Major Gifts Specialist

Description

Major Gifts Specialist

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. 

Major Gifts Specialist (Full-time):

Position Summary

The Major Gifts Specialist is responsible for growing and managing a portfolio of HNW individual donors giving significant annual contributions, including board members. This role builds strong donor relationships through thoughtful cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies, with a goal of increasing donor engagement and lifetime value. They partner closely with the CEO, Advancement leadership, and board members to develop customized giving strategies and ensure sustained support for GrowNYC’s mission. This position is ideal for a strategic relationship-builder with significant experience in major gifts, planned giving, and donor pipeline development.

Requirements

Responsibilities (include but are not limited to):

Portfolio Development and Solicitation

• Build and manage a portfolio of approximately 100-125 current and prospective major donors.
• Develop tailored cultivation and solicitation plans, leveraging donor interests and GrowNYC priorities.
• Partner with CEO and senior staff on high-level solicitations.
• Conduct at least 10–12 substantive donor touchpoints monthly, including visits, calls, and proposals.
• Prepare briefing memos, follow-up letters, and personalized acknowledgements.
• Identify and cultivate new funding opportunities by conducting in-depth prospect research, analyzing donor data, and uncovering potential individuals donors.

Stewardship and Engagement 

• Plan and execute 2–3 small cultivation/stewardship events annually for major donors and prospects.
• Create personalized stewardship communications, including impact updates, insider briefings, and donor spotlights.
• Ensure appropriate donor recognition and long-term retention strategy.
• Collaborate with the board of directors and gala host committee members to secure individual ticket and table purchases, and lead stewardship and cultivation of gala guests.

Collaboration and Systems Management 

• Collaborate with the Individual Giving Lead to identify and graduate annual donors into the major giving pipeline.
• Collaborate with the Institutional Partnership Specialist to identify existing corporate donors for personal/major giving development.
• Maintain accurate donor records and activity tracking in Raiser’s Edge.
• Participate in strategic planning around donor relations, board giving, and leadership engagement.

Board Management 

• Build rapport with existing and new members of the Board
• Engage with relevant Board members to channel and pursue opportunities with prospect donors 

Required Qualifications

• Professional fundraising certification Required (CFRE, CAP®, AFP training, or equivalent)
• At least 5-7 years of experience in fundraising, with a strong focus on individual donor cultivation and stewardship
• Demonstrated success securing and stewarding high five- and six-figure gifts from individual donors
• Excellent relationship-building and donor management skills, including comfort engaging high-net-worth individuals
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling, tailored proposals and donor materials
• Strategic thinker with the ability to manage complex relationships, move multiple projects forward, and prioritize effectively
• High level of attention to detail, follow-through, and organizational skills
• Familiarity with fundraising databases and tools (Raiser’s Edge or equivalent)
• Collaborative spirit, proactive problem-solver, and emotionally intelligent team member
• Comfortable representing GrowNYC externally with professionalism, clarity, and purpose
• Commitment to GrowNYC’s mission and values, including a demonstrated understanding of equity and inclusion
• Proven capacity for conducting “cold calls” and performing various outreach initiatives to engage potential leads. 

Ideal Qualifications

• Knowledge of NYC’s philanthropic landscape and comfort working with diverse communities
• Experience working alongside senior leadership and board members to execute donor strategy
• Exposure to planned giving concepts or legacy giving conversations
• Familiarity with sustainable agriculture, food justice, or environmental programming is desired.
• Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field (e.g., nonprofit management, communications, business, or related)
• Multilingual or culturally fluent in communities served by GrowNYC

Additional Eligibility Requirements

The ability to be seated for long periods of time. 

Schedule

The position will be expected to work primarily Monday-Friday 9am-5pm, 35-40 hours per week, on-site at GrowNYC’s office in downtown Manhattan (three days). In-office presence is required every Wednesday. Occasional off site work may be required, including evening or weekend availability, for fundraising events and donor tours.

Compensation

The position is an exempt, full-time salaried position. It pays $90,000 - $95,000 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’s main office is located in downtown Manhattan.

Applications

Qualified candidates for the Major Gifts Specialist 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 Jun 15, 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.