Director, Corporate and Foundation Relations bei SOUTH COAST BOTANIC GARDEN FOUNDATION

Description

South Coast Botanic Garden’s mission is to connect ALL to the wonders of nature and create experiences that inspire stewardship and sustainability. The 87-acre destination is an oasis of formal gardens and natural walking trails founded atop the most unlikely of beginnings – a sanitary landfill. Today, the South Coast Botanic Garden stands as a testament to the regenerative power of nature and the possibilities for land reclamation. The stunning Dorothy and John Bohannon Rose Garden is a signature experience, along with the show-stopping Living Wall, a long-term exhibit of eight remarkable large scale works of fine art sculpture, and seasonal butterfly pavilion. Programs invite guests to interact with nature through music, craft, science and wellness activities. There is even more excitement to come, with the creation of a 3.5-acre, $16M Marilyn and John Long Children and Family Garden scheduled for completion in the coming year and the approval of a new Vision Plan to continue growth. There has never been a better time to join this dynamic team.

The Garden prescribes to the principles outlined in Patrick Lencioni’s book, The Advantage, and is committed to operating a smart and healthy workplace. The team has identified that the ideal Garden candidate displays a grateful and positive outlook, wholeheartedly supports the Garden’s mission to connect ALL to the wonders of nature, and has the grit necessary to take the operation to the next level.

POSITION TITLE:

Director, Corporate and Foundation Relations

REPORTING RELATIONSHIP:

Reports to the Senior Director of Development as part of a 7-member Development Team

JOB SUMMARY:

The Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations will be a frontline fundraiser responsible for overseeing and growing foundation, government and corporate support. To succeed in this position, we encourage a passion for nonprofit mission-based work, curiosity about or a love of public gardens or cultural attractions, strategic oversight skills, critical assessment and processing skills, and the creativity and tenacity of an entrepreneurial self-starter with the ability to set, track and meet revenue goals.

Part of the Garden’s robust funding team, the Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations will be responsible for establishing and maintaining partnerships, including: initiating and managing all grants and sponsorships through their lifecycle; researching and cultivating new potential funders; and working closely with development leadership to identify and steward viable prospects. The full-time role is ideal for a creative and strategic thinker who is looking to diversify their nonprofit experience and make a significant impact at an emerging cultural attraction.

With an eye across the total lifespan of each partnership, the Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations will be responsible for the creation and enhancement of fundraising programs and relationships. The Director will focus on increased corporate membership, stewardship of donors, writing proposals and deck, and tracking and fulfilling reporting requirements and sponsor benefits. This position seeks to grow contributed revenue substantially in these areas.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Serve as a Director within the organization, working closely with other Development Team members to build a successful future for the Garden
• Help to ensure accurate financials, gift processing and acknowledgements, with database and administrative support provided by colleagues on the team
• Ensure funding fulfillment and production support, working in partnership with Horticulture, Marketing, Program/Event, Learning and Engagement and Exhibit teams

PORTFOLIO DEVELOPMENT

• Identify, cultivate and steward a portfolio of current and prospective funders with a goal of increasing institutional giving based on clearly defined revenue objectives and forecasts
• Strategize with the Senior Director of Development to prioritize development of sponsor decks, outreach and grant applications
• Make cold-calls to potential funders and leverage leadership connections to open doors for portfolio growth

FUNDRAISING

• Manage the writing, preparation and timely submission of all grant applications, letters of inquiry, sponsorship proposals and reports to maximize the organization’s funding potential and remain in compliance with funder requirements
• Maintain close oversight of the grant schedule and budget forecast, leaving ample time for cross-departmental collaboration for information seeking, resource gathering and the review processes
• Manage relationships with institutions and involve the Senior Leadership Team in key contact interactions to move relationships along, including the creation of opportunities for interaction
• Develop strong cross-functional working relationships with colleagues to ensure that grants and partnerships align with internal needs and expectations
• Communicate clear grant objectives, benchmarks and expectations with each department, scheduling routine check-ins to gauge progress and identify challenges that impact outcomes
• Stay abreast of regulatory changes and ensure policies and procedures as related to grants are amended as needed to reflect the regulatory changes
• Coordinate planning and logistics for all foundation and sponsorship site visits, providing participating staff with key talking points and funder insights
• Work thoughtfully with each department to gain a deep knowledge and understanding of program and operational plans and needs, objectives, metrics/benchmarks and outcomes to prepare compelling funding requests and reports
• Work with senior staff and legal counsel on complicated grant issues
• Develop compelling, funder-specific storytelling through a personal curiosity for the Garden’s programs and efforts

CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS

• Grow the corporate membership and sponsorship programs
• Maintain a network of local and regional corporate partnerships, leveraging Board Members and other leader relationships to build and expand those partnerships
• Create and prepare presentation decks and proposals to initiate lucrative partnerships
• Involve the Senior Director of Development and Leadership Team with high level decisions and partnership meetings

STEWARDSHIP AND REPORTING

• Systematize regular touchbases and interactions with prospects and donors to keep the Garden front of mind
• Work with Development colleagues and Marketing to properly acknowledge institutional gifts and ensure proper gift recognition and name display
• Comply with all grant reporting as required by donor institutions
• Provide regular updates, reviews and reports on grant submittals to colleagues
• Serve as a gatekeeper for all grants submitted by the Foundation and assure compliance with all federal, state and local regulations
• Work with colleagues on providing statistical outcomes as required by institutions

ADDITIONAL DUTIES

• Manage and maintain up-to-date organizational profiles and registration at the city, state and federal level to ensure compliance with government grants
• Coordinate with Development colleagues to routinely add/update foundation and corporate records in donor database
• Collaborate with Major Gifts team to harmonize giving opportunities and ensure messaging that is consistent with the Garden’s goals
• Maintain organized, accurate and up-to-date records of all grant submissions, awards/declines, important funder correspondence, as well as funds paid and owed to increase department efficiency and ensure funds are collected on schedule
• Attend regular professional development workshops and networking meetings as needed or requested

REQUIREMENTS:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Adaptability/flexibility
• Ability to prioritize responsibilities and work with little supervision
• Ability to multi-task simultaneous projects effectively
• Exceptional interpersonal skills
• Professional and helpful demeanor
• Ability to maintain a strict level of confidentiality
• High level of comfort with technology and the ability to learn new software that are specific to South Coast Botanic Garden Foundation. This includes comfort using tools like Google Sheets and Google Docs to create visual presentations and decks.
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite, Google Suite and Blackbaud Altru database

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
• At least 4 years of experience in meeting revenue goals in a sales or fundraising position
• At least 4 years of grant writing experience
• Experience with public speaking and presentation delivery
• Proven track record of grant-writing success

Position is full-time, exempt, working Monday through Friday. Salary range starts at $75,000. Must be available some weekday evenings, some holidays and some weekends as needed for work with donors and prospects. Please submit your cover letter, resume and complete application to apply.

The Foundation is dedicated to a practice of diversity, inclusion, access and equity for all employees and visitors.