EENC Members have the exclusive opportunity to apply for fiscal sponsorship here. Fiscal Sponsorship Opportunities Classroom teachers, independent contractors, and others educator without nonprofit 501(c)3 status who are EENC members may apply for EENC to serve as a fiscal sponsor if they need help qualifying for grants or accepting tax-deductible charitable contributions. Fiscal sponsorship is a member benefit . Professional, Student, Senior, New to EE, Life, and all Organizational Members may log in to learn more about the application process for fiscal sponsorship in the Member Area of our website. "Using a fiscal sponsorship arrangement offers a way for a cause to attract donors even when it is not yet recognized as tax-exempt under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3). In essence the fiscal sponsor serves as the administrative "home" of the cause. Charitable contributions are given to the fiscal sponsor, which then grants them to support the cause. " ~ National Council of Nonprofits

EENC Members have the exclusive opportunity to apply for our annual mini-grants. Mini-Grant Program 2026 Mini-Grant applications are now CLOSED. What difference would $250 make for your teaching? Could it pay for that workshop you’ve been dreaming of taking? Materials for a professional development course you want to facilitate? Resources for an environmental education project in your community? EENC recognizes that in our field, sometimes a little bit goes a long way in making a difference for the teachers, non-formal educators, government employees, students and volunteers we work with. Open to all paying members of EENC, the goal of this grant is to provide support to promote excellence in environmental education across North Carolina. EENC awards mini-grants annually; accepted proposals can range from $50 to $250. Members may submit one proposal per year, either on their own behalf or on behalf of an organization or school. Funding will be distributed on a reimbursement basis to awardees after their p ro jects are completed. What You Can Apply For: Anything that would promote excellence for environmental education in NC, including but not limited to: professional development course fees, substitute teacher fees to allow professional development attendance, student field trip fees, educational books or m aterials for facility/classroom/workshop, garden resources, staff time to deliver programming to a new audience, etc. Eligibility Criteria: Our Mini-Grant Program is a member benefit . Professional, Student, Senior, New to EE, Life, and all Organizational Members may apply. The 2026 mini-grant application will be open from Sunday, March 1st, through Tuesday, March 31st at 11:59 PM; all applicants will be notified of their status in mid-April. Funded projects must take place within the 2026 calendar year. The 2026 EENC Mini-Grant program is made possible by the generous support of the EENC donor community. Without their continued and ongoing support, we would not be able to provide this opportunity. Past Mini-Grant Application Cycles and Awardees Congratulations to EENC’s 2026 Mini-Grant Awardees EENC is so proud to be able to offer mini-grants for the 8th year in a row! 3 days ago Announcing EENC’s 2025 Mini-Grant Awardees Now in its 7th year, we are excited to continue our successful mini-grant program in supporting the teachers, non-formal educators, government employees, students, and volunteers we work with across North Carolina. Jun 15, 2025 Meet EENC's 2024 Mini-Grant Awardees Map of all mini-grant awardees to date, with orange pins representing the 2024 awardees. It's the best time of year – the time when we... Mar 26, 2024 Reflections and Accomplishments from The First Five Years of EENC's Mini-Grant Program 2023 marks the fifth year of EENC’s mini-grant program, an innovative, equity-driven member benefit that promotes excellence in... Dec 27, 2023 Celebrating 2023’s EENC Mini-Grant Awardees Each year, EENC awards mini-grants of $50-$250 to support members’ environmental education efforts. This year’s six awardees used this... Dec 8, 2023 Congratulations to our 2023 Mini-Grant Winners! EENC recognizes that in our field, sometimes a little bit goes a long way in making a difference for the teachers, non-formal educators,... Apr 7, 2023 2023 Mini-Grants for EENC Members Open for Proposals What difference would $250 make for your teaching? Could it pay for that workshop you’ve been dreaming of taking? Materials for a... Jan 18, 2023 Celebrating 2022 EENC Mini-Grant Winners Each year, EENC awards mini-grants to ranging from $50 to $250. This year’s nine winners used this funding for school gardens, community... Dec 9, 2022 Announcing 2022 Mini-Grant Winners Congratulations to the 10 educators of this year’s mini-grant! This Earth Day, EENC is thrilled to announce that we're helping 10 EENC... Apr 22, 2022 Now Accepting Proposals: 2022 EENC Mini-Grant What difference would $250 make for your teaching? Could it pay for that workshop you’ve been dreaming of taking? Materials for a... Feb 10, 2022 Sharing Successes from 2021 Mini-Grant Awardees This year EENC awarded our third year of funding through our annual mini-grant program! These grants provided up to $250 to cover time, ... Dec 20, 2021 Announcing 2021 Mini-Grant