Feb 27th, 2024
New York Restoration Project
Chief Advancement Officer
( New York | Hybrid )
About the Organization
ABOUT NYRP: As New York’s only citywide conservancy, New York Restoration Project (NYRP) brings private resources to spaces that lack adequate municipal support, fortifying the City’s aging infrastructure and creating a healthier environment for those who live in the most densely populated and least green neighborhoods. Since 1995, the organization has invested in and stewarded parks and gardens throughout the city’s five boroughs to strengthen communities.
Initially a grassroots effort led by Bette Midler to clean up neglected parks, NYRP has evolved into a conservancy protecting and preserving community gardens and other green spaces in New York City. NYRP’s efforts not only improve the physical environment, but they also enhance social resiliency by providing a context that supports and strengthens community. The organization set the standard for citywide greening efforts, leading to a historic partnership with the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation that planted one million trees in ten years.
In 2025, NYRP will celebrate 30 years of working to advance environmental justice, increase climate resilience, and support vibrant parks and gardens in every neighborhood. For more information about NYRP’s efforts to create safe, healthy, green open spaces throughout New York City, please visit nyrp.org.
FUNDING: NYRP has a current annual operating budget of approximately $7 to 9 million. Aggressive growth plans call for increasing annual unrestricted support and creating a robust culture of philanthropy, with a particular focus on major individual gifts, in addition to institutional and government support.
Job Description
Position reports to: Executive Director
Position salary range: $225,000
THE OPPORTUNITY: The individual in this role will be an active, frontline fundraiser and manage a portfolio of major donor prospects. The Chief Advancement Officer (CAO) will work to maintain NYRP’s robust event income and be charged with increasing revenue from individual, corporate, foundation, and government sources with a focus on major gifts and pursuing annual growth of 15% to 20% over the next several years.
As a member of NYRP’s senior leadership team, the CAO will design and implement integrated strategies for fundraising, communications, and marketing to advance the public and financial goals of the organization. The CAO holds a crucial, senior role in working with the Executive Director to manage the overall organization and set its future direction. The CAO will be a key contributor to ensure that NYRP’s brand is strategically defined and communicated across all organizational areas to all current and potential funders and that contributed revenue continues to increase and is in sync with organizational growth goals.
The CAO reports to the Executive Director, Lynn Bodnar Kelly, and works closely with the Chairs of the Advancement & Strategy Committee. The CAO will provide leadership, direction, vision, and inspiration to a team of five direct reports. In addition, the Executive Director has two direct reports with dotted-line reporting to the CAO for tasks directly relating to fundraising with government entities and managing trustee relationships.
The CAO will also be the primary liaison with the Board’s Advancement & Strategy Committee and will liaise as needed with the Finance & Investment Committee and the Nominating & Governance Committee.
Additional information
IDEAL QUALIFICATIONS: At least 10 years’ management experience in development, communications, and marketing; established success as a frontline major and principal gift solicitor; demonstrated experience directly identifying, sourcing, cultivating, and stewarding major donors; experience building upon a successful fundraising program to increase revenue and support organizational growth; successful history of increasing development revenue through strategic planning and direction of staff; a firm grasp of all areas of development, including gala events, major gifts, planned giving, foundation giving, corporate giving, government grants, online, and direct mail; experience in all areas of marketing and public relations; superior management and leadership skills; excellent communication skills including an engaging and persuasive public speaking aptitude; superior writing skills; able to coach and oversee/edit development and marketing/communications materials; exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to interact well across all parts of the organization; sound financial acumen and knowledge of budget preparation, monitoring, and administration; passion for green, environmental, social impact, and/or urban development issues; ability to attend evening and weekend events and activities; a bachelor’s degree is required.
Annual compensation for the CAO is $225,000 (commensurate with experience) plus attractive benefits. The CAO will be required to travel to all five NYC boroughs. Currently, staff are expected to work Tuesdays and Wednesdays from the midtown office, and the remaining days either remotely or at project sites.
Contact email for applicants kirk@howe-lewis.com