Manager of Donor Engagement and Events

About Denver Botanic Gardens

Green inside and out, Denver Botanic Gardens was founded in 1951 and is considered one of the top botanical gardens in the United States and a pioneer in water conservation. Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, The Gardens has a robust living plant collection, natural history collection and art collection along with temporary art exhibitions. The Gardens is a dynamic, 24-acre urban oasis in the heart of the city, offering unforgettable opportunities to flourish with unique garden experiences for the whole family – as well as world-class exhibitions, education, and plant conservation research programs.

For more information, visit us online anicgardens.org.

So we keep them as a paragraph.

We are devoted to an institutional, environmental and human sustainability.

We champion inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility for all we encounter, and also support programmatic, ecological and plant diversity.

We make connections with all people using a lens of inclusion, equity and responsiveness.

We believe ever-evolving public gardens change the world and lead to positive transformation of human spirit and knowledge.

Applications will be accepted through October 16, 2026 or until a candidate is found

The Manager of Donor Engagement and Events identifies, qualifies, cultivates, and engages prospects and donors, fostering deeper connections throughout the Gardens.

This position oversees fundraising, volunteer committees, and event execution for the annual gala, Fête des Fleurs, and the Spring Plant Sale Preview Party.

Working closely with the development team, CEO, and other internal partners, the manager creates donor events focused on recognition, celebration, and engagement. The manager also coordinates with colleagues and external vendors, including caterers and rental companies, to ensure successful event execution.

In addition, this position supports the development and implementation of the Gardens’ overall corporate fundraising strategy.

• Engages and cultivates volunteers from the event committees to create year-round relationships for these individuals with the Gardens.
• Solicits support of the Gardens with membership upgrades, additional gifts to provide operating support and support of key programs.
• Curates experiences that appeal to this particular demographic.
• Supports affiliated groups, such as the Garden Club of Denver and The Denver Debutante Ball, in their events at Gardens’ locations or related to Gardens activities. The support can include set-up, AV, catering and other details as required.

• Recruits and manages the volunteer leadership and committees for the Spring Plant Sale Preview Party (SPSPP) with the primary objective of selling the maximum capacity of tickets for each event the ultimate objective being strong plant sales and a slight net gain on the event.
• Plans and executes all details for the SPSPP described above.
• Recruits, motivates, and manages the volunteer leadership and committee for the annual Fête des Fleurs gala.
• Coordinates several sub-committees, including but not limited to, printed materials (invitations, programs), décor (florals, rentals), menu and bar selection, social media, etc. .
• Works directly with event’s corporate sponsors, including program ads, on-site presence…