Director of Advancement

Job Description

Adkins Arboretum seeks a Director of Advancement to lead and expand the organization’s fundraising efforts. The role will be responsible for planning, implementing, and overseeing development strategies to support the organization’s mission, vision, and long-term sustainability.

About Us

Adkins Arboretum is one of the few botanical institutions focused on conserving and promoting the flora of the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain. The Arboretum’s collection comprises 400 acres of native plant communities in cultivated gardens and successional patterns of meadows, old fields, pine plantations, young hardwood forests, mature bottomland forests, and wetlands.

As a significant natural, educational, and cultural resource, the Arboretum is a model for preserving and restoring indigenous plant communities and habitats and promoting the appreciation and use of native plants.

Adkins Arboretum seeks to reach broad audiences, encourage creative solutions to land stewardship issues, provide a healthy and stimulating work environment, and foster love and appreciation of the natural world.

Duties & Responsibilities

Development strategies include the annual fund, major gifts, membership, corporate and foundation giving, planned giving, sponsorships, fundraising events, grant writing, future campaigns, and donor engagement and stewardship.

The Director of Advancement will report to the Executive Director and supervise the Director of Donor Engagement, who manages the membership program and development tasks, including recording and acknowledging donations and managing the Corporate Sponsors Program.

The Director of Advancement will work closely with the Executive Director, the Board of Directors, all staff, fundraising volunteers, and the community to cultivate new donors while energizing and stewarding existing relationships.

Education and Experience

The candidate must have the following qualifications:

Progressive fundraising experience with a proven track record of meeting fundraising goals and closing major gifts.

Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills with a wide range of audiences, from community and corporate philanthropists to stakeholders and co-workers, in various settings, from small, intimate gatherings and walks on the trails to significant fundraising events.

A working knowledge of databases, with experience in DonorPerfect or similar Customer Relationship Management Systems (CRM).

A comprehensive knowledge and understanding of trends and best practices in the philanthropic sector and a sense of the local charitable landscape.

Educational credentials supporting leadership acumen, organizational growth, arts and culture experiences, and community engagement. The successful candidate will embody leadership, collaboration, and innovation in a mission-driven environment.

The Director of Advancement will be an inclusive, inspirational leader who fosters a culture of excellence, collaboration, and community.

Additional Information

Compensation

Adkins Arboretum provides a competitive and equitable compensation package and strives to support a life-work balance. The position will be tailored to the successful applicant’s level of experience and desired hourly work week, with consideration of part-time to full-time, contract, or salary.

Salaried employee benefits at 30 – 37.5 hrs/week include paid vacation (10 days), sick leave, personal days, holidays, 75% health insurance cost, and a voluntary Simple 401(k)retirement plan with a 3% match. The Arboretum’s employment includes a complimentary Adkins Arboretum Membership and access to the Arboretum’s trips and programs.

Application Instructions

Applications and Inquiries

Submit a cover letter and resume with a summary of accomplishments to lsheehan@adkinsarboretum.org.

The selection committee will consider applications on a rolling basis, prioritizing those received by April 18, 2025.