Demo

Director of Philanthropy

Lensa
Salt Lake, UT Full Time
POSTED ON 3/26/2025
AVAILABLE BEFORE 4/23/2025
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Details

Open Date 03/17/2025

Requisition Number PRN41442B

Job Title Director, Administration

Working Title Director of Philanthropy

Job Grade G

FLSA Code Executive

Patient Sensitive Job Code? No

Standard Hours per Week 40

Full Time or Part Time? Full Time

Shift Day

Work Schedule Summary

Full-time days; willingness to work weekend and evenings as needed.

VP Area President

Department 00340 - Red Butte Garden & Arboretum

Location Campus

City Salt Lake City, UT

Type of Recruitment External Posting

Pay Rate Range $100,000.00 - $125,000.00 including an excellent benefits package

Close Date 04/30/2025

Priority Review Date (Note - Posting may close at any time) 04/30/2025

Job Summary

Red Butte Garden and Arboretumis one of the largest botanical gardens in the Intermountain West, a regional center for plant-based science education, conservation and research, and cultural enrichment. As part of a state arboretum that encompasses the University of Utah campus, the Garden cultivates an essential urban forestland of about 2,000 trees in 456 different taxa. The Garden has welcomed guests since 1985 and consists of over 20 acres of developed gardens, and approximately five miles of hiking trails winding through an extensive 80-acre natural area. Community-funded, the Garden is renowned for its diverse plant collections, themed gardens, and spectacular mountain setting, with almost 590,000 springtime blooming bulbs, award-winning horticulture-based educational programs, and an iconic outdoor summer concert series. Guests come to the Garden for a myriad of reasons: to connect with nature, to participate in cultural programs, concerts, and wellness activities, and to attend lectures. Innovative children’s education programs promote environmental sustainability, and educate the next generation of botanists and naturalists, while engaging classes inspire adults to remain lifelong learners.

The Garden seeks a Director of Philanthropy with the track record, energy, and drive to lead the philanthropic activities of an iconic cultural institution and one of the foremost botanic gardens in the Intermountain West. The primary objectives will be the development of a robust planned giving program, obtaining major gifts for capital projects and annual operating support, achieving annual fundraising objectives in a competitive market, identifying new revenue streams, and organizing and supervising a results-driven department.

Reporting to and working closely with the Executive Director, the Director of Philanthropy will provide the leadership, coordination, and implementation of the Garden’s comprehensive fundraising programs and activities. The Garden is launching an exciting new capital campaign, and the Director of Philanthropy will lead efforts to fund the multiyear campaign and Garden initiatives that emerge. The director will also serve as liaison to the Red Butte Garden Advisory Board. This position will support and partner with the Executive Director and the Garden’s Advisory Board in efforts to identify, attract, and cultivate major donors and ensure that the Garden is well positioned in the philanthropic landscape. With over 12,000 active Garden Members, there is a unique opportunity to enhance major gifts fundraising through strategic pipeline management and outreach.

As a member of the leadership team, the Director of Philanthropy will assist in fostering and maintaining a culture of inter- and intra-departmental collegiality and dialogue, while implementing a forward-thinking fundraising strategy to meet annual and long-term fundraising goals. The Director of Philanthropy will be an inclusive, inspirational leader who fosters a culture of excellence, collaboration, and community.

The Director of Philanthropy will provide strategic leadership and direction for the Garden’s philanthropic and membership programs, including our Cottam Club giving society and our Concert Donor Club. In this role, the director is responsible to identify, cultivate, and solicit donations and gifts from individuals, corporations, foundations, and government agencies. The director will make direct contact with potential donors and foundations, and maintain donor relations within the procedures determined by the University President’s Office related to donor clearance. The director will lead our annual giving program, appeals, and targeted giving campaigns. The director will oversee the membership program and will help develop and implement strategies to retain existing members and increase recruitment of new members with value-based membership programs and benefits.

The successful candidate will build and maintain relationships with philanthropic organizations, with the University of Utah Advancement Office, and other individuals and organizations throughout the community while ensuring that all fund-raising activities are in compliance with state and university policies.

