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Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden · 1 day ago

Vice President, Development (Non-Profit Fundraising)

Dallas, TX, US

Full-time

Onsite

Director/Executive

$0/yr - $140K/yr

12+ years exp

Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching lives through beauty, learning, and connection. The Vice President, Development is responsible for the development and execution of a results-driven fundraising strategy and donor engagement to support the Arboretum’s mission and financial sustainability.

EventsNon ProfitRecreation

Responsibilities

Collaborate with the Chief Advancement Officer, Advancement and Senior Leadership teams, the Board, and other internal and external stakeholders to establish and implement a 3- to 5-year philanthropic and membership strategy aligned with the Arboretum’s mission, values, strategic priorities, and fundraising best practices

Lead the development and execution of annual operating and long-term plans with measurable goals for revenue (development + membership), constituent engagement, pipeline growth and retention

Provide strategic insight into membership segmentation, upgrades (e.g., from member to donor), donor/member lifecycle management, and integration of membership and major gift strategies

Advise senior leadership and Board on trends in philanthropy and membership, benchmarking performance, and emerging opportunities (e.g., planned giving, digital giving, affinity-based engagement)

Prepare and manage departmental budget to achieve annual revenue goals (development + membership), oversee expenses/invoices, monitor financials and reconcile month-end results in partnership with Finance

Oversee all fundraising programs to achieve targets, including:

Annual Fund and Membership Giving (e.g., Caroline Rose Hunt Society, Friends programs)

Major Gifts — Identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of high-net-worth prospects and major donors/members

Corporate Relations and Event Sponsorships — Secure sponsorships, manage benefits and stewardship

Foundation/Grants — Identify prospects, write and submit proposals, steward foundation relationships

Gifts-in-Kind — Secure in-kind donations aligned with institutional needs

Special Events — Plan and lead major fundraising events (e.g., annual gala) with revenue and participation targets; oversee member engagement events

Oversee membership team: develop and execute membership acquisition strategy, retention/renewal programs, upgrade path to higher membership levels or donor-circles, analyze membership data/metrics (e.g., number of members, renewal rate, conversion to donors)

Serve as a visible and effective ambassador for the Arboretum’s mission by cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding philanthropic relationships with donors, members, corporate partners, foundations, and other key stakeholders through personalized engagement, onsite experiences, events, and stewardship activities

Lead, supervise, evaluate, and mentor direct reports: development officers, membership staff, events/sponsorships, donor services. Foster a high-performing, donor/member-centric culture

Collaborate with volunteer leadership, including Board standing committees and chairs (e.g., Contributed Revenue Committee); support volunteers in their cultivation and solicitation roles

Build and maintain strong partnerships across the organization – including educational and public programs, finance, guest experience, horticulture, marketing/communications, sales and special events, and operations – to ensure an integrated Advancement function

Utilize donor/member database (e.g., Raiser’s Edge or equivalent) to manage major gift and membership pipelines, track metrics (e.g., donor/member retention, average gift/member value, conversion rates), prepare regular reports for senior leadership and Board

Ensure adherence to fundraising best practices, ethical standards, and gift acceptance policies, including compliance with all legal and regulatory requirements, and oversee donor and member stewardship and recognition through timely acknowledgements, reporting, events, and long-term engagement

Oversee fundraising and membership events, ensuring membership benefits, event ROI, sponsorship deliverables, and seamless execution

Serve as a key liaison to finance and operations to ensure timely invoice/payment processing, budget monitoring, and fiscal responsibility

Qualification

Nonprofit fundraisingCertified Fund Raising ExecutiveMajor giftsMembership programsDonor/member databasePublic speakingStrategic leadershipAnalytical skillsWritten communicationTeam management

Required

Bachelor's degree required

Demonstrated experience in nonprofit philanthropic development is required

At least 12 years of progressively responsible experience leading development/fundraising programs (including major gifts, membership, corporate/foundation fundraising) preferably in a cultural, higher education, botanical garden or nonprofit environment

Demonstrated success in recruiting, managing, and motivating a development/membership team and volunteer leaders

Proven track record of meeting or exceeding fundraising goals, including major gifts and membership revenue growth

Strong knowledge of philanthropic fundraising best practices, including major gifts, planned giving, foundation/grants, events/sponsorships, and membership programs

Excellent public speaking and written communication skills; polished professional presence with members, donors, volunteers, board, and community stakeholders

Experience using donor/member database systems (e.g., Raiser's Edge) and strong proficiency with MS Office platform

Strong strategic, analytical and financial acumen: comfortable setting and tracking goals, using metrics, forecasting revenue, managing budgets and expenses

Comfortable working flexible hours, including evenings and weekends for events, donor/member receptions, site tours; ability to drive garden vehicles and personal vehicle on Arboretum business; valid driver's license and proof of insurance

High energy, self-motivated, and diplomatic with excellent judgment, problem-solving, multitasking ability, and an ability to build positive relationships with donors, members, sponsors, staff and volunteers

Commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, community engagement, and building a culture of philanthropy across the institution