Associate Vice President for Development

The Everglades Foundation (the Foundation) seeks a dynamic and highly accomplished development executive to serve as its Associate Vice President for Development (AVP).

The Everglades is a national treasure. The ecosystem is home to thousands of species of beautiful and fascinating wading birds, mammals, fishes, reptiles, amphibians, and plants. It is home to more than 70 threatened and endangered species, provides fresh water to nearly eight million Floridians, and is an international destination. However, America's Everglades is on life support. More than 100 years of ditching and draining have reduced the wetland to half its original size; its wading bird population has diminished by 90%; and pollution and other impacts have harmed much of the remaining ecosystem resulting in toxic algae outbreaks and regional environmental and economic loss. The Everglades Foundation supports the science, education, and public funding efforts needed to restore and protect America's Everglades. The Everglades Foundation is dedicated to restoring and protecting one of the world's unique natural ecosystems — providing economic, recreational, and life-sustaining benefits to millions of people who depend on its future health.

The Associate Vice President will report to the Vice President for Development (VP). The team of professionals raises support for scientific research, education programs, and bold advocacy initiatives to propel forward the restoration of America's Everglades, the world's largest ecosystem restoration effort. The Everglades Foundation is the preeminent organization fighting for the restoration of America's Everglades. With an annual budget of approximately $15 million, it is powered entirely by philanthropic support. In 2022,The Everglades Foundation launched its first endowment campaign, an ambitious three-year initiative to raise $75 million by the end of 2024 to ensure perpetual protection of America's Everglades. To date, almost $60 million has been raised.

The AVP will help to continue in building infrastructure and fundraising programs to support future science, education, advocacy, and capital needs. Candidates should have an established history of raising seven- and eight-figure gifts and be a seasoned, metrics-driven fundraising leader and inspirational manager with a strong dedication to the important environmental and educational missions of the Foundation.

The Associate Vice President will be part of bringing the Foundation's philanthropic support to a new level. The new AVP will be a strategic thinker and possess exceptional leadership qualities such as an open, creative problem-solving approach and a collaborative and collegial spirit. The candidate should have a minimum of five to seven years of progressive experience in development and direct management experience. Demonstrated fundraising success in a complex organization is required. In addition, the successful AVP candidate will have excellent leadership skills to mentor and motivate a team and help the Vice President create awareness of the Foundation's most notable scientific research, educational programs, and advocacy initiatives to identify potential philanthropic funders for the Foundation's most pressing needs and priorities.

The Associate Vice President can be based either in Miami or South Florida, with a strong commitment to spending significant time in the Palmetto Bay office, a suburb of downtown Miami. The Foundation's new AVP will have the opportunity to play a key role in the Foundation's evolution to national and international prominence for its critical and cutting-edge scientific research and education programs dedicated to ensuring a strong and secure future for America's Everglades.

All applications, nominations, and inquiries are invited. Applications should include, as separate documents, a CV or resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in the leadership profile available at www.wittkieffer.com.

WittKieffer is assisting The Everglades Foundation in this search, which will remain open until an appointment is made.

Application materials should be submitted using WittKieffer's candidate portal.

Nominations and inquiries can be directed to:

Mercedes Chacón Vance and Sarah Seavey
EvergladesFndnAVPDevelopment@wittkieffer.com

The Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions with respect to employees, vendors, or contractors shall be based on merit, qualifications, and competence. Employment decisions and practices shall not be influenced or affected by an applicant's or employee's race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital status, disability, veteran's status, or any other category protected by law.

This policy governs all aspects of employment, promotion, compensation, assignment, termination, and other terms and conditions of employment. The Foundation is committed to understanding, valuing, and incorporating diversity within the organization. Diversity enriches the performance and service to partners and donors.

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