Reports to: Senior Director of Individual Giving
Department: Philanthropy
Status: Full-Time, Exempt
About Central Park and the Central Park Conservancy
Central Park is one of the world's most famous and beloved public spaces. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux in 1858, the 843-acre Park was the country's first purpose-built public park and is a National Historic Landmark and a New York Scenic Landmark. The Central Park Conservancy, a private, not-for-profit organization, was founded in 1980 to rescue the Park, which had fallen into serious disrepair. Since then, the Conservancy has overseen the investment of approximately $2 billion in the restoration of the Park, which now hosts over 40 million visitors a year.
The Conservancy is one of the largest and most successful public private partnerships in New York City and is considered a major civic institution given its impact on the health and vibrancy of both the Park and the City. The Conservancy’s mission is to preserve and celebrate Central Park as a sanctuary from urban life. The City of New York has formally entrusted the care of the Park to the Conservancy which is responsible for every aspect of its care, including landscape maintenance, capital improvements, and the visitor experience. The Conservancy employs over 400 people and has an annual operating budget of $120 million the majority of which comes from individual philanthropists. Unlike similarly scaled institutions the Park does not have a “gate” and as a result no earned revenue. We have been honored to have a strong base of friends and neighbors who believe in our mission.
As the Conservancy prepares to celebrate its 45th anniversary and decades of restoration and repair, we are embarking on an exciting new phase of the organization’s history as we set out to secure the Park for generations to come. We are privileged to have developed a skilled and strategic organization rooted in excellence through years of expertise, and we look forward to further strengthening our future expertise and growth with a heartier endowment to preserve a fragile landscape that requires daily care.
Job Summary
The Central Park Conservancy seeks a Senior Major Gifts Officer to help support the growth of the Chairman’s Circle, the Conservancy’s major donor membership program responsible for raising close to $10 million annually. This individual will have a portfolio of high-capacity donors and prospects and partner with subject matter experts across the organization to support a donor-centric strategy and vision for major gift fundraising growth at the Conservancy.
The Senior Major Gifts Officer will work closely with the prospect management team to identify, and help qualify, cultivate, steward, and solicit prospects with the capacity to make annual gifts of $25,000+ and capital gifts of $1,000,000+. Reporting to the Senior Director of Individual Giving, the Senior Major Gifts Officer (Senior MGO) will manage and build relationships with existing donors and known prospects, as well as discover and qualify new prospects to increase annual revenue for the institution vis-à-vis the Chairman’s Circle program and restricted programs and projects, leveraging the organizational expertise to support revenue growth.
We are looking for someone with a strong knowledge of New York City’s philanthropic landscape, a natural ability to connect with donors, and a collaborative, creative mindset. The ideal candidate will think strategically, to not only contribute meaningfully to the goals of the Individual Giving team but surpass them and effectively communicate our mission and priorities to inspire support.
Summary of Essential Job Functions
- Maintain and cultivate a portfolio of approximately 150 households capable of making annual gifts of $1M+ over 5 years, focusing on qualifying, cultivating, and stewarding new donors at the Conservancy’s Chairman’s Circle level, as well as prospects for seven-figure, multi-year restricted or campaign pledges.
- Serve as a leading front-line fundraiser, representing the Conservancy to prospects and donors through meetings, events, and donor-facing engagement, managing relationships to increase major annual, restricted, and campaign gifts of six and seven figures.
- Play a key role in extending the success of the campaign by securing major gifts and effectively galvanizing donors to contribute.
- Develop tailored fundraising strategies and solicitations, nurturing donor relationships through stewardship, events, one-on-one meetings, and donor communications via email, phone, and written correspondence.
- Conduct 60 to 80 prospect meetings annually to cultivate and solicit prospects, close gifts, and steward donors, aiming to attain both personal and team goals for meetings, asks, and revenue. Meeting metrics are expected to include a combination of new and existing prospects.
- Prepare major gift proposals and meeting briefings as needed.
- Identify, qualify, and cultivate new individual prospects in collaboration with Prospect Research, including opportunities for planned giving and legacy gifts.
- Draft donor outreach emails and appeals for major gifts.
- Attend cultivation and stewardship events, including evenings, to engage with prospects and represent the Central Park Conservancy.
- Track donor communications, interactions, and stewardship activities in Raiser’s Edge in a timely and accurate manner, maintaining complete and up-to-date donor records.
- Must have a valid driver’s license or be willing to obtain one to conduct Park tours via electric cart.
Minimum Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
- Proven track record of personally soliciting and closing 5-, 6, and 7-figure gifts.
- 8 -10+ years of fundraising experience.
- Superior written and verbal communication skills.
- Goal oriented, ability to work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment and carry out projects independently, managing multiple deadlines and using own initiative.
- Experience with Raiser’s Edge or a similar fundraising database.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite including Excel, Word, PowerPoint.
- Passion for Central Park and the mission of the Conservancy.
- Note: this is an in-person position.
Salary range: $139K - $170K (based on experience level).
DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION
The Central Park Conservancy’s work is guided by the belief that Central Park, and all public parks, must be managed and actively protected as an inclusive and democratic space for all.
Working closely with our New York City partners, we will always strive towards creating and sustaining a sense of belonging for all visitors and advocating for equitable and accessible public use of the Park.
In service of this belief, we are committed to fostering a workforce and organizational culture that is as diverse as Central Park itself and the dynamic city it serves.
Safety Requirements
Establishment and maintenance of a safe work environment is the shared responsibility of this organization and employees at every level. The Conservancy will make every effort to assure a safe environment and be in compliance with federal, state, and local safety regulations. Employees are expected to obey safety rules and to exercise caution in all their work activities. Accordingly, employees should be aware of any hazards, which could cause an injury or accident (e.g., spills, obstacles in walkways, etc.). If an employee discovers a potential dangerous condition, he/she should alert other employees and notify his/her supervisor immediately.
Disclaimer
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.