Upper Midwest Development Officer

ABOUT FARM RESCUE

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Farm Rescue is a highly respected nonprofit dedicated to helping farm families remain viable during times of crisis. Founded in 2005 and headquartered in Fargo, North Dakota, Farm Rescue provides planting, haying, harvesting, commodity hauling, and livestock feeding assistance to farmers and ranchers who have experienced a major injury, illness, or natural disaster.

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With approximately $3 million in annual revenue, seven staff members, and more than 250 volunteers across the Midwest and Upper Midwest, Farm Rescue has assisted over 1,250 farm families since its founding. The organization currently operates in Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin, with Missouri recently announced as an additional service state beginning in FY27.

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WHY THIS ROLE IS COMPELLING​

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• Mission-Driven Work – Play a direct role in helping farm families stay on their land during times of crisis.
• Strong Industry Reputation – Supported by leading agricultural organizations and companies.
• High-Impact Role – Directly responsible for driving funding and awareness that enables Farm Rescue to expand its reach.
• Growth Opportunity – Be part of a team working to double farm families served and funding over the next 3–4 years.
• Entrepreneurial Environment – Operate with autonomy while building relationships across the agricultural community.

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POSITION SUMMARY

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The Upper Midwest Development Officer is responsible for leading fundraising and community engagement efforts across the Upper Midwest territory, which includes North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and Montana. This role focuses on securing corporate
sponsorships, grants, donations, and foundation support while building strong relationships throughout the agricultural community.
 

This is a funding goal-driven role requiring a highly motivated, self-directed professional who can develop and manage a full pipeline of funding opportunities while serving as a passionate ambassador for the Farm Rescue mission.

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KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

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Fundraising & Revenue Generation

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• Develop and manage a full pipeline of corporate sponsors, donors, and foundation opportunities;
• Achieve annual fundraising targets through new business development and relationship management;

• Retain and expand existing sponsor and donor relationships;
• Utilize CRM tools (Salesforce) to track activity, pipeline, and performance metrics;
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Community Engagement & Representation

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• Represent Farm Rescue at trade shows, industry events, and community gatherings;
• Build partnerships with agricultural organizations to increase awareness and generate farm case opportunities;
• Deliver compelling presentations to sponsors, donors, and community groups;

• Recruit, develop, and support local Farm Rescue ambassadors / volunteers to build and sustain a scalable grassroots community engagement program that drives awareness, farm cases, and funding.

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Territory Development

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• Strengthen Farm Rescue’s presence across the Upper Midwest territory;
• Identify and develop new funding opportunities within the region;

• Collaborate with marketing to support campaigns that drive awareness and funding;
• Support increased farm case awareness and program utilization.

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Candidate Profile

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The ideal candidate will bring strong agricultural credibility, proven sales or fundraising success, and a deep network within the Upper Midwest farming community. This individual must be comfortable working independently while building relationships and driving results.

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Qualifications Include: 

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• Background in agriculture with strong understanding of farm operations and rural communities;

• Proven success in fundraising ($500K+) or sales ($1M+) with a track record of exceeding goals;

• Established network within North Dakota, Minnesota, and South Dakota’s agricultural community;

• Strong communication and presentation skills;

• Experience using CRM tools to manage pipelines and reporting;

• Self-starter mentality with ability to operate independently;

• Passion for Farm Rescue’s mission.

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Compensation & Benefits:

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• Base Salary: Competitive

• Performance Bonus: Up to 25% based on achieving fundraising targets

• Company vehicle for work-related travel

• Benefits: 401(k), healthcare allowance, paid time off

• Travel: Significant regional travel for meetings, events, and trade shows

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Position Details:

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• Reports To: Executive Director

• Employment Status: Full-time, exempt

• Location: North Dakota or South Dakota (Fargo or Sioux Falls preferred)

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