Associate Director, Donor Engagement

Position Description: 

The associate director (AD), Donor Engagement (DE) is part of a
15-person department at Brooklyn Botanic Garden (BBG) that is
responsible for raising $7 million+ in annual operating support
from a variety of funding sources. This position works in
partnership with the director of Donor Engagement to raise
approximately $2 million in annual support from individuals,
beginning with gifts of $1,000 and with a particular focus on
mid-to-higher level donors, President’s and Chairman’s Circle
members, Major Gift and Trustee Appeals, Dedications, and Planned
Gifts.  

The AD will bring a high degree of integrity, creativity, and
accountability, strong communication, management, and
organizational skills, and excellent interpersonal skills to help
grow the major gifts donor base and overall support. The AD ensures
excellent donor relations and is a key partner in articulating the
mission and impact of the institution, inspiring new support, and
building donor relationships for the long-term. BBG will create a
new strategic plan in 2024 to guide its future, which will provide
learning opportunities across the institution in shaping a
visionary next chapter for this well-established cultural
institution.  

The AD provides direct supervision of Donor Engagement team of a
manager, coordinator, and associate, who focus on supporting Major
Gifts and Reports, Research, and Stewardship. In partnership with
the director, the AD will also work closely at times with the
senior vice president of Institutional Advancement and president on
major donor relations and planning.

Responsibilities:

• In partnership with the director of Donor Engagement, assist
  with the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship
  of Major Gift donors and prospects with the aim of retaining strong
  support, inspiring new and increased support, and expanding the
  donor pipeline and base of support for BBG.
• Serve as an exemplary representative for BBG to major donors,
  helping to engage, inspire, build confidence, and share the impact
  of support. Rapidly gain a thorough understanding of the scope,
  history, current initiatives, and goals of BBG in order to refine
  and implement a strategy for building and retaining the
  organization’s base of philanthropic support.
• Shape and manage the donor cultivation, solicitation, and
  stewardship process:
  • Ensure strong systems management and a coordinated team
    approach (involving Development and senior staff) to an annual
    calendar of donor outreach and engagement.
  • Communicate with donors/prospects as well as trustees in
    person, on the phone, and in writing. Write donor appeals and
    acknowledgment letters. Write and prepare proposals and narrative
    and financial reports for major donors and President’s Circle
    members on the progress and impact of their support for capital
    projects, general operating, programs, operations, and
    endowments.
  • Help develop a strong donor digital communications and
    stewardship plan, including ensuring updates on the President’s
    Circle, Major Gifts, Dedications, and Planned Giving sections of
    the BBG website.
  • Plan and facilitate in-person approaches to donor cultivation
    through private visits and tours, behind-the-scenes experiences,
    etc. Brainstorm on broader cultivation events content and
    strategies in conjunction with the Development team to effectively
    engage, steward, and inspire donors.
  • Liaise with Education, Horticulture, Community Greening, and
    other divisions to stay abreast of funding needs and cultivation
    opportunities.
  • Utilize, refine, and monitor prospect trackers and fundraising
    reports drawn from Raiser’s Edge database.
  • Maintain excellent communications and donor records. 
• Foster Board of Trustees and Development Committee engagement
  and participation in fundraising. Support their donor relations
  work by providing strategic guidance around donor history and
  philanthropic interests. Shape and manage annual trustee giving
  solicitation outreach, prepare Giving Plans, and oversee tracking
  of trustee giving and pledges.
• Manage and oversee Donor Engagement team workflow with direct
  supervision of a coordinator and manager (who respectively focus on
  Major Gifts and on Reports, Research and Stewardship), as well as
  oversight of the Development associate and potential seasonal
  interns and volunteers. This includes:
  • Project and time management
  • Ensuring high accountability and accuracy in gift processing,
    donor records, and financial reports. Supervise gift tracking,
    renewal, appeal and acquisition initiatives, acknowledgments,
    correspondence, preparation of materials, and all other activities
    of the Major Gifts manager, coordinator, and associate.
• Lead ongoing donor research strategies with the Donor
  Engagement manager: Research and Reports and meet regularly with
  the staff researchers. Engage using LexisNexis and other software,
  conduct background research, and prepare profiles and blurbs on
  prospects for events and senior team members. 
• Provide oversight of Tributes and Dedications and Planned
  Giving programs, including tracking dedications, bequests,
  annuities, and stewardship of Forsythia Society members.
• Work with the director on budget development and income/expense
  monitoring. Ensure efficient use of resources by staff, volunteers,
  and vendors/consultants and that income and expense goals are met.
  Develop cost-efficient, creative, and effective ways of increasing
  net revenue. Monitor progress toward projected goals; provide
  regular assessment/analysis and troubleshooting as needed. Ensure a
  high degree of accuracy and accountability.
• Prepare and provide information for winter and spring Board of
  Trustees reports on major and planned giving fundraising
  results.
• Maintain confidentiality of donor information and further BBG’s
  efforts to establish strong, long-term donor relationships.
• Play an active role in the larger Development and Membership
  team on project development and long-range planning, strategize new
  ways to increase revenue, and support donor cultivation, special
  events, on-site membership sales, and other major BBG events. In
  partnership with the Special Events team, assist with logistics and
  attendee seating for major annual BBG fundraising events, including
  cultivation events and the Spring Gala.
• Perform other related duties or special projects as
  directed.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree preferred
• 4–6 years of nonprofit development experience; prior major
  gifts experience highly desired 
• Management experience with direct full-time reports and ability
  to set benchmarks and goals for a team; ability to strategically
  manage up to support the effectiveness of senior staff and other
  leadership
• Excellent organizational and donor relations skills,
  professional writing ability, supervisory experience, and
  attentiveness to details while meeting multiple deadlines
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Raiser’s
  Edge software or similar database system required, plus an affinity
  for technological advances and the creation and maintenance of
  systems
• Background or strong interest in cultural institutions,
  environment, education, and/or science preferred
• Enthusiastic, energetic team player, able to interact closely
  with trustees, donors, staff, and guests at all levels, as well as
  multiple vendors and consultants, and represent the institution
  well; a creative writer and strategic thinker
• Ability to work evenings and occasional weekends to help meet
  pressing deadlines and support events during the Garden’s peak
  seasons (September–October; March–June)
• Ability to lift and carry event materials as needed