Individual Giving Senior Manager

Madison Square Park Conservancy, Inc.; Madison (WI); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Aetna health plans

Dental and vision plan

401(k) match

Floating holidays

Short-term disability benefits

Job summary

A nonprofit organization located in Madison is seeking an Individual Giving Senior Manager to oversee the growth of its individual giving program. The role emphasizes cultivating relationships with donors and managing major gift portfolios while collaborating with the development team. Ideal candidates will have 5–7 years of experience in fundraising and demonstrate a donor-centered approach. The position offers a competitive salary and benefits package, along with a commitment to a nurturing work environment.

Qualifications

• 5–7 years of relevant experience in individual giving or similar fundraising roles.
• Strong track record in donor cultivation and relationship-building.
• Experience with prospect research and relationship mapping.

Responsibilities

• Lead and grow the individual giving program and member portfolios.
• Collaborate with the development team to enhance donor experience.
• Manage donor outreach and engagement through strategic events.

Skills

Donor cultivation

Relationship building

Excellent communication

Project management

Tools

DonorPerfect

Job description

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.

As MSPC expands its development team and prepares for future growth, we are seeking a thoughtful, strategic, and relationship‑driven Individual Giving Senior Manager to help shape the next chapter of our fundraising efforts. This role is ideal for a professional who is eager to continue growing within a dynamic and evolving organization.

Position Overview

The Individual Giving Senior Manager will lead and grow MSPC’s individual giving program, which includes the Mad. Friends and Art Council membership programs, mid‑level donors, a small but growing major gifts portfolio, and special events donors.

This is a highly relational, entrepreneurial role ideal for someone who loves cultivating genuine connections; helping donors feel seen, appreciated, and meaningfully engaged; and building critical donor infrastructure and systems. The right candidate will approach their work by balancing a strategic rigor with a hospitality‑inspired approach.

This role reports to the Chief Development Officer, while collaborating with other Development team members and the Executive Director, as well as the Public Art, Horticulture, Programming and Events, and Communications teams. This role is also supported by a Development Assistant, who supports the Development department as a whole.

Key Responsibilities

Individual Giving Strategy and Growth

• Manage and grow MSPC’s portfolio of members, mid‑level donors, and special event donors through a variety of individual giving vehicles.
• Collaborate closely with the Executive Director, Chief Development Officer, and the rest of the Development team, as well as the Public Art and Horticulture teams, on overall individual donor strategy and donor journeys.
• Strengthen and expand existing donor infrastructure and giving vehicles, which may include a capital campaign.
• In collaboration with relevant departments, lead the Mad. Friends and Art Council membership programs, Annual Appeal and other individual campaigns, Bench Dedications, and all other individual donor giving vehicles.
• Collaborate with the Chief Development Officer on leading strategy and management around engaging the Associate Board.
• Work with MSPC leadership and MPSC’s gala consultant to deepen engagement and donor conversion among event attendees.

Donor Cultivation and Stewardship

• Manage and grow a portfolio of individual donors and prospects through proactive outreach, meetings, events, personalized communications, and stewardship activities.
• In partnership with the Public Art, Horticulture and Programming and Events teams, design thoughtful, engaging, and mission‑centered events that increase member and donor engagement, retention, and annual giving.
• In collaboration with the Communications team, create compelling donor materials, including member brochures, member swag, upcoming program brochures, customized proposals, annual donor reports, tax‑receipt acknowledgments, etc.

Research, Relationship Mapping, and Database

• With support from both the Development Assistant and the Chief Development Officer, conduct prospect research, relationship mapping, and wealth screening to identify and qualify new opportunities and prospects for membership, mid‑level, major, and capital gifts.
• Employ both qualitative and quantitative data to inform strategy, track progress, and refine donor journeys.
• With support from the Development Assistant, keep comprehensive records on donor movements, touchpoints, research, contact information, etc.
• Keep updated on society news, relevant industry trends, and best practices.

Qualifications and Requirements

• 5–7 years of directly relevant experience in individual giving, membership programs, capital campaigns, or related fundraising roles.
• Demonstrated success building or significantly expanding an individual giving program.
• Strong track record in donor cultivation, stewardship, and relationship‑building.
• Experience with prospect research, wealth screening tools, and relationship mapping.
• Personable communicator with a donor‑centered mindset and hospitality‑forward approach.
• Excellent writing, editing, and storytelling skills.
• High attention to detail with strong organizational and project management abilities.
• Able to exercise a high level of discretion and professional judgment, and to interact authentically and confidently with a wide variety of donors and prospects.
• Comfortable working in a small to mid‑sized nonprofit environment where responsiveness, collaboration, adaptability and multitasking are essential.
• Proficiency with fundraising databases and project management systems (specific experience with DonorPerfect is a plus).
• Curiosity, openness, eagerness to learn, a sense of humor, and passion for the organization’s mission.

Compensation, Benefits and Schedule

Annual Salary: $70,000 to $80,000, depending on experience

Highly competitive benefits package, including:

• Choice of three Aetna health plans with minimal or no employee contribution
• Dental and vision plan with no employee contribution
• 1 personal day
• 12 annual floating holidays
• 401(k) plan with employer match after one year of employment
• Short‑term disability, Commuter Benefits, and Health Advocate benefits

Schedule: 40 hours/week on a five‑day schedule; minimum three days in the office required, ideally four; availability to work evenings and weekends as needed for meetings, events, or funder engagements.

Application instructions

To apply, please submit your cover letter, resume, and three references (including names, email, and phone number) to [e-mail] . Please include your name and the title of the position you are applying for in the subject line.

Only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

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.