Institutional Partnerships Specialist

GrowNYC is a 54-year-old environmental nonprofit organization helping more than 3 million New Yorkers by providing essential services and taking action to make NYC a livable city, one where every person can enjoy a healthier, more sustainable life. GrowNYC Programs include:

• Our network of Greenmarkets, Farmstands, and the work of GrowNYC Wholesale ensure that all New Yorkers have access to the freshest, healthiest local food.
• We build and support community and school gardens through volunteer days, technical assistance, training, grants and more.
• We provide 70,000 children each year with programs that provide meaningful interactions with the natural environment.

Institutional Partnerships Specialist (Full-time)

Position Summary

GrowNYC seeks a mission-driven and experienced fundraiser to serve as our Institutional Partnerships Specialist. This position will play a key role in cultivating and growing support from corporations, foundations, healthcare systems, and other institutional funders. Reporting to the Director of Advancement, the Specialist will work cross-functionally to shape partnership strategies, deepen existing relationships, and secure new funding aligned with GrowNYC’s mission.

This is an exciting opportunity for a seasoned development professional who thrives on building authentic, strategic relationships and is eager to make an impact across food access, education, green infrastructure, and sustainability.

Requirements

Institutional Partnerships Specialist Responsibilities (Include but are not limited to):

Institutional Fundraising and Relationship Management

• Manage a portfolio of corporate and institutional funders (corporations, foundations, healthcare systems, civic organizations) contributing $20,000+ annually.
• Lead identification, solicitation, cultivation, and stewardship of donors, including creating tailored proposals, pitch decks, stewardship materials, and reports.
• Deepen existing partnerships and secure renewals and multi-year support through proactive engagement and strategic alignment with GrowNYC’s mission.
• Represent GrowNYC externally in meetings and events with prospective and current institutional donors.

Cross-Department Collaboration and Program Integration

• Liaise with program staff to develop fundable projects, collect impact data, and package content for funder engagement.
• Work with Communications, Government Affairs, and Programs teams to position GrowNYC as a preferred partner and ensure consistent messaging across audiences.
• Coordinate with program staff to fulfill partnership deliverables (e.g., branding, recognition, volunteer days, cause marketing campaigns).

Strategic Development and New Opportunity Generation

• Research and identify new prospects across priority sectors, including healthcare and environmentally aligned companies.
• Build out creative, scalable engagement offerings (e.g., virtual workshops, custom volunteer packages) for corporate and institutional audiences.
• Track sector trends (CSR, ESG, corporate philanthropy) and apply insights to inform strategy and offerings.

Data, Reporting, and Internal Support

• Maintain accurate records of donor communications and relationship status in Raisers Edge and other platforms.
• Track proposal and reporting deadlines and coordinate with internal teams to gather deliverables.
• Support the Advancement team with special projects, campaign implementation, and preparation of briefing materials for senior leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field.
• At least 6–8 years of experience in fundraising, business development, or corporate/institutional partnership management.
• Demonstrated success securing and stewarding five- and six-figure gifts from corporations or foundations.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to craft compelling, tailored proposals.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to independently manage complex relationships and projects.
• Excellent attention to detail and follow-through, with strong organizational and time management skills.
• Collaborative spirit, with a proactive, problem-solving mindset and high emotional intelligence.
• Comfortable representing GrowNYC externally with professionalism, clarity, and purpose.
• Familiarity with fundraising databases and tools (e.g., Raisers’ Edge or similar).
• Commitment to GrowNYC’s mission and values, including equity and inclusion across all aspects of the work.

Physical Requirements

Ability to be seated for long periods of time and travel within the five boroughs as needed.

Schedule

The position will be expected to work primarily Monday-Friday 9am-5pm 35-40 hours per week, on-site at GrowNYC’s office in downtown Manhattan (three days). In-office presence is required every Wednesday. Occasional off site work may be required, including evening or weekend availability, for fundraising events and donor tours.

Compensation

The position is an exempt, full-time salaried position. It pays $75,000 - $80,000 and includes full benefits (medical, dental, vision, life insurance, long-term disability, incentive savings plan, paid time off, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and potential for parental leave for full-time regular employees who have been employed with GrowNYC for 175 days and FSA programs). The position is non-union-eligible/not part of the bargaining unit.

Location

GrowNYC’s main office is located in downtown Manhattan and throughout NYC as needed for site visits, events and tours.