Individual Giving Manager

ABOUT US

Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens offers world-class horticulture, art & nature-based exhibitions and educational programs. The 13-acre indoor and outdoor facility—situated two miles from downtown Columbus—features glasshouses including the historic John F. Wolfe Palm House; botanical gardens including the Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation Children’s Garden and Scotts Miracle Gro-Foundation Community Garden Campus; and event venues. The Conservatory is home to the largest collection of Chihuly glass in a botanical garden and Light Raiment II by internationally renowned artist James Turrell. Committed to the community, the Conservatory strives to provide an accessible and welcoming experience to all.

MISSION

Inspired by horticulture, Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens elevates quality of life and connects the community through educational, cultural and social experiences.

VISION

A world that celebrates nature as essential to the human experience.

JOB SUMMARY

The Individual Giving Manager develops, maintains, and cultivates relationships with individual donors to support Franklin Park Conservatory’s strategic initiatives. This driven team member will focus on leadership annual gift ($1,000) through major gift ($10,000+) level solicitations and includes the stewardship of these individual supporters. In partnership with the Vice President of Philanthropy, the Manager will develop a robust portfolio of major donor prospects in preparation for a comprehensive campaign, create individual giving plans in the database to solicit and steward both prospective and existing donors, and will support both the President and CEO and Vice President in the execution of their plans.

The Manager oversees the Conservatory’s growing leadership annual giving society and the Monarch Society, including coordinating and managing engaging, mission-centered social and volunteer events, which are all essential for cultivating donors for future major gifts. This position requires hands-on management of donor retention at all levels of annual giving in order to shape a sustainable tradition of individual support at each stage of the donor cycle. The Manager is also responsible for expanding and managing on-site giving opportunities, tribute gift, and planned gift programs. This position assists with special projects and capital campaign duties as needed.

Additional Information: This is a full-time, exempt position. The selected candidate will be eligible for the Conservatory’s benefit package offered to full-time employees, which includes medical, dental and vision insurance, company paid Life/AD&D/Short-Term and Long-Term Disability insurance, participation in the Ohio Public Employees Retirement Program (OPERS), optional 457(b) Deferred Compensation plan, accrued Paid Time Off (PTO) which starts at 23 days annually, accrued Sick Time, 3 paid holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day), and complimentary membership to the Conservatory. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Coordinates with and supports both the President and CEO and Vice President of Philanthropy in the execution of the Annual Development Plan as it pertains to individual donors.
• Identifies, cultivates, solicits, and stewards a personal portfolio of individual donors and prospects with gift plans of $10,000+; keeping database Plans current.
• Acts as the staff liaison to the volunteer chairs of the Monarch Society, working together to recruit, retain, steward, and upgrade members of this leadership annual giving society.
• Leads the growth of the planned giving program using a variety of active and passive communication strategies.
• Manages the tribute program of all gift sizes, including bench dedications.
• Supports the Campaign Coordinator in benchmarking and measuring individual donor retention across all donor groups; employs continuous evaluation of retention strategies.
• Ensures onsite fundraising opportunities are relevant, effective, and measured; supports other departments in their on-site fundraising plans. 
• Works interdepartmentally with the Marketing, Exhibitions, Community Outreach & Education and Horticulture teams to plan mission-centric events related to funding priorities.
• In partnership with the Donor Services Manager and Development Committee, ensures individual donors over $100 are personally thanked and receive written acknowledgements promptly and appropriately.
• Reports Individual Giving performance to the Vice President of Philanthropy, and prepares reports for the Board of Trustees, the Development Committee and the Leadership Team. Analyzes program results and makes strategic recommendations for changes as needed.
• Ensures that all individual donor and prospect actions and activities are recorded in the donor database.
• Performs other duties as assigned and demonstrates focus on serving the members, donors and guests of the Conservatory.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• Bachelor’s degree and 3-5 years of successful annual fund management experience and demonstrated success in major gift solicitations and stewardship.
• Demonstrated experience and success in effective donor stewardship and solicitation, both customized to individual donors as well as broadly appealing to the entire donor base.
• Experience and/or professional development in planned giving and advanced gift vehicles preferred.

SKILLS REQUIRED AND RESULTS TYPICALLY ACHIEVED

• Knowledge of the principles and techniques of fundraising, including direct mail, personal and telephone solicitations, donor-centric appeal creation, cultivation events, stewardship, and donor retention.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office and CRM database software (Raiser’s Edge or Tessitura preferred).
• Mature management and communication skills, interpersonal savvy, and customer focused.
• Ability to shepherd a targeted effort within a complex environment, and possess operational skills that ensure successful tactical project management.
• Respectful and grateful donor-centric perspective.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to process financial information to both project and analyze results.
• A collaborative nature and ability to work with a diverse group of people such as members, fellow employees, vendors, Board members, and donors.
• Results driven; ability to manage and measure work, balancing multiple projects and goals.
• Ability to remain in a stationary position 80% of the time and occasionally move boxes and other office equipment weighing up to 20 pounds, with or without accommodation.
• Ability to support the core values and mission of the Conservatory.

EEO Statement:

Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Conservatory does not discriminate in its employment decisions on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, lactation status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran or military status, genetic information, or any other protected status. The Conservatory values diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.