Winners EENC is thrilled to announce that we're helping 11 educators from across our state in the third year of our mini-grant program. With... Apr 15, 2021 2021 Mini-Grant Application Opens What difference would $250 make for your teaching? Could it pay for that workshop you’ve been dreaming of taking? Materials for a... Jan 11, 2021 Congratulations to our 2020 Mini-Grant Recipients! Wow what a year! When EENC announced our mini-grant winners back in April, none of us had any idea of what the year ahead would look... Dec 15, 2020 Announcing 2020 Mini-Grant Winners! Environmental education is not cancelled! EENC is thrilled to announce that we're helping 10 educators from across our state take on EE... Apr 17, 2020 Apply now for 2020 Mini-Grant! What difference would $250 make for your teaching? Could it pay for that workshop you’ve been dreaming of taking? Materials for a... Jan 24, 2020 Celebrating EENC's First Mini-Grant Awardees 2019 has been a big year for EENC. We've launched lot's of new resources and events - but this was also the first year we've awarded... Dec 20, 2019 Congratulations to Our First Mini-Grant Recipients! After a detailed review by a committee of EENC life members and board members, we are proud to announce the recipients of EENC's... Apr 11, 2019

Legacy giving is a meaningful way to support EENC – explore opportunities for legacy giving here. Sponsorship Opportunities Support EENC's mission to advance environmental education in North Carolina. Your sponsorship empowers a network of educators and organizations across NC, fostering connections, providing professional development, and promoting excellence. EENC builds environmental literacy, supports emerging community leaders, and encourages responsible interaction with our natural resources by guiding statewide collaboration and promoting meaningful nature learning for all ages. Together, we advocate for crucial environmental outdoor learning opportunities, build a diverse workforce, and ensure equitable opportunities for all to enjoy and protect the natural world. Become a Sponsor today to join us in creating a sustainable future. Sponsorship support is needed to bring EENC’s mission to life. We look forward to finding the right fit for your company’s philanthropic goals: your gift today supports a greener tomorrow. EENC Sponsorship tiers and recognition opportunities are listed below – to discuss customized sponsorships, or specific sponsorship of an EENC event, course, or project, please contact the EENC Staff Team. Thanks to Our Sponsor Community

See the schedule and description of EENC's 2021 conference, held in Arden. 2021 Conference Join us for the 30th Annual Environmental Educators of North Carolina Conference at Lutheridge Arden, NC from Friday, September 10 to Saturday, September 11, 2021. This will also be the Southeastern Environmental Education Alliance (SEEA) regional conference. Learn more about SEEA at southeastee.com . Our 2021 SEEA/EENC conference theme is rEEmerge, honoring new beginnings as we celebrate EENC's 30th anniversary. Join us as we re-imagine a post-COVID world for Environmental Education; a world with diverse partnerships, resilient communities, and a broader concept of what it means to be an Environmental Educator. Enjoy a conference full of professional development, networking, learning, and field experiences that will help you expand your knowledge of EE and resources in NC and beyond! Plan ahead now for pre-conference workshops, field trips, and more on Thursday, September 9. If you have any questions about the conference, please contact Conference Co-chairs Chris Goforth and Shannon Culpepper at conference@eenc.org . EENC is handling all aspects of conference planning, including lodging and meals. Please direct all questions to Shannon and Chris as Lutheridge will be unable to give you answers. Keynote Speaker: Dr. Trish O'Kane Trish O’Kane is a writer and award-winning teacher who has published two books, and who has taught for 14 years in three major universities and a women’s prison. She is the creator of “Birding to Change the World,” a place-based environmental education program at the University of Vermont which pairs undergraduates with schoolchildren in a birding-mentoring program. In 2022, HarperCollins will publish her upcoming teaching-birding memoir about this program and how birds became her teachers. A dedicated and obsessive birder, in the past 10 years she has not only watched and studied birds with a scientific eye, spending over 1000 hours in the field, she has helped feathered parents raise baby bluebirds, tree swallows and black-capped chickadees in tiny houses and volunteered as a baby bird incubator “nurse” at a wildlife rehab facility. Before studying the natural sciences, she was a human and civil rights investigative journalist for 15 years in Central America and Alabama. She has published widely in US and Latin American media including The New York Times, TIME Magazine, The San Francisco Chronicle, NACLA, The Christian Science Monitor, Envío, and Noticias Aliadas. Schedule

