Vice President of Development

Reporting to the Chief Advancement Officer, the Vice President, Development is a senior member of the Advancement leadership team at the Dallas Arboretum. This role provides strategic and operational leadership for both philanthropic development and membership growth/engagement, advancing the Arboretum’s mission and long‑term financial sustainability. The VP, Development guides planning, budgeting, execution, and oversight of the comprehensive development and membership portfolio — including annual giving, major and planned gifts, corporate and foundation relations, events and sponsor ships, membership acquisition and retention, donor/member stewardship, gifts‑in‑kind, and capital campaign readiness.

Strategic Leadership & Planning

• Collaborate with the Chief Advancement Officer, Advancement and Senior Leadership teams and the Board to establish and implement a 3‑ to 5‑year strategic plan for philanthropy and membership aligned with the Arboretum’s strategic priorities.
• Lead the development and execution of annual operating and long‑term plans with measurable goals for revenue (development + membership), constituent engagement, pipeline growth and retention.
• Provide strategic insight into membership segmentation, upgrades (e.g., from member to donor), donor/member lifecycle management, and integration of membership and major gift strategies.
• Advise senior leadership and Board on trends in philanthropy and membership, benchmarking performance, and emerging opportunities (e.g., planned giving, digital giving, affinity circles).
• Prepare and manage departmental budget to achieve annual revenue goals (development + membership), oversee expenses/invoices, monitor financials and reconcile month‑end results in partnership with Finance.
• Oversee all fundraising programs to achieve targets, including:
  • Annual Fund and Membership Giving (e.g., Caroline Rose Hunt Society, Friends programs).
  • Major Gifts — Identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of high‑net‑worth prospects and major donors/members.
  • Corporate Relations and Event Sponsor ships — Secure sponsor ships, manage benefits and stewardship.
  • Foundation/Grants — Identify prospects, write and submit proposals, steward foundation relationships.
  • Gifts in Kind — Secure in‑kind donations aligned with institutional needs.
  • Special Events — Plan and lead major fundraising events (e.g., annual gala) with revenue and participation targets; oversee member engagement events.
• Oversee membership team: develop and execute membership acquisition strategy, retention/renewal programs, upgrade path to higher membership levels or donor‑circles, analyze membership data/metrics (e.g., number of members, renewal rate, conversion to donors).
• Serve as a visible and effective ambassador for the Arboretum’s mission to members, donors, corporate sponsors, and other key stakeholders; participate in cultivation events, tours, site visits, and stewardship activities.
• Lead, supervise, evaluate, and mentor direct reports: development officers, membership staff, events/sponsor ships, donor services. Foster a high‑performing, donor/member‑centric culture.
• Collaborate with volunteer leadership, including Board standing committees and chairs (e.g., Contributed Revenue Committee); support volunteers in their cultivation and solicitation roles.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships across the organization: marketing/communications, horticulture/programs, visitor services, finance and operations to ensure an integrated Advancement function.

Analytics, Stewardship & Operations

• Utilize donor/member database (e.g., Raiser’s Edge or equivalent) to manage major gift and membership pipelines, track metrics (e.g., donor/member retention, average gift/member value, conversion rates), prepare regular reports for senior leadership and Board.
• Ensure best practices in donor/member stewardship and recognition, including timely acknowledgements, reporting, events, and long‑term donor/member engagement.
• Ensure compliance with gift acceptance policies, recognizing ethics and legal requirements of fundraising.
• Oversee fundraising and membership…