Stewardship & Campaign Officer

Job description

Summary: The Missouri Botanical Garden is seeking an advancement professional to join the Institutional Advancement division as Stewardship & Campaign Officer. This role is an integral member of the fundraising team supporting individual, corporate, and foundation giving, and reports to the Director, Major and Institutional Giving. The Stewardship & Campaign Officer plays a critical role in advancing a culture of philanthropy by deepening donor engagement and strengthening long-term relationships with the Garden’s most valued supporters. This position designs and delivers strategic, relationship-centered stewardship initiatives that demonstrate the impact of giving, inspire continued investment, and enhance donor loyalty. Through highly curated experiences, personalized engagement strategies, and thoughtful collaboration with advancement colleagues, this position supports the full donor lifecycle, from meaningful cultivation to long-term stewardship, ensuring donors feel connected, informed, and inspired by their partnership with the Garden. This work directly contributes to increased donor retention, giving growth, and sustained philanthropic support. This position collaborates closely with advancement leadership, major gift officers, and cross-functional partners to align donor experiences with institutional priorities and fundraising goals. Exceptional communication skills, strategic thinking, and the ability to translate donor insights into meaningful engagement opportunities are essential. Essential Duties and Responsibilities: • Advances donor cultivation strategies by designing and implementing tailored engagement opportunities that deepen relationships with major donors, prospects, and institutional partners. • Serves as an ambassador for the Garden, learning Garden history and lore, to engage special guests, community organizations, and other stakeholders through meaningful interactions that strengthen philanthropic commitment. • Designs and executes high-impact donor experiences, including private tours, curated visits, and special briefings, that align donor interests with funding priorities and campaign initiatives. • Translates impact into engagement, coordinating special touches for corporate, foundation and institutional funders, such as site visits, and programmatic experiences that reinforce the value of investment. • Working with the office of the SVP of Institutional Advancement, supports campaign activities by contributing to donor strategy, assisting with proposals and gift agreements, and facilitating meaningful engagement opportunities for campaign donors and prospects. • Ensures excellence in donor experience by managing inquiries, coordinating logistics, and maintaining a high level of responsiveness, professionalism, and attention to detail. • Collaborates across departments, including Institutional Advancement, Events, Communications & Marketing, and program teams, to ensure a cohesive, high-quality donor experience that reflects institutional priorities. • In coordination with Major Gift Officers and Upper Level Giving team, leverages intel from donor tours to coordinate specialized correspondence and initiatives focused on membership upgrades. • Coordinates innovative stewardship initiatives that connect donors directly with mission delivery, including fellowships, research programs, and conservation efforts. • Coordinates, tracks and manages campaign prospects through identification, stewardship, solicitation and gift acceptance. • Supports recognition and reporting efforts that reinforce donor impact, including listings in annual report, naming opportunities, and sponsor benefits. • Assists with event coverage at other Advancement donor and corporate events, as needed; Acts as back-up to donor phone line and email inbox when needed. • Meets expected attendance guidelines. • Follows and adheres to established policies and procedures, including but not limited to Employee Handbook, Garden Safety Guidelines and Department Policies. • Behaves and communicates in a manner that promotes and fosters a culture of teamwork, collaboration, and respect within the division and throughout the Garden with all employees, supervisors/managers, volunteers, visitors, and others. • Performs other duties as assigned. Competencies: • Communication: Listens to others and asks questions for clarification; writes clearly and presents information accurately; speaks professionally and responds well to questions; supports positive visitor relations. • Collaboration: Demonstrates teamwork and promotes respect in the workplace; engages in problem solving and group initiatives; cooperates in implementing procedures and process improvements; strives for positive visitor experiences. • Accountability: Demonstrates commitment to responsibilities and adaptable to changes; effectively prioritizes, troubleshoots and takes appropriate actions; follows policies and procedures, meets deadlines, quality, and safety standards; strives to proactively address visitor and internal colleagues’ concerns. • Problem Solving: Identifies and resolves problems; includes supervisor before taking action as necessary; recommends solutions, demonstrates creativity and resourcefulness; exhibits