Senior Vice President of Institutional Advancement

Association of Fundraising Professionals; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 225,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, vision, and dental insurance

403(b) retirement plan

Paid time off

Job summary

Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis seeks a visionary Senior Vice President of Institutional Advancement to lead the entire fundraising and donor engagement portfolio.

You will oversee major gifts, annual and capital campaigns, and foundation relations, while guiding a high-performing team toward strategic philanthropic growth. You will report to the President and Director, work with the Executive Leadership Team, and drive advancements that align with the Garden’s mission and global impact.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; CFRE designation or equivalent is preferred.
• Advanced degree and other professional certifications considered.
• Bilingual proficiency preferred (French/Spanish/Portuguese) as a strong asset.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for all fundraising, membership, donor engagement, and advancement operations.
• Oversee major gifts, annual and capital campaigns, foundation and corporate relations, and planned giving.
• Lead a 35-person team and manage a $4.8 million operating budget; collaborate with executive leadership and boards.

Skills

Executive leadership

Fundraising strategy

Donor engagement

Strategic planning

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

CFRE certification

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

Senior Vice President of Institutional Advancement

Reporting to the President and Director

St. Louis, Missouri

The Missouri Botanical Garden, one of the world's leading botanical institutions, seeks an accomplished and visionary advancement executive to serve as its next Senior Vice President of Institutional Advancement. For more than 165 years, the Garden has advanced the understanding, conservation, education, and appreciation of plants while connecting people to the natural world. This is a pivotal opportunity to build upon a highly respected advancement program and help secure the philanthropic resources, partnerships, and community support needed to advance the Garden's ambitious strategic vision and expand its local and global impact. To learn more about the Garden, please visit https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/.

Reporting to the President and Director and serving as a key member of the Executive Leadership Team, the Senior Vice President will provide strategic leadership for all fundraising, membership, donor engagement, and advancement operations. The role will lead a comprehensive program encompassing major gifts, annual and capital campaigns, foundation and corporate relations, planned giving, membership, special events, stewardship, and advancement operations. Working closely with the President, Board of Trustees, and institutional leaders, the Senior Vice President will broaden and diversify the donor pipeline, strengthen the Garden's culture of philanthropy, and position the organization for sustainable philanthropic growth and future comprehensive campaign efforts. The Senior Vice President will oversee a team of 35 staff, four direct reports, and a departmental operating budget of $4.8 million.

The Garden seeks an innovative, collaborative, and relationship-oriented advancement leader with significant executive-level experience in a nonprofit, higher education, cultural, conservation, healthcare, or similarly complex organization. The successful candidate will demonstrate a record of securing and stewarding transformational gifts, leading comprehensive fundraising programs and campaigns, building high-performing teams, and working effectively with executive leaders, governing boards, volunteers, donors, and institutional partners. Exceptional communication, strategic planning, analytical, and relationship-building skills are essential, as is the ability to connect donors meaningfully to the Garden's mission and translate its scientific, conservation, educational, and visitor-focused work into compelling philanthropic opportunities.

A bachelor's degree and Certified Fundraising Executive designation are required. An advanced degree and other relevant professional certifications are preferred, although equivalent combinations of education, experience, and demonstrated fundraising success will be considered. Bilingual proficiency is highly preferred, with conversational fluency in French, Spanish, and/or Portuguese considered a strong asset.

The Missouri Botanical Garden offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package. The salary range for this position is $225,000–$260,000, commensurate with experience. Benefits include paid time off; medical, vision, and dental insurance; and a 403(b)-retirement plan.

For best consideration, applicants should submit their materials by December 4, 2026.