Donor support directly enables us to take action in pursuit of our mission to support and advocate on behalf of North Carolina's community of environmental educators. Thank you. Donor Recognition Tiers A message of welcome and appreciation for our donors: The EENC team owes every aspect of our success to the support of our donors: financial contributions directly drive our ability to offer professional learning opportunities, advocate for environmental education across North Carolina, host our annual conferences, and implement innovative projects with key partners to strengthen environmental education capacity nationwide. All donors receive email and written thank you cards, get added to our quarterly donor newsletter, and are listed (small print below $500) in our Annual Report. At the below giving levels, donors are also eligible for all listed recognition opportunities. Think of it as a thank-you gift: from us, to you. We’re better together. $1-99: Scuppernongs Digital Badge for LinkedIn “I Gave to EENC” $100-249: Scotch Bonnets All Donors recognition (see above) Name listed on website Gratitude post on Facebook $250-499: Eastern Tiger Swallowtails All Donors recognition (see above) Name listed on website Name listed (not small) in Annual Report Access to the Vulture Program presented by President $500-999: Pine Barrens Tree Frogs Included in donor newsletter & Annual Report Name listed on website Name listed in Annual Report Recognition during fundraising events $1000-$2499: Brook Trout All Donors recognition (see above) Listed on website Listed in Annual Report Printed annual report sent to your home Social Media Interview/Highlight $2500-$4999: Marbled Salamanders All Donors recognition (see above) Listed on website Listed in Annual Report Printed annual report sent to your home Personal letter of gratitude from Leadership Special tour with an organization leader $5000-$9999: Flowering Dogwoods All doors recognition (see above) Listed on website Listed in Annual Report Printed annual report sent to your home Personal letter of gratitude from Leadership Spotlight article on EENC website Commemorative Thank You Item The Emerald Society $10,000-24,999: Eastern Box Turtles $25,000-49,999: Carolina Lillies $50,000+: Northern Cardinals All Emerald Society donors receive the following: All Donors recognition (see above) Listed on website Listed in Annual Report Recognition during fundraising events Printed annual report sent to your home Personal letter of gratitude from Leadership Spotlight article on EENC website Custom newsletter Induction during ceremony at annual fundraising event or Conference Additional naming and legacy opportunities available for Northern Cardinal donors For questions about these giving levels and recognition offerings, contact Operations & Development Lead David Rizor at operations@eenc.org. Thank you for supporting EENC! Thanks to our community of 2024 donors! We rely on direct contributions from our members and supporters to bring our mission to life. Find the full list of 2024 donors in our 2024 Annual Report . Want to see your name on this list next year? Make a donation today. Support The 2024 Let's Grow Together Campaign! Through the Let’s Grow Together Campaign, we’re working to raise funds and draw attention to five amazing EE organizations across the state. EENC Staff Team Better Together: Successes from the 2023 Annual Giving Campaign EENC’s 2023 Annual Giving Campaign, Better Together, is one for the history books! Together, our community raised over $30,000 over the... EENC Staff Team Announcing EENC’s New Donor Recognition Tiers The EENC team owes every aspect of our success to the support of our donors: financial contributions directly drive our ability to offer... EENC Staff Team

Attend an event, take a course, join a workshop, or all three! View our full calendar of upcoming events here. EENC Members receive exclusive discounts to our events. Upcoming Events and Learning Opportunities EENC Book Club Jan 01, 2026, 8:00 AM – Jun 18, 2026, 8:00 PM Online Course Join EENC's semi-annual book club for monthly connection and conversation around some great eco-forward titles. Details Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Environmental Education – Online Course Jun 01, 2026, 9:00 AM – Jul 24, 2026, 6:00 PM Online Course This course is designed to provide a strong foundation in the language, concepts and principles of equity work for environmental educators and environmental professionals. Details Membership Offer Inquiry Based Outdoor Learning: Using BEETLES in NC Workshop Jun 20, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM Piedmont Environmental Center, 1220 Penny Rd, High Point, NC 27265 The BEETLES learning sessions are active experiences crafted to encourage instructors to look at specific aspects of research-based science pedagogy and to inspire shifts in instructors’ thinking about their own teaching and learning. Buy Tickets EENC Book Club, July - December 2026 Jul 01, 2026, 9:00 AM – Dec 17, 2026, 7:00 PM Online Course Join EENC's semi-annual book club for monthly connection and conversation around some great eco-forward titles. RSVP Membership Offer Embracing Evaluation in Environmental Education Jul 27, 2026, 7:00 AM – Sep 11, 2026, 5:00 PM Online Course By giving more environmental educators the tools to carry out meaningful evaluations, we can improve our efforts to build a healthier and more equitable future. Buy Tickets Membership Offer EE and the NC Science Standards Jul 27, 