Director of Institutional Advancement

The Opportunity: Headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut, in the New York metropolitan area, the Garden Conservancy is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving, sharing, and celebrating America’s gardens and diverse gardening traditions. Through its programs and partnerships, the Garden Conservancy advances the appreciation and stewardship of gardens for the education and inspiration of the public. Our offices are easily accessible by public transportation.

Position Summary: The Director of Institutional Advancement is a high-impact executive leadership role responsible for designing, executing, and scaling a comprehensive nationwide fundraising strategy for The Garden Conservancy. Reporting directly to the President and CEO, the Director aligns annual contributed revenue goals with the organization’s broader strategic vision, providing senior oversight for a robust portfolio that includes major gifts, membership, capital campaigns, planned giving, and flagship events.

As a key partner to the Board of Directors, the Director manages the Development Committee, reporting on performance trends while mobilizing board members to maximize their philanthropic impact. This role blends high-level strategic cultivation—leading the execution of exclusive national and domestic garden-study tours and stewarding high-net-worth relationships—with a commitment to organizational data integrity, ensuring departmental fundraising data and donor records accurately support the Conservancy’s cultivation and retention goals.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Fundraising & Strategic Expertise

• Philanthropic Domain Knowledge: Deep understanding of non-profit fundraising principles, ethics, and modern advancement practices.
• Strategic Execution: Proven track record of developing and executing comprehensive fundraising strategies that verifiably increase contributed revenue

Communication & Relationship Building

• Executive Communication: Exceptional written, verbal, and public presentation skills.
• Stakeholder Stewardship: Natural ability to build, nurture, and maintain productive, high-value relationships with donors, board members, volunteers, staff, and community stakeholders.

Operations & Project Management

• Campaign & Event Management: Highly skilled at simultaneously balancing multiple competing priorities, major campaigns, timelines, and specialized donor events.
• Rigorous Follow-Through: Strong project management capabilities with a disciplined focus on execution and measurable outcomes.
• Discretion & Data Privacy: Impeccable judgment and absolute discretion when handling highly confidential donor profiles, financial histories, and organizational information.

Computer Skills

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have comprehensive knowledge of non-profit database software and CRM applications, specifically Salesforce, Microsoft Office Suite, and email marketing software

Education/Experience

Bachelor's degree (B.A./B.S.) in Nonprofit Management, Communications or Business Administration; minimum seven years of progressively responsible experience in nonprofit fundraising; experience managing cultivation and membership programs, experience working directly with board members and high-level donors. Proven track record of soliciting and closing major gifts.

This position includes a substantial benefits package:

• Generous Paid Time Off: Balance work and life with approximately 32 combined days of vacation, personal, and sick time annually, plus approximately 15 paid holidays.
• Healthcare Support: We cover 90% of your individual medical policy premium and provide an employer-contributed Flexible Spending Account (FSA) to help manage out-of-pocket costs.
• 403(b) Retirement Plan: Secure your future with up to a 5% company match after one year of employment.
• Income Protection: Stay protected with fully employer-funded group life and disability insurance policies.