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Description
Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy, the dedicated philanthropic partner of Brooklyn Bridge Park, seeks an entrepreneurial, strategic, and relationship-driven Director of Individual Giving to lead and grow the Park's individual philanthropy program.
Reporting to the Chief Advancement Officer, the Director of Individual Giving will develop and execute strategies to increase individual donor engagement and philanthropic support. The Director will lead major gifts, donor stewardship, Board and volunteer fundraising engagement, and the cultivation of future philanthropic leaders through the Conservancy's Bridge Council.
This is an exciting opportunity to build a growing individual giving program, strengthen relationships with current supporters, engage new donors, and help shape the future of one of New York City's most beloved public spaces. Supported by an engaged Board, a vibrant Bridge Council, successful fundraising events, and a strong community of philanthropic supporters, the Director will play a key role in expanding the Park's culture of philanthropy.
Primary Responsibilities:
Individual Giving Strategy
- Develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to grow individual philanthropy and increase donor participation, retention, and revenue.
- Build and manage systems, processes, metrics, and reporting tools to support donor acquisition, stewardship, upgrades, and long-term engagement while monitoring progress toward annual fundraising goals.
- Identify and qualify new major gift prospects through the Conservancy's donor community, Board networks, Bridge Council, events, and community relationships.
Major Gifts and Donor Stewardship
- Build and manage relationships with major donors and prospects, developing and executing individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans.
- Conduct donor meetings, site visits, and park tours to deepen donor understanding and support.
- Partner with the Chief Advancement Officer to cultivate and solicit individual donors in support of major capital projects, campaign initiatives, and strategic funding priorities.
- Collaborate with senior leadership, Board members, and volunteer leaders to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward philanthropic support.
- Prepare proposals, gift agreements, stewardship reports, donor communications, and other fundraising materials.
- Design and implement stewardship and recognition strategies that strengthen donor relationships and inspire continued support.
- Create opportunities for donors to engage with the Park's programs, projects, leadership, and impact.
- Ensure timely, personalized donor acknowledgments and stewardship activities.
- Partner with colleagues across the organization to communicate the impact of philanthropy and maximize donor engagement through events and other experiences.
Board Fundraising Engagement
- Partner with the Chief Advancement Officer and Board leadership to strengthen Board participation as donors, ambassadors, and connectors to prospective supporters.
- Staff and support the Board Individual Giving Committee, including meeting planning, goal setting, prospect strategy development, and follow-up.
- Develop strategies that strengthen and expand the Conservancy's individual donor pipeline through Board relationships and networks.
- Provide fundraising support, materials, and coaching to Board members engaged in donor cultivation and solicitation activities.
Bridge Council
- Lead strategy, recruitment, engagement, and fundraising efforts for the Bridge Council, a key community of emerging philanthropic supporters and future volunteer leaders.
- Grow Bridge Council membership and philanthropic participation among supporters committed to the Park's mission.
- Develop engagement opportunities that inspire philanthropy, volunteer leadership, and long-term involvement with the Conservancy.
Qualifications:
- 7+ years of progressively responsible frontline fundraising experience, including a demonstrated track record of cultivating, soliciting, and securing five- and six-figure gifts from individual donors.
- Experience managing a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors through all stages of the donor lifecycle.
- Demonstrated success developing and executing strategies that increase donor engagement, retention, and philanthropic revenue.
- Experience working with volunteer leaders, Board members, committees, and donor affinity groups to advance fundraising goals.
- Strong relationship-building, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage donors, volunteers, and organizational leaders effectively.
- Excellent writing and presentation skills, including experience preparing donor-facing proposals, reports, and stewardship materials.
- Demonstrated strategic thinking, initiative, and ability to thrive in a dynamic, entrepreneurial environment.
- Experience with donor databases, prospect research tools, fundraising analytics, and development best practices.
- Experience supporting capital campaigns, major fundraising initiatives, or other significant philanthropic efforts is preferred.
- Interest in public spaces, civic engagement, parks, arts and culture, environmental stewardship, or community-building initiatives.
- Passion for the mission of Brooklyn Bridge Park and a commitment to strengthening public spaces and community engagement.
About You:
- You strive to be inclusive and collaborative. At BBP, we recognize that doing our best work means working together. We have each other’s back – and are helpful, humble and open.
- You are committed. At BBP, we approach our work with integrity, positivity, and pride. We are committed to the public, the park and each other.
- You are a problem-solver. At BBP, we prioritize learning, evolving and building creative solutions to ensure the Park remains a leader in sustainable green space for generations to come.
- You value people and the environment. At BBP, respect is important to us. We strive to trust each other, act with good intention and communicate with openness.
Working at Brooklyn Bridge Park (BBP) Conservancy:
We believe that BBP is a park for all people. We take pride in our ability to provide the community with a beautiful, functional, clean, and safe green space. Internally, we strive to provide a work environment where employees feel supported, respected, and a sense of belonging. Our staff are experts in everything from horticulture to community engagement to park operations and events. The work environment is welcoming, with hardworking and diverse staff who are dedicated to building, beautifying, and maintaining the park. We offer benefits like affordable healthcare, retirement plans, tuition reimbursement, and prioritize the importance of work-life balance.
Benefits (Other company benefits provided in addition to the following):
- 403B (employee-contributed retirement plan)
- Company-funded retirement
- Paid vacation time (up to 25 days)
- Sick days (12)
- Paid holidays/float days (15 days annually)
- FMLA and other paid leaves (based on eligibility)
- Tuition and professional development assistance programs
- Medical, dental, vision, Healthcare FSA, Dependent FSA, Commuter Benefits, Life, and Long-term Disability Insurance
- BBP vendor discounts at restaurants, food markets, and other eateries
- Other corporate discounts on movie tickets, theme parks, and more!
ABOUT BROOKLYN BRIDGE PARK
Brooklyn Bridge Park, one of the most transformative public projects in New York City in a generation, has revitalized a formerly industrial waterfront into a dynamic 85-acre civic space. Created to be environmentally and financially sustainable, Brooklyn Bridge Park is a model for resilient urban design that reconnects New Yorkers and visitors to the waterfront. Brooklyn Bridge Park (BBP) operates as a non-profit public benefit corporation of the City of New York and is responsible for the stewardship of the park—maintaining its landscapes, maritime infrastructure, and public amenities. BBP develops and delivers dynamic public programming that weaves together arts and culture, recreation, and environmental education to engage, inspire, and serve a diverse community.
Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.