2026, 9:00 AM – Aug 24, 2026, 5:00 PM Online Course This course is designed to help formal and non-formal educators understand North Carolina state science standards and how environmental education can apply to those standards when planning lessons and curricula for school-age audiences. Buy Tickets 2026 Pre-Conference Workshop: Two Trees, One Seed! Sep 10, 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM Walnut Creek Wetland Center, 950 Peterson St, Raleigh, NC 27610, USA This workshop will be a unique exploration of Project Learning Tree and NAAEE Guidelines for Excellence focusing on Early Childhood. RSVP Membership Offer 2026 Pre-Conference: Red Wolf Conservation with the Museum of Life and Science Sep 10, 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM Museum of Life and Science, 433 W Murray Ave, Durham, NC 27704, USA This field trip will provide a hands on learning experience to better understand the conservation efforts that go into protecting North Carolina's Red Wolf population. Buy Tickets Membership Offer 2026 Pre-Conference: Emerald Pathways, Through a Troll's Eyes Sep 10, 2026, 12:30 PM – 4:30 PM Dix Park, 1030 Richardson Dr, Raleigh, NC 27603, USA This field trip visits the Dambo Troll residents of Dix Park and honors their mission of environmental conservation through Community Science Projects. Buy Tickets Membership Offer EENC 2026 Annual Conference Sep 11, 2026, 8:30 AM – Sep 12, 2026, 5:00 PM McKimmon Center, McKimmon Center, 1101 Gorman St, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA The 2026 conference will be September 11-12 at McKimmon Center in Raleigh, with pre-conference programs taking place on the 10th. Buy Tickets

EENC hosts an annual conference to gather environmental educators from across the state for networking and professional learning. Join us in September for our next conference! 2023 Conference Sponsors Duke Nicholas School of the Environment Keynote Speaker: Mallory McDuff Mallory McDuff has seen the importance of incorporating local communities in conservation through the eyes of a small-town journalist, a Peace Corps volunteer, and an environmental educator with the World Wildlife Fund. McDuff is currently a Professor of Outdoor Leadership, and Environmental Studies Director of Environmental Education at Warren Wilson College. At Warren Wilson, McDuff collaborates with diverse community partners to learn together. As a well known author, McDuff shares her most recent book, Love Your Mother, bringing awareness to the conversations around the climate crisis. McDuff's words will light EENC's Community to engage in collective action toward a more sustainable future. Theme and Focus Areas The 2023 conference theme is Unplug and rEEconnect. During the conference, we will delve deeper into what EE looks like in our state, the exciting and surprising places where EE is happening, and take time get outside and reconnect with the natural world. rEEconnect to Place: EE can be facilitated and experienced anywhere! These presentations will focus on how to apply EE in various communities and situations. These presentations will help unlock EE's audience by sharing ways to make EE more inclusive by addressing community and situational barriers. rEEconnect to Our Why (Work): EE is the thread that connects us all! These presentations will focus not on the 'what' or 'how' we implement EE, but the 'why.' The presentations will demonstrate the importance of collaboration with each other and other organizations toward a common purpose. The presentations will 'zoom out' to celebrate the bigger picture of EE's impact. rEEconnect to Social Change: The natural world is always changing, and EE is too! These presentations will focus on big new ideas, hot topics, and ways of doing that address social change. Theory to Practice: These presentations will focus on celebrating research you and/or your organization is doing in the field and the practical application of the research. Hands On and Minds On: These presentations can be field skills, activity demonstrations, walking workshops, etc. that demonstrate the 'what' we do in EE, or the 'how' we do it! These presentations are intended to be interactive. Schedule and Workshops

See the schedule and description of EENC's 2022 conference, held in Raleigh. 2022 Conference Join us for the 31st Annual Environmental Educators of North Carolina conference at NC State’s McKimmon Conference & Training Center in Raleigh, NC! This year’s conference will be held September 9 to Saturday September 10, 2022. Plan ahead now for pre-conference workshops, field trips, and more on Thursday, September 8. We are excited to announce that the 2022 conference theme is rEEdefine: redefining how we connect, reflect and identify in the field of Environmental Education. During the conference, we will delve deeper into what EE looks like in our state, the exciting and surprising places where EE is happening, and why EE should be designed for and accessible to everyone. If you have any questions about the conference, please contact Michelle Pearce at programs @eenc.org . Keynote Speaker: Dr. Rasul Mowatt Our Keynote speaker will be NC State’s very own Dr. Rasul Mowatt, Department Head of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management. Dr. Mowatt’s research centers on the production and restructuring of urban space, primarily within cities, and how that impacts what we understand to be the function of race, gender and class in a society. Most recently his teaching and research culminated in his book titled "The Geographies of Threat and the Production of Violence: The State and the City Between Us,” published by Routledge press in 2021. In his free time, Dr. Mowatt is a DJ. Schedule

