Director of Development

Benefits:

• Competitive salary
• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Training & development
• Vision insurance

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES

The Development Manager/Director supports and advances Mounts Botanical Garden's fundraising efforts, focusing on annual giving, grant writing, donor engagement, and stewardship. This position complements the Executive Director, who leads major gift cultivation and solicitation. The Development Manager/Director also supervises the Membership Program Manager and plays a key role in shaping the overall donor and member experience.

The ideal candidate is a proactive, relationship-driven professional who thrives in a collaborative, mission-driven environment and brings creativity, organization, and follow-through to donor communications and fundraising strategies.

The Development Manager/Director is expected to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, confidentiality, and ethical conduct in all interactions with donors, staff, and the public. This includes carefully handling sensitive donor information and ensuring all fundraising activities comply with nonprofit best practices and donor intent.

SUPERVISED BY: Executive Director

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

Annual Fund & Individual Giving

• Manage and grow the annual fund program through appeals, campaigns, and donor communications.
• Develop and implement strategies to increase donor retention and giving levels.
• Maintain accurate donor records and generate reports to track progress.

Grant Writing & Institutional Giving

• Research and identify grant opportunities from foundations, corporations, and government entities.
• Write and submit grant proposals and required reporting.
• Maintain a grant calendar and coordinate data collection with staff.

Donor Stewardship & Engagement

• Coordinate donor cultivation and stewardship in collaboration with the Executive Director.
• Support the preparation of donor gift agreements with the Executive Director to ensure alignment with donor intent and organizational priorities.
• Identify and steward planned giving prospects and support the development of legacy gift communications and recognition efforts.
• Plan and execute donor engagement events and recognition activities.
• Ensure inclusive and welcoming donor practices that reflect community diversity.

Membership Program Oversight

• Supervise the Membership Program Manager and oversee all membership growth, renewal, and member engagement aspects.
• Work collaboratively to align membership strategy with broader fundraising and visitor engagement goals.
• Use data and feedback to improve the member experience and retention.

Board & Peer-to-Peer Fundraising

• Support board members in donor outreach through training and tools.
• Help identify strategic connections between board members and prospects.
• Participate in development-related board committee meetings.

REQUIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience

• Minimum of three (3) years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, development, or related field.
• Proven success in grant writing and individual giving campaigns.
• Supervisory experience preferred; ability to manage and support direct reports.

Technical Proficiency

• Proficiency in donor management and CRM systems (e.g., Bloomerang, DonorPerfect, or similar).
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Familiarity with fundraising analytics tools, digital platforms, and data segmentation strategies is a plus.

Communication and Collaboration

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong relationship-building and donor cultivation abilities.
• Collaborative and mission-aligned team member.

Skills and Attributes

• Strategic thinker with attention to detail.
• Self-starter with ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Passion for horticulture, environmental education, or community engagement is a plus.

WORKING CONDITIONS / PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Primarily an indoor office setting with occasional outdoor donor events.
• Must be able to lift up to 25 lbs. for event setup/tear-down.
• Occasional evenings and weekends required for events.
• Maintain appropriate professional attire for various social interactions, including business casual for day-to-day office settings, business formal for high-level donor meetings, and cocktail or evening wear for special events and gala functions. Ensure that dress and appearance consistently reflect the Garden's standards of professionalism and respect for donors and colleagues.
• Must be adaptable, detail-oriented, and responsive to shifting priorities.

HOURS OF POSITION

• Full-Time, 40 hours per week
• Exempt/Salaried
• Full Benefits
• Requires availability for evenings, weekends, and special events as needed

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

The Friends of Mounts Botanical Garden is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to a policy of nondiscrimination in employment without regard to race, creed, color, age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status.

Compensation: $80,000.00 - $95,000.00 per year

With a mission to inspire and educate through nature and a history spanning more than 40 years, Mounts Botanical is Palm Beach County's oldest and largest botanical garden. Located behind Palm Beach International Airport, the Garden is a hidden gem. Visitors to this 20-acre tropical oasis will see an acclaimed collection of 25 display gardens containing more than 7,000 species of tropical and sub-tropical plants, including Florida native plants, exotic and tropical fruit trees, ornamentals, herbs, palms, roses, cactus, succulents, bromeliads and much more.

Mounts Botanical Garden of Palm Beach County is proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring a diverse and inclusive workforce. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and employment applicants without regard to unlawful considerations of sex, sexual orientation, gender (including gender identity and/or expression), pregnancy, race, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, religion, disability, marital status, age, genetic information, veteran status or any personal attribute or characteristic that is protected by applicable local, state or federal laws.