Senior Director of Donor Stewardship

The Senior Director of Donor Stewardship at The New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) is responsible for the design, delivery, and execution of a best-in-class stewardship program that deepens donor relationships, clearly communicates philanthropic impact, and supports NYBG’s mission and fundraising priorities.

This is a hands-on leadership role that combines strategic vision with significant day-to-day execution. The Senior Director directly oversees and contributes to gift acknowledgments, tailored stewardship, impact reporting and donor recognition – while managing and mentoring a small team and partnering closely with frontline fundraisers and colleagues in finance, programs, and communications.

The role ensures donors at all levels – from annual supporters to principal and planned gift donors – receive compelling, timely, accurate, compliant, and meaningful stewardship experiences that reflect NYBG’s values, scientific leadership, and public service mission.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities:

Stewardship Program Execution & Oversight

• Lead the end-to-end execution of NYBG’s donor stewardship program, ensuring consistency, quality, and timeliness across all donor segments.
• Personally draft, review, and approve high-level and complex acknowledgments, stewardship reports, and donor communications
• Ensure stewardship activities support NYBG’s messaging and fundraising goals, donor strategies, and long-term relationship building.

Gift Acknowledgment & Compliance

• Oversee all gift acknowledgment processes, ensuring letters meet IRS requirements and NYBG standards for accuracy, clarity, and personalization.
• Partner closely with Advancement Operations and Finance to ensure correct recording, acknowledgment language, and compliance with donor preferences and all relevant regulations.
• Regularly review and update acknowledgment templates and processes to reflect regulatory changes and best practices.
• Partner with Advancement Operations to maintain accurate stewardship records, recognition preferences, and donor intent documentation in Raiser's Edge NXT.
• Impact Reporting & Donor Communication
• Lead the preparation of custom and standard impact reports, translating NYBG’s work in horticulture, science, education, and community outreach into clear, compelling, donor-centered narratives.
• Collaborate directly with program staff, scientists, educators, and Finance to gather accurate data and narratives for donor reporting.
• Write and produce stewardship communications that balance storytelling, accountability, and institutional voice.
• Use multi-media channels to innovate and expand on NYBG’s donor stewardship program, including overseeing the monthly Science webinar.

Team Leadership & Daily Management

• Manage, mentor, and support a small stewardship team, remaining closely involved in their work and outputs.
• Set clear expectations, review work for quality and compliance, and provide ongoing coaching.
• Foster a collaborative, service-oriented culture focused on excellence and continuous improvement.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required
• 8-10+ years of progressive experience in donor stewardship, donor relations, advancement operations, and/or related areas of nonprofit development.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and proof-reading skills.
• Proven project management skills and ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and stakeholders, with strong attention to detail.
• Demonstrated experience personally executing stewardship deliverables in a complex nonprofit environment.
• Strong working knowledge of IRS regulations related to charitable gifts, acknowledgments, and donor benefits.
• Experience working with a CRM; Raiser’s Edge NXT preferred.
• Experience supervising staff while remaining actively involved in day-to-day work.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to partner effectively across departments and work styles.
• Demonstrated judgment, discretion, and commitment to maintaining data confidentiality.
• Eagerness to work in a mission-driven, multi-generational, and diverse team environment.
• Willingness to work occasional evenings/weekends in support of events or critical Advancement operations.
• Valid driver’s license required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with endowed funds, restricted gifts, and donor agreements.
• Prior experience in a comparable cultural, scientific, or educational institution.