Philanthropy Consultant

Philanthropy Consulting Support (2026)

Organizational Context Aspen Valley Land Trust (AVLT) is the only locally based, nonpartisan land conservation organization dedicated to protecting private lands in the Roaring Fork and middle Colorado River valleys. As AVLT advances an ambitious conservation, stewardship, and community engagement agenda, the organization is simultaneously investing in the systems, staffing, and funding required to sustain this work in perpetuity.

In 2026, AVLT is pursuing significant philanthropic goals, including a $1.5 M unrestricted revenue target, continued growth of its major donor program, and completion of a multi-year capital campaign which has raised nearly $5.8M.

Purpose of Engagement The purpose of this engagement is to support the Philanthropy Director, Executive Director, Deputy Director, and development team in executing AVLT's 2026 Philanthropy Plan and advancing longer-term fundraising capacity. The Philanthropy Director leads donor strategy, portfolios, and forecasting while managing a significant personal portfolio and supporting organization-wide goals. The consultant will provide capacity, systems support, and partnership to help AVLT meet revenue and relationship-building objectives.

An important component of this engagement could include expanded support during the Philanthropy Director's planned eight-week sabbatical beginning mid-July 2026.

Scope of Work

• Philanthropy Program Execution and Systems Support Support disciplined execution of AVLT's 2026 Philanthropy Plan, including revenue forecasting, pacing, and gap analysis; major gift tables and solicitation timing; integration of events, appeals, and donor cultivation; and refinement of tools and templates that reinforce consistent use of the plan as a living document.
• Portfolio and Moves Management Support Support donor portfolio design and active management across staff and board roles, including clear revenue expectations, disciplined moves-management practices, and structured portfolio and pipeline reviews that translate data into clear next actions.
• Reporting, Forecasting, and CRM Use Support development and consistent use of CRM-driven (AVLT's system is Bloom erang) reporting aligned with AVLT's review cadence, including monthly donor moves and revenue reports, quarterly forecasting and historical comparisons, and preparation of materials that support Executive Director and board decision-making.
• Leadership and Team Support Provide strategic and operational support that reinforces clarity, prioritization, and follow-through across the development function, including coaching support as needed and coordination during high-volume fundraising periods.
• Events and Campaign Integration Support the team including the Communications and Engagement Director who leads events with execution and follow-through for major donor events and appeals, including our annual July 9 Save the Land fundraiser, donor salons, tours, and a fall direct mail appeal, with emphasis on connecting engagement activities to portfolio movement, solicitations, and stewardship. Provide input as AVLT transitions from capital campaign activity into an expanded major gift effort.
• Sabbatical Coverage and Continuity (Mid-July to Mid-September 2026) The Philanthropy Director will be on sabbatical for eight weeks beginning mid-July 2026. Proposals should describe if/how the consultant could scale up during this period to ensure continuity. This may include serving as interim coordination support for the development program, leading or supporting pipeline and portfolio reviews, assisting with donor communications or solicitations as appropriate, and acting as a strategic bridge among staff, the Executive Director, and board members.

Budget AVLT anticipates a budget range of $25,000$50,000 for this engagement but could revisit the budget for the right fit. Respondents should recommend an appropriate fee structure and level of effort aligned with the scope described above.

Proposal Requirements AVLT encourages a concise proposal. Proposals should be no longer than 35 pages and focus on clarity of approach rather than marketing materials. We are most interested in understanding how you would partner with AVLT at this moment and your relevant experience.

AVLT is open to both local and remote consulting support. While not required, preference will be given to respondents with familiarity with the Roaring Fork Valley, the broader Colorado context, and/or the environmental conservation and land trust sectors.

Proposals should include:

• Brief description of relevant experience with organizations of similar scale
• Proposed approach to supporting execution and fundraising capacity
• Description of how you could support during the Philanthropy Director's sabbatical
• Anticipated time commitment and proposed fee structure
• Key personnel who would be involved
• 2-3 References

Timeline Proposals are requested by:

February 27, 2026

Support is expected to begin in March or April 2026 and continue through the end of the year, with increased engagement during summer 2026.