EENC hosts an annual conference to gather environmental educators from across the state for networking and professional learning. Join us in September for our next conference! 2024 EENC Confernece #EENC2024: Imagining SustainablE FuturEs EENC's 2024 conference took place September 13th and 14th at Catawba College in Salisbury, with a pre-conference workshop and field trips taking place on the 12th. We thank the Catawba College Center for the Environment for their generous in-kind facility donation for our conference sessions and gatherings! Attention Exhibitors! Would you like to showcase your organization or program? You can set up a table during the conference to share information about what you do. Organizational Members with a Platinum, Titanium, or Diamond level membership get to the table for free! Lodging : We’re happy to be working with Dan Nicholas Park to provide camping options, and Holiday Inn Express Salisbury for hotel accommodations. 2024 Conference Schedule View Now 2024 Conference Sponsors Presenting Catawba College Center for the Environment Advocate Acorn Naturalist 2nd Nature TREC Supporter Murphy's Naturals Interested in sponsoring the EENC conference? Explore our Sponsor Packet . 2024 Conference Theme: The 2024 conference theme is Imagining SustainablE FuturEs . During the conference, we will examine present-day issues to explore the future of environmental education in North Carolina. Through capacity building, engagement, and practical innovation we will dream big about what environmental education can look like and build skills for how we get there. 2024 Conference Session Strands: The Future of Community Engagement: Environmental education (EE) can take place anywhere and involve anyone. This track will explore how EE can empower students through formal education, enable youth to be active contributors, and engage community members who are not typically represented in EE. Sessions will focus on the diverse ways EE can engage different audiences, such as visitor engagement, youth empowerment, higher education, adult education, and partnership projects. The Future of Capacity Building: EE relies on the people and organizations that do the hard work. This track will delve into effective techniques for building capacity in organizations to promote growth, innovation, and sustainability. Examples include evaluation, strategic planning, facility management, and equitable pay and hiring practices. The Future of Environmental Literacy: These sessions will examine what it means to be environmentally literate in 2024. How can we support environmental literacy in classrooms and beyond, and how might it be influenced by current issues? Topics include climate education, formal education, and systems thinking. Research to Action: These presentations will highlight the research conducted by you and/or your organization in the field, as well as its practical applications. For instance, you might present the findings of a study on intergenerational learning and then discuss strategies for engaging audiences in such learning experiences. Hands-On, Minds-On: These presentations will showcase practical activities, field skills, demonstrations, and walking workshops that exemplify the essence of EE. They are designed to be interactive and demonstrate both the 'what' and 'how' of EE. Examples include activity demonstrations, activity guides, and identification skills workshops. About The Location: Just an hour from both the Triad and Charlotte Metro areas, Catawba College is situated conveniently in the heart of EENC's Piedmont Section. Our gracious hosts at the Catawba College Center for the Environment are opening their campus to our community: we can't wait for you to enjoy their AASHE STARS Silver rated, carbon-neutral facility, as well as the neighboring college-owned Fred Stanback Jr. Ecological Preserve. "Since its founding in 1996, the Center has led a living-learning laboratory for campus sustainability that provides hands-on environmental learning opportunities for Catawba’s students while helping them learn how to advocate for and lead positive environmental change. The Center also serves as a research, convening and policy development hub for issues ranging from regional air and water quality to state and national environmental and energy policies. The Center is housed in a stunning structure that emerges from a sloping stand of hardwood trees at the edge of the College's 189-acre ecological preserve. Every aspect of the building embodies leading sustainability principles, which creates one of the most sought-after spaces for environmental gatherings in North Carolina." Additional conference information will be published here as it becomes available. Check back frequently for the latest details! Estimated Release Dates: Request for Session Proposals – April Keynote Speaker Announcement – April Award Nominations – May Sponsorship Opportunities – May Pre-Conference Workshops and Field Trips – May Schedule – July Early Bird Registration – July General Registration – August Other Previous Conferences 2023 2022 2021 Recognizing Excellence in Environmental Education On Saturday, September 20, 2025, the Environmental Educators of North Carolina held their annual awards ceremony during their conference at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College in Asheville, North Carolina. will.freund13 Silent Auction + Scholarships= Mutualism! EENC's Annual Conference has always had the goal of bringing together educators for idea sharing, networking, and an overall good time.... EENC Staff Team Recap & Gallery: 2023 EENC Conference Early this month, EENC friends and members gathered at Rockfish Camp and Retreat Center in Parkton for our 32nd annual conference, guided... EENC Staff Team

Thank you for your interest in joining EENC's Staff team! Join Our Team The application window for the Operations and Development Lead position is now closed. Applications are currently under review; all applicants will be contacted the week of April 22nd. Interviews will be held between April 22nd and May 1st. Interview scheduling options include weekday business hours, evenings, and weekends. We will ask for references after interviews have been conducted. We anticipate a target start date of June 1, 2024. EENC is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate of race, color, religious creed, gender, national origin, ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation, or disability. Environmental Educators of North Carolina Operations and Development Lead The Environmental Educators of North Carolina (EENC) is a dynamic community of environmental educators dedicated to fostering connections, providing professional development, and promoting excellence in environmental education. Established in 1990, EENC has grown into a broad network of passionate individuals and organizations collaborating to achieve its core mission. We provide the forum to bring people together, leverage resources, and unite our voices across the state. Role Overview: As Operations & Development Lead, you will be pivotal in shaping our organization's operational efficiency and financial sustainability while driving strategic development initiatives. This position encompasses a range of responsibilities, including business management, fundraising, and collaborative leadership. You will work closely with the other two staff members, the Programming Lead and the Communications & Relationships Lead. This position is full-time (average of 35 hours per week), remote within North Carolina, with some travel required. Most travel is within the state. Shared Leadership: EENC practices shared leadership, a non-hierarchical approach to organizational structuring that prioritizes collaborative accountability and decision-making responsibilities to define and achieve strategic goals. All staff are formally employed by the board, and important decisions are made among staff, between staff and board members or committees, and at the board level as defined in our decision-making model. All staff members report to one another regularly on progress and challenges. Staff serve as liaisons to board committees and routinely communicate with board leaders to plan and implement projects. Our shared leadership model empowers both individual and collective decision-making; therefore, all team members must be able to self-motivate and take ownership of their individual tasks while contributing effectively to shared goals and initiatives. Ongoing, transparent, frequent communication among team members is integral to this model. For more about this model, review our Shared Leadership Statement . Key Responsibilities: Business Operations (50%): Oversee routine operations including budgeting, finance, payroll, benefits, HR, organizational policies, etc. Develop and implement strategic plans to optimize business operations and align them with organizational goals. Guide long-term business and financial planning. Ensure legal and regulatory compliance for the organization in collaboration with the Board of Directors leadership, including taxes, solicitation license, and non-profit policy compliance Fundraising and Development (50%): Align development strategies with the overall goals and mission of EENC. Design and execute comprehensive fundraising strategies with diverse revenue streams with an emphasis on grant writing and donor cultivation. Lead the development and implementation of engaging fundraising campaigns and events, major gift campaigns, and sponsorships. Fundraising events and campaigns are coordinated in collaboration with staff and Board committees. Assess financial data, measure performance, and guide data-driven decisions related to organization’s $225,000 annual budget. Regularly report on key performance indicators related to business operations, development efforts, and risk management. Serve as staff liaison to the Board of Directors for the following committees, which collaborate with staff to meet organizational goals: Finance Development Governance Other duties as needed. Who We’re Looking For: We are seeking a strategic thinker who can keep things