Director of Advancement

Job Description

The Director of Advancement oversees the strategy and development for the fundraising activities for the DCH. The Director of Advancement works closely with the Executive Director, and other members of the leadership team to set goals, and strategies to support the DCH $1.4M+ annual operating budget as well as on-going capital and facility projects. The successful candidate will have at minimum 5 years direct fundraising experience in successfully planning, leading and executing a year-long development plan, with an emphasis on individual giving, major gifts, sponsorship, and donor engagement. Experience in planned giving programs a plus.

About Us

The Delaware Center for Horticulture inspires individuals and communities through the power of plants. Since 1977, we have cultivated a greener community by creating and maintaining the first Urban Farm in the city of Wilmington, beautifying public landscapes, planting and advising on the placement of urban trees, mobilizing volunteers, and hosting community events and educational programs, including our Branches to Chances® Return to Work program and our Neighborhood Tree Steward Program. Because much of our work occurs in low-income neighborhoods with higher rates of disease, environmental contamination, and poor access to healthy foods, our educational efforts also emphasize the personal health and sustainability benefits of gardening.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Leading, establishing and implementing the annual fundraising plan with the Executive Director, and members of the leadership team to meet and exceed the annual fundraising goals in support of the organization’s operations and capital plans
• Leading and managing the Annual Fund, and strategic oversight of the Membership program with the Membership & Volunteer Manager
• Oversees the gift progressing procedures, including maintaining templates and generating acknowledgements within a CRM, and directs overall development operations with an emphasis on donor stewardship and retention
• Reports on, evaluates, and measures annual fundraising and campaign results to Executive Director, Advancement Committee and Board of Directors
• Directly solicits contributions from individual donors, corporations, foundations, and other potential donors, and acknowledges their generosity through direct reporting, stewardship and communication methods with an emphasis on mission fulfillment and impact.
• Oversees, directs and manages fundraising events and donor cultivation events with support from Membership & Volunteer Manager, Special Events Coordinator, and Communications Manager.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree, with minimum 5 years in direct fundraising, with emphasis on individual giving, annual fund, corporate giving, and events/sponsorship.
• Budget planning and oversight of development operations with a minimum of 2 direct reports
• Direct solicitation experience including, but not limited to, individuals, corporations, foundations, state and local government sources.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Database management (currently in Fundly)
• Direct experience with fundraising CRM (customer relationship management) software

Additional Information

Supervisor and Sources of Collaboration

Reports to Executive Director
Collaborates with the Leadership Team
Direct reports – Membership & Volunteer Manager, Grants Manager, Special Events Coordinator

Work Environment and Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The employee frequently is required to sit and reach and must be able to move around the work environment.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and be able to carry, move and set up necessary supplies and equipment.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust.

Schedule flexibility/ some remote work will be considered

Salary and Compensation
$70,000/year commensurate with experience and qualifications. DCH offers a competitive benefits package
including health, vision, dental, and supplemental insurance, paid time off, and retirement benefits.

Equal Opportunity
DCH considers candidates for all positions on the basis of qualifications and without regard to race, color, religion,
gender, national origin, genetic information, age, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, marital status,
or status as a disabled veteran or other protected classification and in accordance with applicable federal, state,
and local laws.

DCH reserves the right to change this job description as conditions change.

Application Instructions

Please send a cover letter, resume and three professional references to: careers@thedch.org (Please reference Director of Advancement in email subject line)

For information about the Delaware Center for Horticulture’s mission, values and programs, please visit www.thedch.org. Applications will be reviewed as they are received. Position open until filled. No phone calls please.