Senior Vice President, Institutional Advancement

DO NOT use the "Apply" button on this page. To be considered for this opportunity, you must complete the application process through the following website: https://www.kittlemansearch.com/opportunities/kittleman-for-candidates

POSITION: Senior Vice President of Institutional Advancement

REPORTS TO: President and Director

LOCATION: St. Louis, Missouri

MISSION

To discover and share knowledge about plants and their environment in order to preserve and enrich life.

ABOUT MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN

For more than 165 years, the Missouri Botanical Garden (the Garden) has stood among the world's leading botanical institutions, advancing the understanding, conservation, education, and appreciation of plants while connecting people to the natural world. Founded in 1859 by philanthropist Henry Shaw, the Garden has evolved from a visionary civic gift into a globally recognized center for horticulture, scientific research, conservation, sustainability, and public engagement. Guided by its mission to discover and share knowledge about plants and their environment in order to preserve and enrich life, the Garden remains committed to creating a world where people and nature flourish together.

Today, the Garden's influence extends far beyond its historic St. Louis campus. Through scientific discovery, conservation initiatives, educational programming, community outreach, and visitor experiences, the organization addresses some of the world's most pressing environmental challenges while inspiring millions of people to better understand the essential role plants play in sustaining life. The Garden's research and conservation efforts span more than 35 countries, while its world-renowned Herbarium contains more than eight million specimens and serves as one of the most important botanical collections in the world.

The Garden's 79-acre main campus features nearly 60,000 plantings representing more than 17,000 plant taxa, including numerous rare and threatened species. Visitors experience iconic destinations such as the Climatron, the Linnean House, the Japanese Garden, the Doris I. Schnuck Children's Garden, and the William T. Kemper Center for Home Gardening. Beyond the main campus, the Garden's family of sites includes Shaw Nature Reserve, the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House, and the Litzsinger Road Ecology Center, each advancing the organization's mission through conservation, education, and community engagement.

The Missouri Botanical Garden welcomes more than one million visitors annually and reaches hundreds of thousands more through educational programs, research initiatives, sustainability efforts, and community partnerships. The institution is supported by more than 53,000 member households, over 1,600 volunteers, an engaged Board of Trustees, generous philanthropic partners, and a talented professional staff dedicated to advancing the Garden's mission.

As the Garden embarks on a new chapter under the leadership of Dr. Lucia G. Lohmann, it is advancing an ambitious strategic vision focused on strengthening its value as a local cultural institution and its role as a global leader in science, conservation, horticulture, education, and public engagement. The next Senior Vice President of Institutional Advancement will play a critical role in helping secure the philanthropic resources, partnerships, and community support necessary to bring that vision to life and expand the Garden's impact for future generations.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Missouri Botanical Garden looks to build upon one of the most successful and respected fundraising enterprises in the cultural and nonprofit sector. This opportunity comes at a pivotal moment for the Garden as it advances a new strategic direction, explores future growth initiatives, and prepares for the eventual retirement of a highly accomplished advancement leader whose influence has shaped philanthropy at the Garden for decades.

The next Senior Vice President of Institutional Advancement will inherit a strong foundation. The department is a sophisticated advancement operation supported by a deeply loyal donor community, strong stewardship practices, robust development operations, effective membership programs, and talented advancement professionals who are deeply committed to the institution and its mission. More than 53,000 member households serve as an important source of engagement and philanthropy, reflecting a philosophy that views membership as a meaningful pathway to long-term donor relationships.

The department's accomplishments have been significant. In recent years, the Garden completed the fundraising effort for the Jack C. Taylor Visitor Center, a project that raised approximately $105 million, while also securing transformational philanthropic investments and strengthening planned giving and stewardship programs. Institutional Advancement and divisions across the Garden work together to generate approximately $7-10 million in non-taxpayer funded support of the Garden's mission and priorities.

Looking ahead, there is tremendous opportunity to expand the Garden's philanthropic reach. While the organization enjoys exceptional support throughout St. Louis, the next chapter provides an opportunity to grow donor engagement nationally and internationally, leveraging data and technology more strategically, strengthening the culture of philanthropy across the institution, engaging new generations of donors, and preparing the organization for future comprehensive campaign efforts. The next Senior Vice President will have the opportunity to lead these efforts while helping articulate a compelling case for support rooted in the Garden's global significance and local impact.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Senior Vice President of Institutional Advancement (SVP IA) provides strategic leadership for all fundraising, membership, donor engagement, and advancement operations. Reporting directly to the President & Director and serving as a key member of the Executive Leadership Team, this role ensures that philanthropy and partnership development are fully integrated into the Garden's mission and strategic plan.

