Annual Fund Director

About the Buzzards Bay Coalition (New Bedford, MA)

The Buzzards Bay Coalition is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the restoration, protection, and sustainable use and enjoyment of Buzzards Bay, Vineyard Sound, and their surrounding watershed lands. Through exploration, conservation, research, and advocacy, the Coalition works to improve the health of the region’s coastal ecosystem for all.

With operations spanning the entire Buzzards Bay and Vineyard Sound watersheds, the Coalition protects coastal, river, and drinking water quality, as well as the upland forests, wetlands, and streams that support a thriving ecosystem. The organization has an annual operating budget of $10 million and is powered by a team of 36 professionals, hundreds of volunteers, and more than 14,000 supporters.

Its staff is organized into seven teams:
Bay Science, Clean Water Advocacy, Watershed Protection, Outdoor Exploration, Advancement, Public Engagement, and Operations (Administration & Finance). President & CEO Mark Rasmussen leads the organization, supported by a volunteer, 20‑member Board of Directors and a 100‑person Leadership Council of engaged community members.

In recent years, the Coalition has dramatically expanded its impact following the implementation of priorities laid out in its 2015–2020 Strategic Plan. These efforts have focused on expanding land conservation, building climate resilience, enhancing public engagement, advocating for pollution clean‑up, and strengthening the organization’s long‑term sustainability. Notable accomplishments include:

• Successfully completing a capital campaign that raised $53 million.
• Growing the endowment to $16 million.
• Conserving 2,200 acres of land in 2025 alone, including critical forest, shoreline property and cranberry bogs.
• Raising $7 million to establish the Onset Bay Center, which provides high‑quality on‑the‑water experiences—sailing, paddling, rowing, shell fishing, and shoreline ecology—primarily for at‑promise youth.
• Engaging more than 4,000 people annually in free or low‑cost outdoor exploration programs.
• Building and enhancing key facilities, including the Marion Science & Field Operations Center, the Wheeler Forest Reserve, and upgrades to the New Bedford Headquarters.

This is an exciting opportunity for a dynamic professional to play an active role in a new team that will shape the future of one of New England’s most impactful environmental organizations. The AFD will be instrumental in driving The Coalition’s annual fund, expanding philanthropic resources, deepening donor engagement, and aiding the protection of Buzzards Bay.

As The Coalition embarks on an ambitious growth plan, the AFD will work with the Advancement Team to inspire donors to invest in the future of clean water, conservation, and outdoor exploration. This leader will work alongside the Vice President of Advancement (VPA) and Development Associate to harness the power of philanthropy, build lasting relationships, and drive impact at scale.

If you are a strategic thinker, an engaging storyteller, and a passionate champion for environmental conservation, this is your chance to make a lasting difference for Buzzards Bay and the communities that depend on it.

• Develop and execute a comprehensive annual fundraising strategy to secure the operating support needed to sustain and grow the organization’s work.
• Engage, solicit, and steward donors, ensuring long‑term engagement and support of the BBC’s annual fund.
• Spearhead, with oversight from the VPA, a strategic refresh and growth plan for the Annual Fund, with a focus on increasing participation, improving retention, and leveraging data‑driven segmentation to drive targeted outreach, including direct mail and digital campaigns.
• Utilize Raiser’s Edge to track visits, calls and communications, produce contact notes, and conduct appropriate constituent and prospect follow‑up actions.
• Serve as a partner and confidant to the VPA, bringing new ideas, critical thinking and an inclusive approach to all department priorities and actions.

• Lead strategies to grow and engage the Coalition’s 14,000+…