running smoothly while helping guide long-term plans for EENC’s fiscal sustainability. The Operations & Development Lead should be experienced and comfortable managing budgets, cultivating revenue streams, and successfully executing dynamic projects. The ideal candidate for this new position will be excited to practice shared leadership in EENC’s staff team and eager to foster an expanding community of funders and supporters for our mission. Desired Skills and Experience Proven ability to work effectively with diverse teams, stakeholders, and partners to achieve common goals through leaderful collaboration Ability to manage multiple projects independently and as part of a team Experience with business operations, bookkeeping, or organizational financial management Ability to plan, organize, and think creatively at the systems level Experience developing and leading successful fundraising initiatives Experience writing, managing, and reporting on grants Exceptional writing, networking, and interpersonal skills Background in nonprofit or business leadership, especially collaborating with a non-profit Board of Directors and committees Tech Savvy: Proficient with or able to quickly learn the use of Google Suite, Microsoft Office Suite, Quickbooks Online, and other digital tools including video conferencing, project management, fundraising, and donor management platforms Ability to adapt to changing priorities and environments, with a flexible and proactive approach to challenges. Familiarity with environmental education and an understanding of the field in the state, nationally, and internationally Requirements Diversity Commitment: Demonstrated commitment to fostering justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion within the organization and in external relationships. Residency: North Carolina residency or a commitment to move within 30 days of hire. Driver’s License: A North Carolina driver’s license or the ability to acquire one within 90 days of hire. Travel: Infrequent independent travel in North Carolina for events. Schedule: Work will average 35 hours per week with a flexible schedule. Occasional evening and weekend work is necessary to accommodate special events. Work location: Employee must provide their own work location with reliable internet. We believe that environmental literacy and mutual respect are inherently linked with environmental and social justice, that environmental education and resources should be accessible to all communities, that biodiversity is critical to the success of natural spaces and the diversity of humanity is what makes us stronger, and that we are never done learning and growing as an organization and as individuals. We strongly encourage applications from People of Color, LGBTQ+ people, and those who are members of other marginalized communities. This job description is a general overview, not a mandatory or comprehensive list. We encourage you to apply if you have 75% of the skills and experience listed. Your experience includes paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer and non-traditional work and learning. If you feel passionate about our efforts and believe you have the skills to accomplish the job, we want to hear from you! Salary and Benefits: This full-time exempt salaried position will have a starting annual salary of $40,150 plus a 10% benefit stipend. Additional tangible benefits: Communications stipend for phone/internet ($80 per month) 2% employer-provided retirement contribution (no employee match required) EENC-provided computer, printer, and office supplies Paid professional development 32 days of paid personal leave for vacations, holidays, and other days of your choosing, plus 5 sick days per year Additional intangible benefits: Flexible scheduling Work from home Opportunity to work at a systemic level to support environmental educators and advance environmental education across the state Networking with environmental educators across the state How To Apply: Apply online by submitting our application form (embedded below, also available in-browser ). Resumes and cover letters will NOT be accepted via email. If you have questions, please contact Board Past President Amy Juliana at amy@eenc.org . To apply, you will need to submit: Resume Cover letter that addresses the following (maximum 2 pages): This position requires significant interaction with multiple internal and external stakeholder groups (grantors, staff, Board of Directors, others). Describe your experience interacting with multiple stakeholder groups. Describe a time you managed or developed an organizational or business budget. How did you plan for, track, and evaluate success? Hiring Timeline: Applications accepted through April 12, 2024. Application review period April 14 - April 19, 2024. All applicants will be contacted the following week. We anticipate conducting interviews April 22 - May 1. Interview scheduling options include weekday business hours, evenings, and weekends. We will ask for references after interviews have been conducted. We anticipate a target start date of June 1, 2024. EENC is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate of race, color, religious creed, gender, national origin, ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation, or disability.