Director of Philanthropy

Red Butte Garden and Arboretum is 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.

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.

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.

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.

APPLICATION LINK:  https://utah.peopleadmin.com/postings/180010