Foundation and Government Giving Officer

Title: Foundation and Government Giving Officer

Exemption Status: Exempt

Department: Foundation and Government Giving

Reports to: Director, Foundation & Government Giving

Year-Round Full-time

Hybrid: Requires a minimum of three days per week on-site at the Glencoe campus, with additional on-site presence as needed for donor meetings, events, or other scheduled meetings.

Year-Round Full-time employees of the Chicago Botanic Garden are eligible for the following Benefits:

• 2025 Chicago Botanic Garden Benefit Guide - Year-Round Full-time

Compensation Philosophy:

At the Chicago Botanic Garden, our compensation philosophy is rooted in our core values: Growth, Understanding, Resilience, and Trust through Transparency. We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels respected, valued, and appreciated.

Our objective is to create compensation and growth opportunities for our employees that are highly competitive, internally equitable and transparent. The foundation of our efforts is a straightforward approach that can be easily communicated by managers with defined pay ranges for all positions. When posting job openings, we share the minimum salary up to the budgeted amount.

The starting salary for new staff members is determined by considering the salary range assigned to the position and by reviewing the candidate's qualifications for the job as compared with job responsibilities. Prior work experience should be considered in determining the salary offer, provided that it is relevant to the job. Additional factors such as secondary language proficiency or advanced degrees that enhance performance may also be considered. A candidate's salary may exceed the minimum amount based on factors such as experience, additional skills (e.g., secondary language proficiency), or pertinent degrees that enhance the individual's contribution to the role but are not required. Opportunities for increased compensation are provided through referral bonuses, shift differentials, Thank You Pay, promotions, and periodic pay increases based on the Garden's overall performance and financial budgets.

Our total compensation and benefits package is people centric. We prioritize employee wellness across three pillars: physical, mental, and financial. Our goal is to offer innovative total rewards that support continuous professional growth, personal development, and provide the flexibility needed to balance personal and professional commitments.

Position Overview: The person in this position is responsible for managing a portfolio of current foundation and government funders while cultivating relationships with new donors. Working within a team of five, the person in this role will conduct prospect research, build and steward relationships with donors, and communicate the Garden's mission and programs through grant writing, email touchpoints, and in-person and virtual visits. This role plays a critical part in securing funding to advance the Garden's initiatives in community engagement, conservation, education, and horticulture.

Responsibilities

In this role you will be responsible for the following:

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 30 - 35 institutional donors, working to secure gifts of $25,000 or more.
• Develop and maintain knowledge of the Chicago Botanic Garden and its programs, to clearly and compellingly communicate the Garden's needs to donors and prospects in conversation, through presentations, and in writing.
• Develop a working knowledge of state and federal funding priorities relevant to the Garden; understand philanthropic trends in Chicago foundations; and leverage this knowledge in donor interactions and to identify funding opportunities.
• Identify prospective donors and government grant opportunities that align with current and upcoming Garden programs and projects.
• Provide customized stewardship, including regular updates, personalized communications, and tours.
• Respond to inquiries, ensuring donors have meaningful connections to their impact.
• Collaborate with program leaders and grants accounting to develop and compile compelling, tailored proposal narratives, budgets, and other materials for priority funding opportunities.
• Secure required internal approvals and submit proposals within established deadlines.
• Record all donor engagement actions and reports in database system, currently Raiser's Edge NXT.
• Prepare detailed post-visit reports, capturing outcomes and insights, and log all donor engagement in Raiser's Edge NXT.
• Occasional evening and/or weekend donor events required (as needed) to maximize engagement and support the development division.

Qualifications
Our ideal candidate will have the following:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required in a related field (e.g., English, journalism, nonprofit administration, communications)
• At least three years of institutional fundraising experience or five years in roles combining relationship management and deadline-driven content development
• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills, both verbal and written, required
• Ability to read, understand, and explain programmatic and organizational budgets
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Ability to understand and interpret metrics, data, and program measurement and reporting
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously
• Understanding of partnerships with emphasis on shared goals and mutual benefit
• Self-awareness; knowledge of personal strengths and weaknesses; adaptive mindset; receptive to feedback
• Ability to collaborate and manage collegial relationships effectively while working within set deadlines
• Ability to be proactive, work independently, and also function as a member of a team
• Familiarity with donor databases, particular Raiser's Edge NXT, preferred but not required
• Familiarity with state and federal grant portals and processes, especially grants.gov, research.gov, and submittable, preferred but not required
• Interest in or knowledge of the Garden's program areas, especially horticulture, agriculture, environmental education, conservation science, preferred but not required

Please note: this position requires a hybrid work schedule with a minimum of three days in the office (Monday - Wednesday) with additional on-site presence as needed.

Physical Demands:
Office setting. Frequent sitting, standing, walking, bending, listening, speaking, and keyboarding. Use of office equipment including computers, telephones, copiers, scanners. Some requirements for lifting, pushing, or pulling items less than 30 pounds. Ability to staff events outdoors in a variety of weather conditions.

Why Apply?
Come work in a setting that is like no other as you support our mission: We cultivate the power of plants to sustain and enrich life. Take the first step toward being one of the employees who make the Garden one of the treasures of the Forest Preserves of Cook County. Apply today. Please note that applicants who do not meet the required qualifications will not be considered.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, or basis of disability, or any other federal, state, or local protected class.

Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and qualifications required of personnel so classified.

In accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, the Chicago Botanic Garden does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its programs or activities, including in employment or admissions. Please call (847) 835-8264 to contact our Title IX Coordinator should you have questions or concerns. Please do not call this number to inquire about job postings or the status of your application, or with solicitations from companies or third-party recruiters.