Development Director - Red Butte Garden (PRN27205B)

Red Butte Garden is one of the largest botanical gardens in the Intermountain West and together with the University of Utah, is a state arboretum. We are located on 100 acres in the foothills on the eastern edge of the University of Utah campus. The Garden has welcomed guests since 1985 and consists of over 21 acres of developed gardens, and approximately five miles of hiking trails winding through an extensive natural area (78 acres).

The Development Director provides strategic leadership and direction for the Garden’s development and membership programs. In the development role, the director is responsible to identify, cultivate, and solicit donations and gifts from individuals, corporations, foundations, and government agencies, which may include operating, capital, and planned and legacy gifts. The director also plans and coordinates the annual giving program, appeals, and targeted giving campaigns. In the membership role, the director is responsible to 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 be responsible to build and maintain relationships with University of Utah campus and development organizations and coordinate development activities as necessary to ensure compliance with state and university policies.

The Development Director reports to the Executive Director of the Garden and serves as a member of the leadership team that works to decide the strategic direction of the organization and oversees the operations, budgeting, programming, and marketing activities to meet defined strategic goals.

The Development Director has the authority to approve expenditures of the Garden’s Development Department consistent with approved budget and department goals. The director makes direct contact with potential donors and foundations, and maintains donor relations within the procedures determined by the University President’s Office related to donor clearance.

The primary objectives of this position will be 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.

This is full time, benefited position eligble for the excellent benefits 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/

University of Utah Job ID# PRN27205B 00340 - Red Butte Garden & Arboretum

COMPENSATION: $100,000 - $115,000 plus excellent medical, retirement and education benefits.

WORK SCHEDULE: M-F; 8:30 am to 5 pm; occasional evenings and weekends.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Development
• Identify, implement, and manage effective strategies to increase fundraising, including corporate gift giving, capital campaigns, planned giving, sponsorships, annual giving, 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 on gifts at all funding levels, particularly major and planned gifts.
• Research and write development publications, gift proposals, donor letters of agreement, grant applications, gift acknowledgements, and articles for the Garden’s publications.
• Organize and direct board fundraising and other committees within the Garden.
• 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 to avoid duplicating efforts and potential issues.
• 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.

Membership and Events
• Determine the benefits and value of Garden membership levels to be competitive with similar organizations.
• Develop and implement strategies targeted at local/regional community to increase participation in the membership program.
• Plan, implement, and conduct special events for members, including individual and corporate members.

Leadership
• Represent the Development Department as a member of the Garden’s leadership team.
• Engage Advisory Board members and develop relationships to increase their commitment and support for Red Butte Garden.
• Structure an efficient and effective Development Department, including recruiting, hiring, training, supervising, and evaluating development 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 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.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Communication, Public Relations, English, or a related field, or equivalency (2 years related work experience may be substituted for 1 year of education). Five years experience in fundraising, marketing, sales, business, public relations, annual, corporate or foundation giving which includes two years of budgeting and supervisory experience. Demonstrated human relations and effective communication skills required. Experience in grant or proposal writing, public speaking, a background working with print and/or electronic media, an understanding of university fundraising practices and personnel management is preferred. 

PREFERENCES:

Excellent people and communication skills. Experience which includes fundraising, face-to-face solicitations, grant writing and a successful track record in raising donations. Experience with CRM database software. Experience working within higher education annual giving or development. Must be able to work independently as well as effectively with diverse groups.

TO APPLY, VISIT: https://utah.peopleadmin.com/postings/120696

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The University of Utah is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities. Please contact the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action, 201 S. Presidents Cr., Rm 135, (801) 581-8365 (V/TDD), for further information or to request an accommodation. The University of Utah is committed to diversity in its workforce. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.