Director of Development and Advancement

Madison Square Park Conservancy

Director of Development and Advancement

Reports to Executive Director

Overview of Organization

Madison Square Park Conservancy (MSPC) is the nonprofit entrusted by the City of New York to operate Madison Square Park, a 6.2-acre public space in the heart of Manhattan. Our mission is to conserve, maintain, and program this ever-evolving historic green space, including raising 100% of the park’s operating budget. Our dedicated team takes great pride in caring for and shaping an urban oasis for all to enjoy.

Anchoring a diverse and vibrant live-work community, Madison Square Park is both an intimate neighborhood park and an international destination for 60,000 daily visitors. A public space since 1686, the park has long been a gathering place for people from all walks of life. Today, it is also a public garden, urban forest, wildlife habitat, public art exhibition space, a haven for children and pets to play, and one of New York City’s most transcendent and welcoming places.

Overview of Position

MSPC seeks a Director of Development and Advancement to oversee all fundraising activities, as well as develop and execute a long-term fundraising strategy. Fundraising encompasses individual and corporate giving, institutional giving, annual campaigns (including a year-end appeal and twice-yearly membership drives), four annual fundraising events, and cultivation events. The Director may also be responsible for a capital campaign in the future.

Organizational Structure

Reporting directly to the Executive Director, the Director is responsible for planning, managing, and implementing activities that increase, diversify, and sustain philanthropic support for MSPC from the aforementioned sources. The Director works in close cooperation with senior leadership and the Board of Trustees, and manages a team of three, plus external consultants.

Key Responsibilities 

• Create an annual development plan to raise $3-4 million annually through:

• Individual giving

• Membership (Mad. Friends and Art Council)

• Corporate giving

• Institutional giving

• Fundraising events

• Government grants

• Steward and deepen relationships with current donors through meetings and written communications

• Working with the Executive Director, development team, and Board of Trustees, identify, cultivate, solicit, negotiate, and close new individual, corporate and institutional gifts

• Work with development team to strategically target fundraising efforts by customizing database and records and making better use of existing resources

• Oversee tracking of fundraising and prospects, meeting regularly with Executive Director, development team, program heads, and Director of Finance and Human Resources

• Manage grant applications and reporting process

• Oversee 3-4 major fundraising events each year, including managing external event consultants, forming and supporting host committee, developing communication materials, leading sales outreach, and tracking progress toward dollar and ticket sales goals

• Organize and participate in cultivation events and fundraising programs

• Provide strong day-to-day leadership and coordination of development team

• Develop, maintain, and manage annual internal budget for development department

• Work with Executive Director and Director of Board Relations and Individual Giving to manage Board of Trustees and Associate Board and help identify and cultivate potential candidates for both

Qualifications and Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and at least 5 years of experience in development, with demonstrated success on a scale similar to MSPC’s annual fundraising goals

• Superior organizational, interpersonal, analytical, technical, and written and verbal communication skills, including attention to detail and excellent follow-up

• Strategic, creative thinker, able to see the long view as well as troubleshoot immediate crises

• Ability to interact with all levels of staff, trustees, donors, and the general public in a professional and dynamic manner

• Demonstrated leadership abilities, including the ability to motivate and direct others and provide meaningful feedback and mentoring

• Self-motivated and resourceful, able to work independently as well as collaboratively as part of a small, mission-driven team

• Comfort working under pressure against multiple deadlines and juggling a variety of responsibilities while maintaining a calm work environment and a sense of humor

• Availability to work nights and weekends as required

Compensation, Benefits and Schedule

• Annual Salary Range: $125,000 - $150,000, depending on years of relevant experience, extent of management experience, and demonstration of successful past performance

• Benefits: Employee Health plan, Dental and vision Plan, Vacation/Sick/Personal Days, Floating Holidays, 401K Plan with match after one year of employment, commuter benefits, Short-Term Disability benefit, and Health Advocate benefit.

• Schedule: 4- or 5-day schedule; minimum 3 days in office required (preference for 4)

Application Instructions

To apply, please email a cover letter and resume as a single attachment to:

developmentjobs@madisonsquarepark.org with the subject line “Director of Development and Advancement.”  Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. We encourage applications from people with BIPOC identities. 

Please be aware that MSPC requires all employees to be vaccinated for Covid. Accommodations will be considered for a disability, medical, or religious-based reasons.

Madison Square Park Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to

complying with all federal, state, and local equal employment opportunity (“EEO”) laws. The

Conservancy prohibits discrimination against applicants for employment because of the

individual’s race or color, religion or creed, alienage or citizenship status, sex (including

pregnancy), national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression,

marital status, domestic partnership status, genetic information, or predisposing genetic

characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, arrest or pre-employment

conviction record or any other characteristic protected by law.