Manager of Donor Engagement and Events

Description

About Denver Botanic Gardens: Green inside and out, Denver Botanic Gardens was founded in 1951 and is considered one of the top botanical gardens in the United States and a pioneer in water conservation. Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, The Gardens has a robust living plant collection, natural history collection and art collection along with temporary art exhibitions. The Gardens is a dynamic, 24-acre urban oasis in the heart of the city, offering unforgettable opportunities to flourish with unique garden experiences for the whole family – as well as world-class exhibitions, education, and plant conservation research programs. 

For more information, visit us online at www.botanicgardens.org.

Along with the mission of bringing plants to people, our Core Values are a fundamental driver of the Gardens culture. They are:

Sustainability. We are devoted to an institutional, environmental and human sustainability.

Diversity. We champion inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility for all we encounter, and also support programmatic, ecological and plant diversity.

Relevance. We make connections with all people using a lens of inclusion, equity and responsiveness.

Transformation. We believe ever-evolving public gardens change the world and lead to positive transformation of human spirit and knowledge. 

Denver Botanic Gardens is currently seeking a Full Time Manager of Donor Engagement and Events in our Development Department! Read below to see if the requirements might be a good fit for you:

Applications will be accepted through October 16, 2026 or until a candidate is found

Position Summary

The Manager of Donor Engagement and Events identifies, qualifies, cultivates, and engages prospects and donors, fostering deeper connections throughout the Gardens.

This position oversees fundraising, volunteer committees, and event execution for the annual gala, Fête des Fleurs, and the Spring Plant Sale Preview Party.

Working closely with the development team, CEO, and other internal partners, the manager creates donor events focused on recognition, celebration, and engagement. The manager also coordinates with colleagues and external vendors, including caterers and rental companies, to ensure successful event execution.

In addition, this position supports the development and implementation of the Gardens’ overall corporate fundraising strategy.

Requirements

General Duties and Responsibilities

Donor Engagement

• Engages and cultivates volunteers from the event committees to create year-round relationships for these individuals with the Gardens.
• Solicits support of the Gardens with membership upgrades, additional gifts to provide operating support and support of key programs.
• Curates experiences that appeal to this particular demographic.
• Supports affiliated groups, such as the Garden Club of Denver and The Denver Debutante Ball, in their events at Gardens’ locations or related to Gardens activities. The support can include set-up, AV, catering and other details as required.

Development Events

• Recruits and manages the volunteer leadership and committees for the Spring Plant Sale Preview Party (SPSPP)with the primary objective of selling the maximum capacity of tickets for each event the ultimate objective being strong plant sales and a slight net gain on the event.
• Plans and executes all details for the SPSPP described above.
• Recruits, motivates, and manages the volunteer leadership and committee for the annual Fête des Fleurs gala.  
• Coordinates several sub-committees, including but not limited to, printed materials (invitations, programs), décor (florals, rentals), menu and bar selection, social media, etc. . 
• Works directly with event’s corporate sponsors, including program ads, on-site presence and potential sponsorship of other Denver Botanic Gardens programs and activities.
• Plans and executes logistics including but not limited to catering, rentals, lighting, music/dancing, AV, IT, security and favors. 
• Coordinates staff and volunteer assignments before, during and after events, ensuring clear roles, effective communication, event-day execution and post-event cleanup.
• Represents the Development Team at internal planning and calendaring meetings.
• Supports Development-related responsibilities for the Summer Concert Series and other signature events, including Corporate/VIP Donor Night for Blossoms of Light and Trail of Lights.

Donor recognition events

• Works with the director of development, trustees and others to implement and execute events (4-5/year) for donors to share new institutional initiatives including research, capital projects and educational programming.
• Creates and executes capital campaign events related to special projects, including but not limited to the Chatfield Farms Master Development Plan and Endowment campaigns.

Corporate Partnerships

• Interacts cross-departmentally to deliver benefits and ensure mutually beneficial corporate relationships.
• Collaborates on planning and implementing strategic corporate initiatives to deepen and expand relationships with Colorado-based companies.
• Cultivates, solicits and stewards corporate sponsors for the Fête des Fleurs.
• Regular attendance at the worksite may be required. As with all positions at Denver Botanic Gardens, the incumbent must be in good performance standing to be eligible for remote work. Remote work is at the discretion of management at all times.
• All Gardens employees must be committed to the mission of connecting people with plants, especially plants from the Rocky Mountain region and similar regions around the world, providing delight and enlightenment to everyone.

Position Qualifications: Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Must have experience working with volunteers, vendors and sponsors for the successful delivery of events.
• Must have strong communication (written and spoken) skills with an emphasis on sales.
• Must demonstrate initiative and the ability to work independently, while contributing effectively within a collaborative team environment.
• Must have proven excellent customer service, interpersonal, and communication skills in dealing with the public.
• Must have proven excellent customer service, interpersonal, and communication skills in dealing with the public.
• Ability to maintain stability under pressure and able to deal well with stressful situations.
• Ability to be flexible and willing to modify plans, when necessary, throughout the day.
• Ability to be flexible to work evening events, occasional weekends and extended hours during peak event seasons, as needed.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Suite products, specifically Word, Excel and Outlook and Teams.  
• Ability to work overtime as necessary.
• Must be a positive representative of the Gardens both internally and externally at all times.
• Must work with respect and cooperation at all times with fellow employees and the public.
• Must be committed to working safely at all times.

Experience/Education:

• Bachelors degree and/or combination of education and equivalent experience is required. 
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in fundraising, event management, or comparable field is required.
• Experience collaborating within and across departments for shared objectives required.
• Experience with volunteers required.
• This position requires a valid driver’s license.

Travel:

Up to 25% travel required. Requires the ability to travel to remote locations (or other Garden locations) where environment may vary significantly.  

Denver Botanic Gardens has an incredible benefits package for eligible employees!

Our major benefits include a choice of Medical Plans, a Dental and Vision Plan and Life Insurance Plan. We have a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and a Healthcare Spending Account (HSA).

The Gardens offers a generous Retirement Savings Plan with Company contribution of 6% after one year of service for eligible participants.

The Gardens also offers paid holidays, vacation, sick time, and access to personal lines of insurance. Additional benefits include short-term and long-term disability coverage, an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and an RTD ECO pass.

For eligible employees, The Gardens employment also includes a complimentary Denver Botanic Gardens Membership, access to Gardens education classes and summer concert tickets.  

Come work for a place that offers you SO much more than just a paycheck!