Senior Director, Advancement

About Us

Harlem Grown’s mission is to inspire youth to live healthy and ambitious lives through mentorship and hands-on education in urban farming, sustainability, and nutrition.

Harlem Grown operates 13 urban agricultural sites featuring 5 soil-based urban farms, 4 school gardens, 3 hydroponic greenhouses, and a mushroom chamber. All of our sites are located between 122 and 152 Streets in Central Harlem, Manhattan.

Since 2021, our programming has served over 10,000 youth in Harlem, we've produced and distributed over 100,000 servings of food, and diverted over 50,000 pounds of food scraps into local compost operations.

Our Programs

Harlem Grown provides youth and community development programs focused on urban farming, wellness, and sustainability through the lens of racial justice, food justice, social justice, and equity. Our youth focused programs include intensive school partnerships, educational farm tours, a summer camp, a Saturday enrichment program, monthly community events, an afterschool program, and our Mobile Teaching Kitchen. Our community development programs open to all ages include wellness workshops, special events, food scrap collection for composting, and fresh produce distribution to participants, volunteers, and neighborhood residents.

Location: Harlem, New York (On-Site)

Position Summary: Harlem Grown is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Senior Director, Advancement to lead the expansion of the organization’s reach, influence, and revenue sustainability. Reporting to the Executive Director and supervising a team of development, marketing, and operations professionals, the Senior Director is responsible for developing and executing revenue, marketing, and communications strategies. The Senior Director will spearhead dynamic revenue growth and ongoing sustainable through: (1) management of a portfolio of leadership-level donors; (2) engaging leadership—especially the CEO—to greatest impact in those leadership-level relationships; and (3) strategically activating the External Affairs team. The Senior Director will work cross-functionally to build Harlem Grown’s brand and elevate storytelling. This position requires a seasoned professional with a deep understanding of nonprofit development, a proven track record of leading dynamic revenue growth, and a passion for Harlem Grown. By fostering relationships with donors and stewarding their engagement, the Senior Director will play a pivotal role in advancing Harlem Grown's mission and driving its continued growth.

Key Responsibilities:

Department & team leadership

• Develop and lead execution of a comprehensive external affairs strategy—including revenue generation and brand development—that aligns with Harlem Grown’s vision, mission, values, goals, and investment priorities.
• Lead growth and change with intentionality, communicating and collaborating proactively with stakeholders such as leadership, peers, board members, staff, donors, and/or other volunteers, as appropriate.
• Leverage data and analytics to hone strategies, inform strategies, optimize resources, and expand the impact of the External Affairs team.
• Activate a team of fundraising professionals through intentional talent development, metrics management, and accountability.
• Lead increased and elevated donor engagement, retention, and relationship development.
• Lead identification, cultivation, and ‘acquisition’ of new donors.
• Collaborate with the leadership to identify funding priorities and equip team to align donor interests with organizational needs.
• Oversee marketing, communications, and PR, in close collaboration with supporting team members, leadership, and colleagues in other departments.
• Stay current on trends and best practices, incorporating innovative strategies to maximize revenue generation and brand development.

Portfolio management

• Identify, proactively cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of individuals, family foundations, and private foundations, with a focus on those with the potential capacity to invest $100,000 or more per year.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with donors, serving as their primary point of contact and providing regular updates on Harlem Grown's impact, initiatives, and opportunities for involvement.
• Directly engage and support the CEO and other leadership in portfolio donor engagement, making the highest and best use of time, talents, and relationships.

Qualifications:

• Minimum of 8 years of demonstrated success in fundraising, with experience in principal and major gifts and foundation relations preferred.
• Proven understanding of fundraising best practices, including cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies, as well as experience with prospect research and donor pipeline management.
• Proven ability to build and maintain strong relationships with high-net-worth individuals, foundations, and corporate partners, with a track record of securing significant gifts.
• Ability to develop and implement strategic fundraising plans, identify fundraising opportunities, and think creatively to engage donors and meet fundraising goals.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling fundraising materials and deliver persuasive presentations.
• Demonstrated experience working collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders, including executive leadership, program staff, board members, and volunteers.
• Proficiency in using fundraising software and Salesforce or other CRM platforms to manage donor relationships, track contributions, and generate reports.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a focus on achieving measurable outcomes and exceeding fundraising targets.
• Excellent project management skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Alignment with Harlem Grown's mission and a strong commitment to youth development, education, and the environment.
• Ability and willingness to travel up to 50% for donor events, engagements, and meetings.