sound and accurate judgment in decision making process; includes appropriate people in making decisions. • Stewardship: Promotes and adheres to sustainability, safety and security protocols; fosters a culture of respect, diversity and inclusion; demonstrates effective and prudent use of Garden resources; maximizes contributions during work hours. Qualifications and Experience: • Bachelor’s degree and three to five years of relevant experience in advancement, fundraising, or a related field. • Demonstrated success in building and strengthening donor relationships and contributing to fundraising outcomes. • Strong strategic thinking skills, with the ability to align stewardship activities with broader fundraising goals. • Proven ability to manage multiple priorities, execute complex projects, and meet deadlines in a dynamic environment. • Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate effectively across a complex, mission-driven organization. • Experience planning and executing donor cultivation, recognition, and engagement initiatives. • Professional maturity, discretion, and a high level of accountability and integrity. • Commitment to the mission of the Missouri Botanical Garden and the role of philanthropy in advancing that mission. • Flexibility to support events outside of standard business hours, as needed. • Adheres to all health and safety policies/procedures. • The Garden is committed to the safety and wellbeing of our employees, volunteers and guests. All staff are strongly encouraged to receive all vaccinations as recommended by your healthcare provider prior to hire date. The Garden reserves the right to require future proof of current vaccination status, based on local health department guidelines. When international travel is necessary for Garden business, staff must be able to obtain required travel clearances, driving permits, and vaccinations for all countries where travel is required. • The requirements and duties listed are representative and not exhaustive of the knowledge, skill, and/or abilities required. Education: • Bachelor’s degree in Non-profit Management, Business Management, Marketing, Communications or a related field required. • An equivalent combination of skills, education and experience may be considered. Communication and Language Skills: • Ability to communicate effectively in English (verbal and written). • Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling, donor-centered narratives that convey impact and inspire continued giving. Mathematical Skills: • Basic math skills; requires ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication and division; calculate percentages and decimals, etc. Reasoning Ability: • Requires ability to exercise independent judgment to apply facts and principles for developing approaches and techniques to problem resolution. Computer Skills: • Intermediate to advanced skill level using Microsoft Office Word and Excel programs required; strong working knowledge of Outlook features (specifically the electronic calendar feature) required and PowerPoint preferred. • Experience working with CRM systems (preferably Tessitura) and analyzing donor data to inform engagement strategies. Certificates, Licenses, Registrations: • Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license. • Must have the ability to pass a background screening and motor vehicle report (MVR) to meet minimum insurance underwriting criteria. Physical Demands: • Requires ability to make frequent telephone calls and routine in-person visits to the organization’s current and future corporate donors and prospects. • Ability to utilize computer keyboard (typing) and sit for extended periods of the work day • Must be able to lift and carry 20 pounds when transporting supplies and assisting constituents; occasional hands-on participation with event set-ups required. • May be required to perform tasks at varying heights (i.e., step stool ladders, etc.). • Ability to move up and down stairwells (multiple MBG buildings have stairs); walk about facility frequently throughout workday; frequent standing, reaching and stooping - 25% or more of the workday may be spent standing on feet. • Ability to drive (use of surrey to conduct constituent tours and meetings). • Must be able to work both indoors and outdoors. Work Environment: • Quiet indoor office setting; office environment with multiple staff within the department, operate standard office equipment to include computer, copier, fax machines, and other equipment. • Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions (i.e., humid conditions, temperatures over 100°F as well as temperatures below 0°F, in rain, snow and other inclement weather conditions as needed). • Comfortable working in immediate proximity to general public, in a safe and friendly manner, answering general questions regarding the questions regarding horticulture collection, Garden’s operations, events, facilities, etc. Contacts with Individuals/Organizations inside/outside the Garden: • Other Institutional Advancement Division staff as well as cross-divisional staff. • High profile donors to the Garden. • Garden volunteers and vendors. • Colleagues in other non-profit organizations. Supervisor: • Director, Major and Institutional Giving