ANNUAL GIVING AND ENGAGEMENT DIRECTOR
Position Type: Full-time
Reporting: Chief Advancement Officer
Location: Charleston, SC
Application Instructions: To apply, please email a cover letter, resume, and three (3) references in one PDF addressed to careers@lowcountrylandtrust.org by July 1, 2026.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Annual Giving and Engagement Director is an experienced, relationship-driven fundraising professional. Reporting to the Chief Advancement Officer, the Director leads the organization’s annual giving and donor engagement strategy, with a particular focus on strengthening annual giving, growing corporate partnerships, and deepening community engagement through signature events and stewardship experiences.
This role is central to building and sustaining a strong culture of philanthropy that advances the mission of conservation across the Lowcountry. The Director oversees a comprehensive engagement strategy designed to attract, retain, steward, and elevate donors and community partners while expanding awareness of the Land Trust’s work throughout the region.
The Director manages and grows the organization’s corporate sponsorship and Business Leadership Council programs; oversees donor cultivation and fundraising events; and partners closely with advancement colleagues to strengthen the donor pipeline from annual support to major and planned giving.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
Annual Giving and Donor Engagement
Lead strategy for annual giving and donor engagement programs, with emphasis on donor acquisition, retention, stewardship, and advancement into deeper levels of philanthropic engagement
Partner with the advancement team to identify, cultivate, and steward donors through meaningful engagement opportunities
Partner with the Philanthropy Director to coordinate stewardship and engagement strategies for leadership, annual giving donors, and Longleaf Society members
Develop stewardship experiences and donor engagement plans that strengthen donor loyalty and increase annual support
Collaborate with advancement leadership on annual fundraising goals, donor segmentation, and engagement priorities
Corporate Partnerships and Community Engagement
Grow and manage the organization’s corporate partnership and sponsorship program through prospect identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship
Build relationships with local businesses and community leaders to advance conservation awareness and philanthropic investment
Oversee and grow the Business Leadership Council, including meeting planning, member engagement, sponsor cultivation, and strategic programming
Identify opportunities to expand community engagement and philanthropic visibility throughout the broader Lowcountry region
Events and Philanthropic Experiences
Provide strategic leadership for signature fundraising and donor engagement events, including the Sporting Clays Shoot, Spring Gathering, Oyster Roast, Longleaf Society Conservation Celebration, and additional cultivation events throughout the year
Ensure events support organizational fundraising, donor stewardship, and community engagement goals
Partner with advancement operations staff, volunteers, board members, sponsors, vendors, and community organizations to support successful event planning and execution
Oversee sponsorship strategy, donor hosting, volunteer engagement, and constituent experience related to events
Advancement Leadership and Collaboration
Collaborate closely with the advancement team on donor stewardship, reporting, and donor communications
Participate in Advancement Committee meetings and support board engagement activities as appropriate
Contribute to the continued development of advancement systems, processes, and organizational best practices
Support a collaborative, mission-centered advancement culture across the organization
Other Duties as Required:
The above statements describe the general nature and level of work an employee assigned to this position will perform. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, or skills required. All staff members may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time. The organization holds events that might occur on weekends or after hours. Staff are expected to assist with those events.
Onboarding is in person, and employees meet in person once per month for a staff meeting and occasionally throughout the year for group events.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required:
Bachelor’s degree or comparable professional experience
Minimum 6–8 years of experience in fundraising, donor engagement, sponsorship development, or advancement
Demonstrated success managing donor and/or sponsor relationships and achieving fundraising goals
Experience planning and overseeing donor-facing events and engagement experiences
Excellent relationship-building, communication, and organizational skills
Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining a high level of professionalism and attention to detail
Experience working collaboratively with volunteers, boards, and community stakeholders
Passion for conservation and the mission of Lowcountry Land Trust
Willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends for events and donor engagement activities
Preferred:
Experience managing leadership, annual giving, or donor membership programs
Experience growing corporate sponsorship or business engagement programs
Familiarity with donor databases and fundraising CRM systems, including Virtuous or similar platforms
Knowledge of Charleston and Lowcountry philanthropic and business communities
Background in conservation, land trust, or environmental nonprofit work
Benefits Summary
Insurance
Health Insurance
CoPay Plan with FSA (Flexible Spending Account) option (Employee premium covered 90% by employer (ER))
HDHP (High Deductible) Plans with HSA (Health Savings Account) option (All medical costs are paid out of pocket until the deductible is met; Employee premium covered 100% by ER; Includes Employer HSA contribution)
Dental Insurance – Employee premium covered 100% by ER
Group Life Insurance w/ AD&D ($25,000) – Employee premium covered 100% by ER
Disability - Employee premium covered 100% by ER
Optional benefits available – Paid by Employee:
Health FSA & Dependent Care FSA
HSA
Accident Insurance
Critical Illness Coverage
Hospital Indemnity
Legal Assistance
Pet Wellness
Vision Care
Voluntary Life Insurance
Financial & Retirement:
403(b) with Immediate Eligibility for Age 21 and works at least 83 1/3 hours per month; Up to 6% match after 6 months of employment
Family & Parenting:
Family & Medical Leave
Hybrid Work Environment (in-office/from home)
Flexible Hours
Paid Time Off:
Self-managed PTO
11 Paid Holidays
Perks:
Partial Mobile Phone Reimbursement
Lowcountry Land Trust is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity and to comply with all federal, state, and local laws that apply to equal employment. It is our policy to recruit, hire, train, and promote individuals, as well as administer any and all personnel actions, without regard to race, color, religion, creed, age, civil union status, domestic partnership status, affectional or sexual orientation or identity, sex, gender identity or expression, national origin or ancestry, marital status, status as a disabled or Vietnam era veteran, service in the federal or state military, union affiliation, pregnancy or breastfeeding, medical or genetic information, atypical hereditary cellular blood trait, refusal to submit to a genetic test or make test results available to the Company, or status as a qualified individual with a disability, in accordance with applicable laws. The Land Trust also complies with the South Carolina Pregnancy Accommodation Act.
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