Fundraising Manager – Programs and Data Management

Reports to: Director of Women’s Committee Membership Programs

Department: Women’s Committee and Special Events

Status: Full-Time/Exempt

About 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 over $1.5 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 roughly 400 people and has an annual operating budget of $100 million. 

Job Summary:

The Fundraising Manager will support three of the Women’s Committee’s most popular and profitable in-park recognition fundraising programs (subject to change); the Adopt-A-Bench program, Tree Trust program, and the Gilder Run paving stone program. The Fundraising Manager will serve as a frontline fundraiser who works directly with both first-time donors as well as longtime friends of the Conservancy to find their piece of the Park. In addition, the Fundraising Manager will support all data management projects associated with these programs, ensuring clean and accurate donor and asset data is maintained in applicable databases.

The Fundraising Manager will work with the dedicated Conservancy team to ensure the productivity, efficiency, and strategy of the programs, as well as with a Volunteer Committee who will help spread awareness of the work of the Conservancy and the special opportunities available through these programs.  The Fundraising Manager must be compassionate and sensitive to donors’ stories and situations and must be comfortable spending time with donors in Central Park.

The Fundraising Manager will work closely with the Fundraising Manager for In-Park Recognition Programs and the Director of Women’s Committee Membership Programs to implement strategic improvements to the programs, including streamlining communication across departments within the organization, executing data clean-up and research projects, and implementing new donor stewardship efforts to improve the donor experience.

Summary of Essential Job Functions:

For each of the assigned fundraising programs, the Fundraising Manager is responsible for the following:

Donor Relations

• Cultivate and steward prospective donors through the process of selecting and finalizing in-Park assets for recognition—working with individuals, families, and foundations from initial outreach to implementation of donation recognition.
• Work with Major Giving to identify and solicit donors for major gifts and to steward donors who have made gifts.
• Attend in-Park tree appointments or facilitate remote connection with Arborists to assist Donors with choosing their tree to endow.
• Prepare written and oral updates for the volunteer Chairman/Co-Chairmen of the committees assigned to each recognition program.
• Work cooperatively with internal and external contacts such as Women’s Committee President, CPC Senior Leadership team, Board members, donors, Operations and field staff, Capital Projects, and vendors.
• Draft and send critical correspondence to all donors whose recognition assets may be affected by ongoing Capital work in the Park.

Data Management

• Maintain and track accurate Bench and Tree data, including identifying trees/benches that have been endowed, are on hold, or available, in the Cartegraph database, an asset-management software shared by Philanthropy and in-Park Technical Services to jointly update and track all assets in the Park.
• Execute necessary data maintenance projects including, but not limited to, asset audits in the Park, research projects related to past endowment gifts, database maintenance projects to ensure accurate donor records.
• Work closely with and assist the in-Park Data Operation teams with in-Park asset audits and mapping for projects that affect the In-Park Recognition Programs.
• Perform audits of all benches and trees slated to be affected by capital projects work ahead of construction start.
• Generate financial and asset statistical reports to support strategic decision making

Program Management

• Assist Director of Women’s Committee Membership Programs and Fundraising Manager of In-Parks Recognition Programs with developing and implementing fundraising strategies to reach program goals.
• Manage the relationship with plaque and paver vendors, including the drafting process for bench plaques and Gilder and Tree paving stones and arrangement of delivery to the Park technicians.
• Partner with Technician to coordinate installation and placement of naming recognition opportunities in Central Park.
• Complete bench plaque replacement installations throughout the Park as needed.
• Work closely with the Capital Projects team to build a timeline of capital work projects that may affect access to plaques and pavers in the Park so that donors may be properly updated.
• Prepare all print certificates in support of in-Park recognition gifts (upon request)
• Execute all administrative tasks including letter writing, processing of donations, database administration, tax receipts, record keeping, etc. as it pertains to managing the fundraising program.
• Prepare monthly program financial and activity reports for Board, Exec and Committee meetings.
• Manage and maintain consistent correspondence with all inquiries for each of the programs, whether over the phone or via one of the program’s assigned email inboxes.
• Assist the Women’s Committee team with day-of support for various fundraising events.
• Perform other duties as required.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience
• At least 3-5 years fundraising/development or equivalent experience
• Familiarity with and passion for Central Park and the outdoors essential to this position
• Ability to work effectively with high-profile volunteers
• Strong leadership skills
• Strong attention to detail and detailed record-keeping is a must
• Demonstrated experience working with and managing and maintaining data within a database
• Demonstrated organizational skills and ability to prioritize and multi-task
• Self-starter
• Strong business writing and communication skills
• Excellent computer skills required
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc) and Raiser’s Edge
• Proficient in Cartegraph and/or other ArcGIS software a plus
• Ability to work occasional early mornings, evenings and weekends
• Must have valid driver’s license and be comfortable driving in Manhattan and in Central Park

Salary range:  $74K - $95,800 (based on level of experience)

Abilities Required:

Ability to lift boxes up to 30lbs

About the Programs: Adopt-A-Bench, Tree Trust and Gilder Run

The Adopt-A-Bench program was established in 1986 as a permanent fund to maintain and endow the care of Central Park’s approximately 10,000 benches and their surrounding landscapes.

The Tree Trust program of the Central Park Conservancy offers the opportunity to support Central Park’s approximately 18,000 trees, contributions are placed in an endowment for existing trees and for the planting of new trees.

Gilder Run paving stone program (on the path leading to Bridge No. 24 at the southeast corner of the Reservoir) offers the opportunity to leave a lasting mark in Central Park. Carve your name, tribute or memory into granite paving stones.

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 follow 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 potentially dangerous condition, he/she/they should alert other employees and notify his/her/their 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.