Campaign Manager

Position Title: Campaign Manager

Hours: Full-time (35-hour workweek); Hybrid, at least 3 days a week onsite

Role Classification: Regular with Benefits

Exemption: Exempt

Reports to: Director of Leadership Giving / Campaign Director

Salary: $100,00 – $125,000.00

ABOUT THE GARDENS OF GOLDEN GATE PARK

The mission of Gardens of Golden Gate Park is to connect people to plants, the planet, and each other. Gardens of Golden Gate Park is a public/private partnership between the San Francisco Recreation & Park Department (RPD) and the San Francisco Botanical Garden Society (SFBGS) to jointly operate the Conservatory of Flowers, Japanese Tea Garden, and San Francisco Botanical Garden. A Lease & Management Agreement between RPD and SFBGS, approved by both the Recreation & Park Commission and the Board of Supervisors, sets the terms of the partnership. The agreement is a cooperative management agreement that outlines the roles and responsibilities for each partner. Key areas of responsibility for SFBGS include volunteer engagement, education, visitor experience, philanthropy, membership, marketing, and other functions. RPD is responsible for horticulture and facility management and maintenance, master planning and capital improvements conducted with SFBGS, and other functions. Together, RPD and SFBGS collaborate on collections management within the Gardens.

The Conservatory of Flowers is a national, state, and local landmark and a place of exceptional beauty. Built in 1879, the Conservatory was the first formal structure erected in Golden Gate Park and remains an internationally renowned icon, displaying and cultivating unusual plants to heighten awareness of the pressing need to preserve threatened rainforest environments.

The Japanese Tea Garden is the oldest operating public Japanese garden in North America. This garden provides visitors from around the world with an opportunity to experience the natural beauty, tranquility, and harmony of a Japanese-style garden and was originally created as an exhibit for the 1894 California Midwinter International Exposition.

San Francisco Botanical Garden opened in 1940 and is a 55-acre living museum within Golden Gate Park, showcasing 8,000 different kinds of plants from around the world. San Francisco’s oceanic climate with cool dry summers, mild wet winters, and presence of fog allows the Garden to grow a diverse array of species from around the world.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Campaign Manager plays a key role in the success of the Gardens of Golden Gate Park’s multi-year comprehensive fundraising campaign. This position supports the strategic planning, coordination, and execution of the campaign—ensuring that goals, timelines, and donor relationships advance in alignment with organizational priorities.

Under the direction and supervision of the Director of Leadership Giving / Campaign Director, the Campaign manager acts as a strategic partner and thought collaborator in helping to manage all aspects of the campaign’s operations, communications, research, and reporting.

In addition, the Campaign Manager maintains a personal portfolio of major and leadership-level donors, taking part in the full cycle of cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship to secure gifts that advance the campaign’s success.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Campaign Planning & Coordination

• Collaborate with leadership, consultants, and staff to develop and refine the campaign plan, case for support, and related materials.
• Maintain campaign calendar, budget, and timelines to ensure milestones are met.
• Serve as internal point of contact for campaign logistics and communications.

Tracking & Reporting

• Manage and update campaign tracking systems (utilizing PatronManager CRM, dashboards, reports) to monitor gifts, pledges, and prospect activity.
• Prepare regular progress updates and reports for leadership, board, and campaign committees.
• Work with finance and advancement teams to reconcile and forecast campaign revenue.
• Oversee accurate acknowledgment and stewardship processes related to campaign commitments.

Prospect Research & Pipeline Development

• Conduct proactive and reactive research on individuals, corporations, and foundations to identify and qualify prospective donors.
• Analyze the existing donor base to surface leadership and major gift prospects for campaign priorities.
• Utilize research tools such as WealthEngine or similar platforms to assess capacity, inclination, and engagement potential.
• Prepare donor profiles and research summaries to support strategy, cultivation, and solicitation efforts.
• Collaborate with the Director of Leadership Giving to qualify and assign prospects to appropriate portfolios.
• Maintain confidentiality and uphold ethical standards in all prospect research activities.

Events & Engagement

• Plan and execute campaign events, including leadership briefings, cultivation gatherings, and donor recognition activities, in collaboration with Gardens advancement and events teams.
• Manage logistics, guest lists, and communications to ensure meaningful donor experiences.
• Track outcomes and ensure follow-up on all cultivation and solicitation opportunities generated through events.

Donor & Volunteer Relations

• Manage a personal portfolio of approximately 50–75 donors and prospects capable of making gifts in the five-to-six figure range.
• Build and sustain relationships through personalized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.
• Supports the Director of Leadership Giving and executive leadership on coordinated solicitation strategies for shared prospects.
• Support the engagement and communication of the Campaign Committee and other key volunteers through meeting coordination, materials, and follow-up.
• Participate actively in donor meetings, events, and recognition activities.

Communications

• Collaborates with communications staff to align messaging and produce compelling campaign materials.
• Draft donor communications, talking points, and reports.
• Contribute to the development of campaign collateral such as case statements, proposals, and progress updates.

EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience required.
• Minimum of 5 years of development or campaign management experience; experience with comprehensive or capital campaigns strongly preferred.
• Proven project management and organizational skills, with ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Familiarity with CRM databases (e.g., Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce, PatronManager) and campaign reporting tools.
• Collaborative, proactive, and adaptable team player.

ADDITIONAL EXPECTATIONS

• Must work at least 3 days a week onsite, up to 2 days a week may be remote if the work schedule allows, but a regular onsite presence is essential for collaboration and success in this role.
• Must be able to engage in a range of physical motions, including standing or sitting at a desk or computer, climbing stairs, and walking (sometimes on uneven surfaces) or working outside in varying weather conditions for extended periods of time.
• Must be able to lift/carry up to 30-pounds.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND TO APPLY: Complete application with attached cover letter at https://recruiting.paylocity.com/recruiting/jobs/All/99885d66-fdde-45ea-b169-b55cfb505be0/Gardens-of-Golden-Gate-Park

Gardens of Golden Gate Park is an equal opportunity employer and encourages candidates with diverse backgrounds and experiences to apply.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age (40 or older), disability, genetic information, or any other category protected by law.

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