Major Gift Officer

The Major Gift Officer manages NYBG’s relationship with an active portfolio of donors and prospects, including members of the Garden Patrons Program and President’s Circle, to facilitate and deepen their involvement with NYBG. Reporting to the Associate Vice President for Individual Giving, this position contributes to the Advancement team’s annual fundraising goals and expands NYBG’s pipeline of major gifts and planned giving donors. NYBG seeks a proactive front-line fundraiser and an enthusiastic and persuasive advocate for the Garden’s mission and programs in plant science and conservation, environmental education, and horticulture.

This position offers a perfect opportunity for an ambitious fundraiser to join a dynamic development team at a leading cultural institution.

Additionally, this position supports, through actions and conduct, NYBG’s Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility initiatives and helps to build and maintain an inclusive organization culture throughout the institution.

The New York Botanical Garden is committed to an inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible work environment, and further recognizes that diversity in our workforce fosters excellence in our mission of advocating for the plants of the world. Leveraging the strong foundation of existing policies and practices, NYBG will advance inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility through a number of institutional initiatives. Our aspiration is to continue to cultivate a workforce and institution that is as diverse as the communities we serve and the audiences we engage.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities:

• Independently manage a portfolio of prospects through all phases of the giving cycle, from validation and engagement through cultivation, solicitation, gift negotiation, and stewardship.
• Conduct prospect meetings to cultivate and solicit prospects and close gifts.
• Work with AVP of Individual Giving to establish major gift and planned gift solicitation metrics
• Maintain current and accurate records in database, tracking documents, and files.
• Using the Garden’s robust calendar of events and public programs, plan and execute an ambitious and strategic schedule of individualized correspondence, meetings, and site visits that deepen donors’ relationships with NYBG.
• Support the Associate Vice President for Individual Giving and senior NYBG leadership with leadership giving, including drafting key written communications and talking points.
• Actively maintain a current body of knowledge about the Garden’s programs, aspirations and development priorities
• Attend Development and Garden-wide events as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements:

• 5+ years of front-line fundraising experience required.
• Experience soliciting planned and/or blended gifts strongly preferred.
• A manifest passion for NYBG’s work.
• Exceptional writing skills, with an aptitude and zeal for crafting compelling persuasive communications.
• Strong and flexible time management and organizational skills, sharp attention to detail, excellent work ethic. Ability to plan and balance multiple projects and priorities in a dynamic environment, with both long- and short-term deadlines.
• Ability to function as a team player in a collaborative environment.
• Care and consistency in matters of accuracy, presentation, and attention to detail.
• Willingness to travel and work occasional evenings/ weekends for events and donor visits.
• Knowledge of Raiser’s Edge preferred.
• A valid driver’s license.

Please be advised, as a term and condition of accepting a job offer the candidate for employment must submit proof of full vaccination.  Candidates for employment unable to submit proof of full vaccination at the time of the offer will not be considered for employment.

This policy is subject to the reasonable accommodation provisions of Title VII and the American for Disabilities Act (ADA) and other EEO consideration.  If you believe that because of a disability or a sincerely held religious belief that you may be entitled to a reasonable accommodation or exemption to this policy please contact HR@nybg.org.

If you require an accommodation for any part of the application process, please notify the Human Resources department at HR@nybg.org.

EOE/BIPOC/F/Persons with disabilities/Veterans