This position will lead a comprehensive advancement program encompassing major gifts, annual and capital campaigns, foundation and corporate relations, planned giving, membership, special events, stewardship, and advancement operations. The role drives the cultivation of a robust culture of philanthropy across all divisions, connecting donors, members, and partners to the Garden's mission to discover and share knowledge about plants and their environment to preserve and enrich life. Through visionary leadership, the SVP IA advances the Garden's reputation as a trusted, mission-driven institution, ensuring that relationships, systems, and resources are aligned for sustainable philanthropic growth and long-term impact.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Vision

• Serve as a strategic advisor and partner to the President, Board of Trustees, and Executive Leadership Team, integrating philanthropy into institutional planning, policy development, and decision-making.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive local and global advancement strategy encompassing annual, capital, endowment, and planned giving priorities.
• Partner with the President and Board leadership to identify and fund key institutional initiatives, cultivate prospective donors, and secure transformational gifts.
• Represent the Garden in donor and philanthropic settings and foster a culture of trust, transparency, and alignment between advancement and programmatic divisions.

Fundraising and Development

• Lead the Garden's local and global fundraising programs, including major gifts, capital campaigns, annual giving, corporate and foundation support, planned giving, and special initiatives.
• Partner with the President and Board to manage, cultivate, solicit, and steward a select portfolio of donors and prospects capable of transformational six- and seven-figure gifts.
• Expand and diversify the donor pipeline through innovative prospect research, engagement strategies, and a data-driven approach with accessible performance metrics.
• Oversee advancement materials and donor communications in collaboration with the Communications & Marketing Division and President & Director to ensure consistent messaging and brand alignment.

Membership, Stewardship, and Events

• Oversee general, upper-level, and corporate membership programs, strengthening retention, engagement, and upgrading pathways.
• Lead stewardship, recognition, donor relations, and major events that build long-term loyalty, inspire philanthropy, and strengthen community connection and institutional visibility.
• Ensure fundraising and membership operations are efficient, data-informed, and technologically advanced.

Governance and External Relations

• Serve as principal staff liaison to the Development and Nominating Committees and related Board and volunteer groups, providing regular strategy briefings, performance updates, and fundraising metrics.
• Partner with Board members and volunteer leaders to activate their networks and advance fundraising goals.
• Build strong relationships with major donors, community leaders, corporate partners, and foundations, and represent the Garden at external events to enhance its visibility and credibility locally and globally.

The SVP of Institutional Advancement oversees a team of 35 staff with four direct reports. The department's operating budget is $4.8 million of an overall budget of approximately $63 million.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

The Missouri Botanical Garden seeks an accomplished advancement executive who brings both strategic perspective and exemplary fundraising success.

The successful candidate will be an innovative and relationship-oriented leader capable of positioning philanthropy as a transformational force within a complex mission-driven organization. They will possess a strong understanding of comprehensive fundraising programs and demonstrate success engaging major donors, institutional funders, trustees, and other key stakeholders.

Most importantly, this individual will understand how to connect donors to purpose. They will be energized by the Garden's mission, inspired by its global impact, and skilled at translating scientific discovery, conservation initiatives, educational programs, and visitor experiences into compelling philanthropic opportunities.

The ideal candidate will bring:

• Significant executive-level advancement leadership experience within a nonprofit, higher education, cultural, conservation, healthcare, or similarly complex organization.
• Demonstrated success securing and stewarding transformational gifts and institutional support, locally and globally.
• Experience leading comprehensive fundraising programs, campaigns, and advancement operations.
• A track record of building and mentoring high-performing teams.
• Strong financial, analytical, and strategic planning capabilities.
• Experience working closely with executive leaders, governing boards, and volunteers.
• Exceptional communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills.

The strongest candidates will also demonstrate:

• Strategic vision combined with disciplined execution.
• Intellectual curiosity and a commitment to lifelong learning.
• Collaborative leadership and emotional intelligence.
• Personal integrity, humility, and credibility.
• A genuine appreciation for the Garden's mission and its role in advancing knowledge, conservation, and public engagement.

Bilingual proficiency is highly preferred; conversational fluency in French, Spanish and/or Portuguese is considered a strong asset.

A bachelor's degree is required. An advanced degree and/or relevant professional certifications are preferred, though a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) is required. Equivalent combinations of education, experience, and demonstrated fundraising success will be considered.

COMPENSATION, BENEFITS, & APPLICATION FOR POSITION

Missouri Botanical Garden offers a competitive salary and benefits package.

The salary range for this position is $225,000-$260,000 and will be commensurate with experience. The Missouri Botanical Garden offers a comprehensive benefits package including, but not limited to, paid time off, medical, vision and dental insurance, as well as a 403b plan.

How to Apply - DO NOT use the "Apply" button on this page.

To apply, please confidentially submit a current resume and cover letter to Kittleman & Associates at https://www.kittlemansearch.com/opportunities/senior-vice-president-of-institutional-advancement-missouri-botanical-garden.

The cover letter is an opportunity to showcase your passion for the Missouri Botanical Garden and its mission, as well as your organizational expertise in current or prior roles. For best consideration, please submit your materials by December 4, 2026.