Fundraising Manager – In-Park Recognition Programs

Title: Fundraising Manager – In-Park Recognition Programs

Reports to: Director of Women’s Committee Membership
Programs

Department: Women’s Committee and Special Events

Status: Full-Time/Exempt

 

 

About the Central Park Conservancy

Central Park is one of the world’s most famous and beloved
public spaces. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux
in 1858, the 843-acre Park was the country’s first purpose-built
public park and is a National Historic Landmark and a New York
Scenic Landmark. The Central Park Conservancy, a private,
not-for-profit organization, was founded in 1980 to rescue the
Park, which had fallen into serious disrepair. Since then, the
Conservancy has overseen the investment of over $1.5 billion in the
restoration of the Park, which now hosts over 40 million visitors a
year.

 

The Conservancy is one of the largest and most successful public
private partnerships in New York City and is considered a major
civic institution given its impact on the health and vibrancy of
both the Park and the City.  The Conservancy’s mission is to
preserve and celebrate Central Park as a sanctuary from urban life.
The City of New York has formally entrusted the care of the Park to
the Conservancy which is responsible for every aspect of its care,
including landscape maintenance, capital improvements, and the
visitor experience. The Conservancy employs roughly 400 people and
has an annual operating budget of $100 million. 

 

 

Job Summary:

The Fundraising Manager will oversee three of the Women’s
Committee’s most popular and profitable in-park recognition
fundraising programs (subject to change); the
Adopt-A-Bench program, Tree Trust
program, and the Gilder Run
paving stone program. The Fundraising Manager will serve as a
frontline fundraiser who works directly with both first-time donors
as well as longtime friends of the Conservancy to find
their piece of the Park.

 

The Fundraising Manager will work with the dedicated Conservancy
team to ensure the productivity, efficiency, and strategy of the
programs, as well as with a Volunteer Committee who will help
spread awareness of the work of the Conservancy and the special
opportunities available through these programs.  The
Fundraising Manager must be compassionate and sensitive to donor’s
stories and situations and must be comfortable spending time with
donors in Central Park.

 

 

 

Summary of Essential Job Functions:

For each of the assigned fundraising programs, the Fundraising
Manager is responsible for the following:

 

Donor Relations

• Cultivate and steward prospective donors through the process of
  selecting and finalizing their recognition choice–working with
  individuals, families, and foundations from initial outreach to
  selection of recognition plaque/paver, to implementation of
  donation recognition.
• Work with Major Giving to identify and solicit donors for major
  gifts and to steward donors who have made gifts.
• Attend in-Park tree appointment or facilitate remote connection
  with Arborist to assist Donors with choosing their tree to
  endow
• Prepare written and oral updates for the volunteer
  Chairman/Co-Chairmen of the committees assigned to each recognition
  program.
• Work cooperatively with internal and external contacts such as
  Women’s Committee President, CPC Senior management, Board members,
  donors, Operations and field staff, and vendors.
• Draft and send critical correspondence to all donors whose
  recognition assets may be affected by ongoing Capital work in the
  Park.

 

Program Management and Record Keeping

• Assist Vice President of Women’s Committee & Special Events
  and Director of Women’s Committee Membership Programs with
  developing and implementing fundraising strategies to reach program
  goals.
• Maintain and tracks accurate Bench and Tree data, including
  identifying trees/benches that have been endowed, are on hold, or
  available, in the Cartegraph database, an asset-management software
  shared by Philanthropy and in-Park Technical Services to jointly
  update and track all assets in the Park.
• Manage the relationship with plaque and paver vendors,
  including the drafting process for bench plaques and Gilder and
  Tree paving stones and arrangement of delivery to the Park
  technicians.
• Partner with Technician to coordinate installation and
  placement of naming recognition opportunities in Central Park.
• Complete bench plaque replacement installations throughout the
  Park as needed.
• Work closely with the Capital Projects team to build a timeline
  of capital work projects that may affect access to plaques and
  pavers in the Park so that donors may be properly updated.
• Prepare all print certificates in support of in-Park
  recognition gifts (upon request)
• Execute all administrative tasks including letter writing,
  processing of donations, database administration, tax receipts,
  record keeping, etc. as it pertains to managing the fundraising
  program
• Prepare monthly program financial and activity reports for
  Board, Exec and Committee meetings
• Manage and maintains consistent correspondence with all
  inquiries for each of the programs whether over the phone or via
  one of the program’s assigned email inboxes.
• Assist the Women’s Committee team with day-of support for
  various fundraising events
• Perform other duties as required

 

 

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and
  experience
• At least 3-5 years fundraising/development experience
• Familiarity with and passion for Central Park and the outdoors
  essential to this position
• Ability to work effectively with high-profile volunteers
• Strong leadership skills
• Strong attention to detail and detailed record-keeping is a
  must
• Demonstrated organizational skills and ability to prioritize
  and multi-task
• Self-starter
• Strong business writing and communication skills
• Excellent computer skills required
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc)
  and Raiser’s Edge. Training on use of Cartagraph system will be
  provided.
• Ability to work occasional early mornings, evenings and
  weekends
• Must have valid driver’s license and be comfortable driving in
  Manhattan and in Central Park

 

Abilities Required:

Ability to lift boxes up to 30lbs

 

About the Programs: Adopt-A-Bench, Tree Trust and
Gilder Run donations

 

The Adopt-A-Bench program was established in
1986 as a permanent fund to maintain and endow the care of Central
Park’s approximately 10,000 benches and

their surrounding landscapes.

The Tree Trust program of the Central Park
Conservancy offers the opportunity to support Central Park’s
approximately 20,000 trees, contributions are placed in an
endowment for existing trees and to fund the planting of new
trees.

Gilder Run paving stone program (on the path
leading to Bridge No. 24 at the southeast corner of the Reservoir)
offers the opportunity to leave a lasting mark in Central Park.
Carve your name, tribute or memory into granite paving stones and
they will become part of the landscape in perpetuity.

 

Salary range:  $74K – $93K (based on level of
experience)

 

 

 

DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION:

The Central Park Conservancy’s work is guided by the belief that
Central Park, and all public parks, must be managed and actively
protected as an inclusive and democratic space for all.

 

Working closely with our New York City partners, we will always
strive towards creating and sustaining a sense of belonging for all
visitors and advocating for equitable and accessible public use of
the Park.

 

In service of this belief, we are committed to fostering a
workforce and organizational culture that is as diverse as Central
Park itself and the dynamic city it serves.

 

Safety Requirements:

Establishment and maintenance of a safe work environment is the
shared responsibility of this organization and employees at every
level. The Conservancy will make every effort to assure a safe
environment and follow federal, state, and local safety
regulations. Employees are expected to obey safety rules and to
exercise caution in all their work activities. Accordingly,
employees should be aware of any hazards which could cause an
injury or accident (e.g., spills, obstacles in walkways, etc.). If
an employee discovers a potentially dangerous condition,
he/she/they should alert other employees and notify his/her/their
supervisor immediately.

 

Disclaimer:

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature
and level of work being performed by people assigned to this
classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list
of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel
so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties
outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as
needed.