The Morton Arboretum is a world-renowned nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting and growing trees locally and globally. Join the team that supports nearly 61,000 member households while growing philanthropic revenue to support the Arboretum’s mission. The successful candidate will have prior experience working in an advancement/development office with success managing a robust annual fund or membership program, and enjoy working in a fast-paced deadline driven and collaborative setting. You’ll be part of a great team working together to make the Arboretum exceptional.
Position Summary: Lead oversight, strategy, and execution of membership and annual giving programs to achieve increasing annual revenue goals ($7.8M in 2022) and to build a pipeline of donors with lifetime value. Supervise a team responsible for the implementation of the Arboretum’s membership and annual giving programs, including all innovative segmentation strategies, renewals and acquisitions, and coordination with major gift efforts and robust stewardship activities. Serve as a senior member of the development team. Serve as an advocate for a culture of philanthropy that supports the best interests of the organization as well as the donors.
Essential Functions:
Set and achieve revenue and strategic plan goals for membership and annual giving to meet overall institutional revenue objectives and to build a broad pipeline of donors with lifetime value.
Lead the team responsible for management of annual giving and membership renewals, acquisitions, and communications including appeals, e-newsletters, and invitations. Duties include recruitment and selection, scheduling and job assignments, performance feedback, recognition, and staff development and training in keeping with the Arboretum’s policies and procedures.
Oversee market research and survey programs to enhance donor and member audience growth and engagement. Promote opportunities for member/donor feedback to ensure ongoing high valuation of support.
Manage a modeling and segmentation program to achieve maximum giving and engagement to build donor pipeline.
Support comprehensive or capital campaign initiatives to meet overall program and institutional objectives with specific support during public phases of campaigns.
Manage regular reporting to demonstrate progress toward goals, identify any areas of concerns, and revise strategies as needed to achieve year-end goals.
Represent the organization to donors, members, vendors, and the public.
Solicit and manage all vendors related to annual giving and membership, and manage and negotiate contracts.
Collaborate with Marketing and Communications on development of annual fund and membership marketing campaigns.
Participate in several cross-organization coordinating committees for operations, scheduling, exhibitions, marketing content and major gifts.
Ensure a level of service and engagement that fosters loyalty among Arboretum constituents.
Other job duties as assigned.
Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree required. 7+ years development experience, including demonstrated success in annual fund and/or membership fundraising including staff management experience required. Market research, analytics, and data modeling experience are essential. Excellent verbal and written communication skills required. Experience and ability to interpret data for financial reporting and analysis. Must be proficient with Microsoft Office and Google applications, and have experience using database systems. Prior experience using Salesforce software preferred.
Success Factors: Effective staff supervisor and mentor, with the ability to motivate and nurture growth and foster independence and collaboration. Customer service oriented individual who enjoys working with the public, is able to relate effectively with a diverse donor population, and motivate individuals to become Arboretum members and donors. Independent thinker who works well with others, a proactive leader who accepts challenges and responsibilities, who makes things happen on a timely basis, and is energetic and self-motivated. Ability to serve as a key liaison and advocate for all members and donors internally and externally. Strong organizational skills with the ability to collaborate with program areas across the Arboretum. Ability to identify potential challenges ahead of time to ensure proactive problem-solving. Ability to work under pressure, manage multiple priorities, and to meet multiple deadlines. A commitment to, and ability to effectively convey, the Arboretum’s mission with genuine passion, and the willingness to continually learn about the programs and mission. Ability to embrace and align with the organization’s employee core values to be inclusive, take ownership, work together, keep learning and make the Arboretum exceptional.
Physical Demands and Work Environment: The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.
Physical Demands: Requires some physical activity: limited lifting and carrying (up to 10 lbs.), and occasional travel around the Arboretum campus and locally.
Work Environment: Fast-paced office environment. Work is performed primarily indoors. This position is designated as a hybrid-eligible position, allowing for some work to be performed off premise, during regular hours of work.
Equipment: General office equipment, Arboretum golf cart.
Schedule: Position requires occasional extended work hours, including evenings and weekends.
All Arboretum employees will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide proof of that status in order to maintain their employment.
The Morton Arboretum is a champion of diversity, supporting a culture of inclusion that attracts, inspires, and engages people to achieve success. The Arboretum is committed to hire and develop employees based on job-related qualifications irrespective of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, or veteran status. To increase diversity in professions related to the public garden realm, we encourage applications from underrepresented minorities, persons with disabilities, and veterans.
The Morton Arboretum is dedicated to complying with our obligations as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All applicants are guaranteed equal consideration for employment.