This is a full time, benefited position eligible for the excellent benefits package at the University of Utah including medical, tuition reduction, and a generous retirement contribution. To learn more about our benefits package, please go to:https://www.hr.utah.edu/benefits/

Responsibilities

  • Identify, implement, and manage effective strategies to increase fundraising, including corporate gift giving, capital campaigns, planned giving, sponsorships, annual giving, donor clubs, major gifts, and grant acquisition.
  • Cultivate and build long-term relationships with donors.
  • Create and implement a plan to identify and foster potential donors.
  • Solicit and close gifts at all funding levels, particularly capital, major and planned gifts.
  • Research and write gift proposals, donor letters of agreement, grant applications, gift acknowledgments, and articles for the Garden’s publications.
  • Organize and direct Advisory Board fundraising.
  • Oversee all Garden fundraising programs.
  • Provide volunteer training for fundraising participants.
  • Track progress of solicitations and ensure that proper records are kept of each solicitation.
  • Set and administer the department budget.
  • Monitor gift accounts, including endowed and expendable funds, to ensure they are being managed in accordance with the donor’s gift agreements.
  • Determine the benefits and value of Garden membership levels to be competitive with similar organizations.
  • Develop and implement strategies targeted to increase participation in the membership program.
  • Assist in the planning and implementation of special events for members, including individual and corporate members.
  • Represent the Philanthropy Department as a member of the Garden’s leadership team.
  • Serve as a Liaison to members of the Red Butte Garden Advisory Board.
  • Engage Advisory Board members and develop relationships to increase their commitment and support for Red Butte Garden and Arboretum.
  • Structure an efficient and effective Philanthropy Department, including recruiting, hiring, training, supervising, and evaluating department staff and volunteers.
  • Champion progress and demonstrate agility, while maintaining the team’s focus to nurture existing relationships and pursue new opportunities.
  • Cultivate an environment of accountability with respect to outcomes and activities.
  • Provide opportunities and continuous, authentic feedback to develop and support staff.
  • Develop and maintain positive relationships with all internal and external stakeholders.
  • Contribute to cross-functional programs by collaborating with peers for change management, policy implementation, relationship management, and strategic communications.

Work Environment And Level Of Frequency Typically Required

Nearly Continuously: Office environment.

Physical Requirements and Level of Frequency that may be required

Nearly Continuously: Sitting, hearing, listening, talking.

Often: Repetitive hand motion (such as typing), walking.

Seldom: Bending, reaching overhead.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Business, Communication, Public Relations, English, Nonprofit Management, or related area, or equivalency (one year of education can be substituted for two years of related work experience); eight years of progressively more responsible management experience; and demonstrated leadership, human relations and effective communications skills required.

Master’s degree in related area preferred.

Five years experience in fund-raising, marketing, sales, business, public relations, annual, corporate or foundation giving which includes two years of budgeting and supervisory experience. Experience in grant or proposal writing, public speaking, a background working with print and/or electronic media, and an understanding of university fund-raising practices.

Applicants must demonstrate the potential ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined in the position description.

Preferences

Ideal Experience and Characteristics

Proven fundraising ability. A strong track record of bold and effective fundraising and a history of developing new donor bases.

Strong leadership experience. Demonstrated success in leading a development operation in a complex, multi-faceted cultural, educational, and/or scientific nonprofit organization.

Outstanding communication skills. Excellent interpersonal skills with a wide range of audiences from community and corporate, to private gardeners and philanthropists, to internal stakeholders and co-workers, all in a variety of settings from small intimate gatherings to major fundraising events.

This job description is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to the job.

Type Benefited Staff

Special Instructions Summary

Additional Information

The University is a participating employer with Utah Retirement Systems (“URS”). Eligible new hires with prior URS service, may elect to enroll in URS if they make the election before they become eligible for retirement (usually the first day of work). Contact Human Resources at (801) 581-7447 for information. Individuals who previously retired and are receiving monthly retirement benefits from URS are subject to URS’ post-retirement rules and restrictions. Please contact Utah Retirement Systems at (801) 366-7770 or (800) 695-4877 or University Human Resource Management at (801) 581-7447 if you have questions regarding the post-retirement rules.

This position may require the successful completion of a criminal background check and/or drug screen.

The University of Utah values candidates who have experience working in settings with students and patients from all backgrounds and possess a strong commitment to improving access to higher education and quality healthcare for historically underrepresented students and patients.

All qualified individuals are strongly encouraged to apply. Veterans’ preference is extended to qualified applicants, upon request and consistent with University policy and Utah state law. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.

The University of Utah is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, or protected veteran’s status. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and 34 CFR part 106. The requirement not to discriminate in education programs or activities extends to admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, or both.

To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability or if you or someone you know has experienced discrimination or sexual misconduct including sexual harassment, you may contact the Director/Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action ( OEO /AA). More information, including the Director/Title IX Coordinator’s office address, electronic mail address, and telephone number can be located at: https://www.utah.edu/nondiscrimination/

Online reports may be submitted at oeo.utah.edu

https://safety.utah.edu/safetyreport This report includes statistics about criminal offenses, hate crimes, arrests and referrals for disciplinary action, and Violence Against Women Act offenses. They also provide information about safety and security-related services offered by the University of Utah. A paper copy can be obtained by request at the Department of Public Safety located at 1658 East 500 South.

Salary : $100,000 - $125,000

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