Director, Administration

Job Summary

Red Butte Garden and Arboretum is one of the largest botanical gardens in the Intermountain West, a regional center for plant-based science education, conservation and research, and cultural enrichment. As part of a state arboretum that encompasses the University of Utah campus, the Garden cultivates an essential urban forestland of over 2,000 trees in 456 different taxa. The Garden has welcomed guests since 1985 and consists of over 20 acres of developed gardens, and approximately five miles of hiking trails winding through an extensive 80-acre natural area.

Community‑funded, the Garden is renowned for its diverse plant collections, themed gardens, and spectacular mountain setting, with nearly 600,000 springtime blooming bulbs, award‑winning horticulture‑based educational programs, and an iconic outdoor summer concert series. Guests come to the Garden for a myriad of reasons: to connect with nature, to participate in cultural programs, concerts, wellness activities, and to attend lectures, classes and workshops.

Innovative children’s education programs promote environmental sustainability and educate the next generation of botanists and naturalists, while engaging classes inspire adults to remain lifelong learners.

The Garden seeks a Director of Philanthropy to lead philanthropic activities, obtain major gifts for capital projects and annual operating support, achieve annual fundraising objectives in a competitive market, secure sponsor ships, manage a planned giving program, and support a results‑driven department. Reporting to the Executive Director, the Director will provide leadership, coordination, and implementation of the Garden’s comprehensive fundraising programs and activities, lead multiyear campaigns, serve as liaison to the Red Butte Garden Advisory Board, and partner with the Executive Director to identify, attract, and cultivate major donors.

With over 13,000 active Garden Members, the Director has a unique opportunity to enhance major gifts fundraising through strategic pipeline management and outreach. The Director will foster a culture of inter‑ and intra‑departmental collegiality, implement a forward‑thinking fundraising strategy, and be an inclusive, inspirational leader who encourages excellence, collaboration, and community.

• Identify, implement, and manage effective strategies to increase fundraising, including major gifts, corporate gift giving, capital campaigns, planned giving, sponsor ships, annual giving, donor clubs, and grant acquisition.
• Cultivate and build long‑term relationships with current and new donors.
• Create and implement a plan to identify and foster potential donors.
• Solicit and close gifts at all funding levels, particularly capital, major and planned gifts.
• Research and write gift proposals, donor letters of agreement, grant applications, gift acknowledgements, and articles for the Garden’s publications.
• Oversee all Garden fundraising programs.
• Track progress of solicitations and ensure that proper records are kept of each solicitation.
• Set and administer the department budget.
• Monitor gift accounts, including endowed and expendable funds, to ensure they are being managed in accordance with the donor’s gift agreements.
• Assist in the planning and implementation of special events for members and giving societies.
• Represent the Philanthropy Department as a member of the Garden’s leadership team.
• Serve as a liaison to members of the Red Butte Garden Advisory Board.
• Engage Advisory Board members and develop relationships to increase their commitment and support for Red Butte Garden and Arboretum.
• Structure an efficient and effective Philanthropy Department, including recruiting, hiring, training, supervising, and evaluating department staff.
• Champion progress and demonstrate agility, while maintaining the team’s focus to nurture existing relationships and pursue new opportunities.
• Cultivate an environment of accountability with respect to outcomes and activities.
• Provide opportunities and continuous, authentic feedback to develop and support staff.
• Develop and maintain positive relationships with all internal and external stakeholders.
• Contribute…