a member of the national corporate and foundation relations team supporting work in Minnesota, New England, Illinois, this position is responsible for leading the fundraising strategy for Trust for Public Land’s (TPL) mission nationwide, with a specific focus on building and strengthening relationships with New England, Minnesota, Illinois foundations and corporations. The Manager's portfolio will include foundations and corporations based primarily in Minnesota, New England, Illinois, currently giving or capable of giving gifts ranging from $25,000 - $500,000+ with the goal of increasing this gift range and portfolio over time. The Manager consults with peers and leaders across the organization to secure revenue for programs and projects, primarily in New England, Minnesota, Illinois.

This is a hybrid position, with a schedule to be determined with input from the Director, Foundation Relations, and Minnesota, New England, Illinois philanthropy leadership. 


Essential Functions:

• 90% Manage and grow a portfolio of 40-60 prospects, with a primary focus in the Minnesota, New England, Illinois markets, with a capacity to make grants of $25,000 - $500,000+ and / or support multiple programs or regions. 
• Submit at least three solicitations of $500,000+ and 30 solicitations of $25,000 - $499,999+ per year.  
• In collaboration with the Minnesota, New England, Illinois State Directors Minnesota, New England, Illinois-based philanthropy staff, create and execute strategy Minnesota, New England, Illinois funders. Establish an annual work plan based on a 3–5-year timeframe. Track and maintain activity in TPL’s moves management database and maintain files in accordance with TPL policy. Follow organizational policies for grant approvals, grant acceptance, and stewardship. 
• Conduct regular donor visits, with a goal of 45 – 60+ meaningful visits and / or contacts per year, including qualifying a minimum of 10 prospects per year. Strategically engage senior leadership, volunteers, and program staff in donor / prospect visits, as appropriate, prepare them with pre-meeting planning and post-meeting debriefing, and follow up.  
• Conduct visits with foundation and corporate prospects to establish relationships, gather information, qualify prospects, present ideas, develop networks, promote understanding of TPL’s initiatives, request invitations for proposals, and conduct stewardship; 
• Determine an effective sequence of work, including planning and monitoring activity timelines for each donor or prospect including proposal due dates, reporting dates, cultivation and stewardship activities, and managing simultaneous proposals and strategies while meeting required deadlines;  
• Coordinate with Finance, Legal, Marketing, State and Program directors, and Philanthropy colleagues to develop proposal budgets, deliver engagement opportunities, and monitor deliverables for grant contracts; and 
• Work with philanthropy counterparts in coordinated, enterprise-wide activities, such as joint grant requests and stewardship to secure optimum gifts, and participate in collaborative team meetings;  
• Prepare internal teams for foundation site visits and corporate engagement and implement donor recognition. 
• 10% Serve as a member of the Corporate and Foundation Relations team, contributing to strategy development that will attract funding for TPL priorities.  

Qualifications:

• A commitment to Trust for Public Land's mission to create parks and protect land for people, ensuring healthy, livable communities for generations to come; 

• Knowledge of and experience with some or all of the Minnesota, New England, Illinois philanthropic communities;  

• A bachelor's degree or  three years of equivalent experience in nonprofit fundraising, including creating strategy, securing funding and stewarding large institutional partners; 

• An ability to create powerful, compelling written and oral communications for fundraising as well as an ability to convey complex ideas via presentations, e-mails, and face-to-face communications; 

• Experience writing grant proposals, letters of inquiry, and reports to institutions; 

• Experience developing and sustaining productive relationships with foundation staff and corporate partners; 

• Experience developing and executing corporate engagement opportunities including networking events, and volunteer engagement activities; 

• Basic accounting skills and an understanding of non-profit financial practices;  

• An ability to coordinate with Finance and Program staff to develop proposal budgets; 

• Self-motivated and an ability to manage multiple priorities with excellent attention to detail and deadlines as well as an ability to perform successfully without close supervision; and 
• An ability to function effectively as an individual and as a member of a team. 

Compensation:
Trust for Public Land is a hybrid work environment, and this role will ideally be located near a Trust for Public Land office. As a full-time employee, you will be eligible for the Trust for Public Land’s comprehensive benefits program which includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, vacation and sick pay plus holidays, a year end office closure, and a 403(b)-retirement plan, currently with up to a 7% company match. We offer competitive salaries commensurate with experience; the anticipated hiring range for this position is $85,000 - $95,000 annually.

Trust for Public Land’s active goal is to be an inclusive and equitable place to work and build community. As the organization actively works to eliminate racial and other disparities it welcomes candidates with diverse backgrounds and/or multicultural skillsets. We are open to the possibility that a great candidate for this job may not precisely meet all the above criteria; if you believe you are the right person for this job and can persuasively make that case, we encourage you to apply.