Director of Individual Giving

The Director of Individual Giving will join a high-performing Advancement team of 24 professionals—including development, marketing, and communications staff—which is responsible for raising over $15 million annually in philanthropic support. Individual Giving at Friends of the High Line (FHL) is an eight-person team that encompasses membership, major gifts, board relations, development operations, and a future planned giving program, with the goal to raise approximately $5.5 million in 2024. 

The Director of Individual Giving will support the expansion of FHL’s individual donor pipeline, and year-over-year revenue growth, by growing its membership and mid-level giving program. The High Line’s membership program is a group of roughly 6,000 annual members ($999 and below), with 150 donors part of its mid-level giving society, the High Line Council ($1,000-$4,999). They will oversee a robust direct response calendar of approximately 20 mail and email campaigns per year, including direct mail acquisition. The candidate will supervise a membership coordinator, and be the primary account manager for the High Line’s direct response vendor. 

This position will collaborate closely with the Director of Major Gifts and Director of Development Operations to upgrade donors from membership to mid-level giving, while identifying mid-level donors with the capacity and proclivity to make major gifts to the High Line. They will also support the development of the High Line’s future Planned Giving program, with a target launch date of 2025, including its annual calendar of solicitations and events.

The Director of Individual Giving is a full-time, year-round, exempt employee reporting to the Senior Director of Individual Giving. This is a hybrid position, with the expectation of in-person work at FHL headquarters in the meatpacking district at least 1-2 days a week, plus events.

Primary Responsibilities

PROGRAM STRATEGY

• Work collaboratively with the Individual Giving team to support the development and execution of strategies to grow the individual giving pipeline, from initial acquisition, to mid-level giving, to major gifts.
• Direct membership and mid-level programs, including an annual calendar of benefits, events, and communications that engage donors and build satisfaction and loyalty.
• Implement strategies to improve acquisition, upgrades, and retention rates at all levels of membership.
• Partner with the Individual Giving team, in particular the Director of Development Operations and the High Line’s direct response vendor, to analyze campaign results to refine and improve appeal strategies.
• Analyze trends in donor behavior, as well as metrics such as wealth indicators, to identify prospective upgrades, major donors, and planned giving donors.

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

• Supervise the Membership Coordinator on all aspects of administration for the Membership program, including data keeping, benefit fulfillment, and appeals.
• Oversee relationship with the High Line’s direct response vendor on all aspects of program strategy and delivery, including campaign management.
• Provide editorial direction and copy-edit appeals to strengthen the High Line’s case for support, from initial conception through final delivery.

• Serve as the primary point of contact for the mid-level giving program, acting as a congenial ambassador for the High Line, and building 1:1 relationships with donors.
• Collaborate with the Special Events team on the execution of all in-person events specific to membership and mid-level donors.

ADMINISTRATION & WRITING

• Write and edit tailored proposals, reports, appeals, emails, and other correspondence to articulate a compelling case for general operating support and restricted giving, including core programs like horticulture, public art, and community engagement.
• Draft appeals and other collateral for the future launch of a Planned Giving program.
• Actively manage and maintain individual donor records in FHL’s fundraising database, Raiser’s Edge, including contact information, gift records, and donor activities.
• Review event invitation lists, and communication distribution lists, to ensure current donors and prospects receive appropriate and regular communication.
• Provide support to the development of the Planned Giving program.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• 7-10 years experience working in non-profit fundraising, or comparable experience, with experience in membership programs or annual fund.
• Strong strategic thinking and planning skills, with the ability to develop and execute comprehensive fundraising strategies.
• Excellent project management and attention to detail.
• Highly-motivated and entrepreneurial, with a solutions-driven mindset.
• Ease of working with Google Workspace and Microsoft Office.
• Knowledge and experience with fundraising databases, preferably Blackbaud’s Raiser’s Edge.
• Good sense of humor preferred.

This is a full-time, exempt position. The annual salary range for this position is $105,000-115,000 per annum

The location for the role remains hybrid, with a requirement to physically report to the office (located in Manhattan's Meatpacking District in New York City).

**If you are an individual with a disability and need accommodation during the application process, please send an email request to hr@thehighline.org **

Benefits

• Discounts Citi Bike Membership
• Discounts with Vendor at the High Line & around the Meatpacking neighborhood
• Free entrance to Whitney Museum

• 20 Vacation days, 7 sick days, and 10 paid holidays with 2 floating holidays (according to starting day).
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid primary and secondary caregiver leave
• Supplemental short-term disability insurance and paid life insurance
• Winter Fridays
• Commuter benefits
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Contribution in a 403(b) retirement plan
• Employee Assistance Program
• Growth & Development

About Friends of the High Line

The High Line is both a nonprofit organization and a public park on the West Side of Manhattan. We’re devoted to reimagining public spaces to create connected, healthy neighborhoods and cities through our work with communities on and off the High Line.

Built on a historic, elevated rail line, the High Line was always intended to be more than a park. You can walk through the gardens, view art, experience a performance, enjoy food or beverage, or connect with friends and neighbors while enjoying a unique perspective of New York City.

Nearly 100% of our annual budget comes through donations. The High Line is owned by the City of New York, and we operate under a license agreement with NYC Parks.

EEO Statement

The High Line is guided by a series of values through which we make decisions, including hiring. These values include proactively creating access points for all people, regardless of age, sex, color, creed, race, income, country of origin, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

As part of our commitment to living up to these values and advancing equity within our organization and through our work, we are committed to an equitable hiring process. Hence, we strongly encourage applications from people with a broad range of lived experiences. This description shall not be construed as a contract of any sort for a specific period of employment.