Vice President of Development

The Environmental Law Institute (ELI) makes law work for people, places, and the planet.

Current governance systems must continually adapt to meet major environmental challenges, including climate change, environmental justice, and more. ELI is a nonpartisan organization that plays an important role in advancing durable and equitable law, policy, and governance in these areas, working across the public and private sectors to develop and implement solutions for a sustainable future.

ELI’s efforts to advance good governance solutions are built on three major pillars: objective research, convening and facilitating multisector perspectives, and disseminating timely, accurate, and useful information to audiences for application and impact.

ELI is a highly respected nongovernmental organization renowned for its impartiality, integrity, and cross-cutting expertise in environmental governance. Founded in 1969, for over half a century ELI has helped shape the development of environmental law and policy throughout the United States and the world by producing trusted analyses of pressing issues, publishing leading commentary on the current state of the field, and fostering discussion while educating lawyers, judges, academics, and others around the globe.

ELI’s credibility is based on a deep track record of making countless decisions, both big and small, that protect its independence and integrity. In an era of rising misinformation and the erosion of trusted sources, ELI has maintained trust. At the same time, the world is rapidly changing, and ELI must match that rate of evolution to ensure that the Institute’s work and expert resources have the greatest possible reach and impact.

THE OPPORTUNITY:

In 2022, the organization brought in new leadership, who initiated development of a strategic plan to meet the needs of both today and the future in the form of an inclusive, actionable plan focused on prioritizing actions and deepening impact. The strategic planning process has looked at structural and systemic issues while developing action plans to ensure organizational alignment, that we are advancing equity both in the work as well as within the organization, and to adjust ELI’s revenue model to focus on long-term sustainability. ELI is currently seeking a Vice President of Development to play a critical role in the implementation of our vision and newly created strategic plan.

This is an opportunity for the right leader to help reform our approach to resource development in a way that supports evolution and growth across the entire organization. It requires expertise in development; facility with data systems and processes; creativity to meet the needs of ELI’s varied network of supporters; and excitement about being part of a team that is building a new foundation for the organization.

The Vice President of Development will be a strategic executive leader within the organization, driving efforts to raise the funds that support realization of the Institute’s goals and objectives. Working with their team, they will design and implement strategies focused on individual giving, our membership program, grants and contracts, and our annual award dinner. Partnering closely with the President, other staff leadership, and the Board of Directors, they will sustain and grow total and unrestricted revenue to support ELI’s range of activities.

QUALIFICATIONS:

REQUIRED:

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in development fields
• Track record of setting and achieving robust development goals on a sustained basis
• Deep background and success with driving and growing individual giving programs, with special focus on major, principal and planned giving
• Ability to establish and execute a strategic plan within and across departments
• Demonstrated experience building and managing effective teams
• Exceptional at conveying clear, consistent, and compelling messaging
• Excellent interpersonal skills, enabling professional interactions at all organizational levels
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Discretion and integrity in handling confidential information
• Passionate desire to make the world a better place

PREFERRED, BUT NOT REQUIRED:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university
• Fundraising experience within the climate, environmental and/or conservation nonprofit fields