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About This Opportunity

Queens Botanical Garden seeks an experienced and passionate leader to be our next Director of Development. The Director of Development is responsible for annually raising approximately $4.5M from public and private sources and helps secure additional funds to support critical capital projects spanning the Garden’s 39-acre campus. Working with the Executive Director, Board of Trustees, and key staff leaders, the Director of Development devises and executes fundraising strategies to advance the ambitious ideas articulated in the Strategic and Master Plans and annual operating budget. The Director of Development leads the Development and Marketing/ Comms team to success in meeting fundraising goals through institutional giving, individual giving, special events, and membership support. In addition to providing leadership and strategy, the Director is also an active front-line fundraiser who directly contributes to institutional and individual fundraising efforts, including grant writing, ongoing stewardship, and major gift solicitation. They are a passionate advocate for the Garden’s work to engage the public through inspiring gardens, innovative educational programs, and real-world applications of environmental stewardship. The ideal candidate will thrive in a fast-paced fundraising environment which demands exceptional written and oral communications skills and enthusiastically collaborate with other organizational leaders to generate and execute new programmatic and capital initiatives.  

The Director of Development is part of the Senior Staff leadership team, reports to the Executive Director, and supervises the Institutional Giving Manager, Senior Manager for Communications and Marketing, and Development Assistant.

Key Responsibilities: 

Fundraising Leadership & Strategy

• Refresh and implement an ambitious fundraising plan designed to grow the organization’s annual operating budget, diversify funding streams, and grow unrestricted revenue and major gifts, including naming opportunities. 
• Activate the Board of Trustees as ambassadors for fundraising through strategy sessions, committee work, and training, as needed, to develop a culture of philanthropy. 
• Closely track fundraising projections and strategize with Senior Staff to accordingly expand or alter planned activities; generate fundraising reports for the Board of Trustees. 
• Work with Executive Director and Senior Manager for Communications & Marketing to develop strategies for maximizing revenues. 
• Collaborate with fundraising and marketing consultants and partners as needed.

Institutional Giving

• Strengthen relationships with existing institutional funders, including the City of New York, elected officials, and major foundation and corporate partners, with a focus on increasing support and securing multi-year commitments.
• Liaise with leaders in Education/Programs, Visitor Services, Horticulture, Marketing, and other departments to identify fundable projects in accordance with QBG’s new strategic plan; oversee ongoing work with Finance Department to ensure appropriate grant-tracking activities and accurate reporting. 
• Take the lead on proposal development for major funders and new prospects; work with Institutional Giving Manager and Development Assistant to ensure accurate and compelling proposals and reports for all institutional donors. 
• Lead the Garden’s Corporate Sponsorship and collaborate as needed on Membership programs; collaborate with Marketing, Visitor Services, Education/Programs, Operations, and other departments to implement sponsorship and activation benefits.  

Individual Giving & Special Events

• Lead the Garden’s existing Individual Giving programs, including the Adopt-a-Bench, Adopt-A-Tree, and Adopt-A-Garden initiatives. 
• Develop and execute compelling new individual giving campaigns using the Garden’s communications channels and cultivation events with the Executive Director.  
• Establish relationships with current and potential major donors; create custom support and sponsorship packages based on donor interest. 
• Strategize to grow Membership revenue with Membership Coordinator and key staff. 
• Lead planning and execution of Rambling Rose Gala, the organization's annual fundraising gala, including devising strategies for revenue growth, and work with the Board Development Committee to implement such strategies; lead ideation for new special events, as needed.

Marketing and Communications 

• Oversee the work of the Senior Communications and Marketing Manager who manages all comms and marketing.  
• Work with Executive Director and Senior Communications and Marketing Manager to devise a marketing and comms plan aligned with 5-year strategic plan goals, and to develop strategies for maximizing revenues. 
• Ensure completion of Annual Report, printed materials, and other assets with clear brand fidelity and messaging.

Development Operations

• Identify opportunities to streamline and strengthen development operations. 
• Oversee Department expense budgets; approve purchases in accordance with budgets.
• Harness data from fundraising database (DonorPerfect) to develop moves management strategies for existing donors