Director of Advancement (Chief Advancement Officer*)

Description

Organization Information 

GrowNYC is a 54-year-old environmental nonprofit organization helping more than 3 million New Yorkers by providing essential services and taking action to make NYC a livable city, one where every person can enjoy a healthier, more sustainable life. GrowNYC Programs include: 

• Our network of Greenmarkets, Farmstands, and the work of GrowNYC Wholesale ensure that all New Yorkers have access to the freshest, healthiest local food. 
• We build and support community and school gardens through volunteer days, technical assistance, training, grants and more. 
• We provide 70,000 children each year with programs that provide meaningful interactions with the natural environment. 

Director of Advancement (Full-time):

Position Summary

The Director of Advancement serves as GrowNYC’s senior leader responsible for all revenue generation and external engagement strategies. This role oversees the development and execution of a comprehensive advancement program that secures philanthropic, corporate, foundation, and government resources to support the organization’s mission, programs, and long-term sustainability.

This role combines strategic leadership with direct fundraising responsibility, including management of a portfolio of major donors and institutional partners capable of making six- and seven-figure investments.

Requirements

Responsibilities (Include but are not limited to):

Fundraising & Development

• Lead all fundraising initiatives, including major gifts, annual giving, planned giving, corporate sponsorships, foundation and government funding, multi-year campaigns and special events.
• Develop and implement strategies to expand GrowNYC’s major donor pipeline and secure transformational gifts, including six- and seven-figure commitments.
• Maintain and grow a personal portfolio of high-capacity donors and prospects, with responsibility for cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Provide strategic oversight for institutional fundraising, including foundation grants, public funding opportunities, and agency partnerships.
• Oversee proposal strategy, development, submission, and reporting processes across funding streams.
• Ensure accurate tracking, reporting, and analysis of fundraising activity within the donor management system.

Donor & Stakeholder Engagement 

• Build and sustain long-term relationships with donors, corporate partners, foundations, community leaders, and strategic stakeholders.
• Partner with the CEO and Board leadership to strengthen Board engagement in fundraising, leverage Board networks, and support identification and cultivation of new prospects and partners.
• Support Board committees related to development and external affairs, including preparation of reports, presentations, and strategy updates.
• Develop and oversee stewardship strategies that enhance donor retention, satisfaction, and long-term engagement.
• Represent GrowNYC externally with donors, partners, and community stakeholders.

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and execute a multi-year advancement strategy aligned with GrowNYC’s organizational priorities.
• Establish annual revenue goals, departmental work plans, and performance metrics; monitor progress and adjust strategies to achieve targets.
• Provide strategic oversight for external consultants and advisors supporting advancement and organizational priorities, including government relations and communications partners, ensuring alignment with GrowNYC’s goals and messaging.
• Oversee advancement infrastructure, systems, policies, and reporting tools to support effective decision-making and forecasting.
• Lead planning for major campaigns, milestone initiatives, and special fundraising priorities as needed.

Communications & Marketing

• Provide strategic oversight for advancement communications, including donor communications, campaigns, impact reporting, and fundraising messaging, in partnership with communications staff.
• Collaborate with communications and marketing teams to elevate public awareness, donor engagement, and brand visibility.
• Support development of materials for fundraising campaigns, sponsorship outreach, and donor stewardship.

Team Leadership & Operations

• Lead, manage, and develop the Advancement Team, including supervision of the Assistant Director and other staff.
• Establish clear goals, KPIs, accountability systems, and professional development plans for team members.
• Oversee recruitment, hiring, onboarding, and staff performance management in collaboration with Human Resources.
• Manage the advancement budget and ensure responsible financial planning and resource allocation.
• Monitor fundraising trends and adapt strategies to meet evolving organizational needs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in fundraising or advancement, nonprofit management, fundraising, communications, or related fields
• Demonstrated success securing six- and seven-figure gifts from individuals, foundations, corporations, or government sources.
• Experience leading teams and managing multi-revenue fundraising programs.
• Experience working with nonprofit Boards and senior leadership.
• Strong strategic planning, organizational leadership, and project management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Analytical skills for donor data analysis and strategy development.
• Proficiency with CRM systems and donor databases.
• Commitment to GrowNYC’s mission and values related to sustainability, food access, and community impact.

Ideal Qualifications

• Passion for social justice and a working knowledge with regards to cultural fluency and inclusiveness. 
• Knowledge of sustainable agriculture, farming, and food systems. 
• Experience leading major campaigns or organizational growth initiatives.
• Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) credential or progress toward certification preferred.

Schedule

This hybrid position combines remote work (two days) with on-site work at GrowNYC’s office in downtown Manhattan (three days). In-office presence is required every Wednesday. Occasional evening or weekend work may also be needed. This position requires attendance at occasional evening and weekend events throughout the year. Flexible schedule necessary to meet fundraising and engagement priorities.

Compensation

The position is an exempt, full-time salaried position. It pays $195,000 - $205,000 per year and includes full benefits (medical, dental, vision, life insurance, long-term disability, incentive savings plan, paid time off, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and potential for parental leave for full-time regular employees who have been employed with GrowNYC for 175 days and FSA programs). The position is non-union-eligible/not part of the bargaining unit.

Location

GrowNYC Office – Visiting local GrowNYC sites and traveling outside NYC may be needed for lobbying and fundraising purposes

*The Director of Advancement title is equivalent to Chief Advancement Officer and may change to such as we revamp our senior leadership titles.*

Applications

Qualified candidates for the Director of Advancement position should submit a cover letter, resume, and three references. Interviews will take place on a rolling basis. Due to the volume of employment applications received, GrowNYC is unable to respond to each application individually. Applicants will be contacted directly if selected as a candidate. No phone calls or recruiters or recruiting agencies, please. 

Application deadline is June 30th, 2026.

Contact

GrowNYC 

P.O. Box 2327

New York, NY 10272

212-788-7900

For additional information, please see our website: grownyc.org 

GrowNYC is an Affirmative Action Equal Opportunity Employer and hires without regard to race, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation or physical disability.