Director of Donor Experience

Senior Development Leader

Join our team in a highly visible leadership role where every donor interaction becomes an opportunity to inspire, connect, and make a lasting impact. As a senior member of the Development team, you will shape and elevate the full donor experience, designing a thoughtful, data-informed stewardship strategy that brings our mission to life through meaningful communications, memorable events, and personalized recognition. Working closely with executive leadership, board members, and passionate volunteers, you’ll help cultivate relationships that deepen engagement and fuel long-term philanthropic support. If you are a strategic, relationship-driven professional who thrives on creating impactful experiences and building genuine connections, we invite you to apply.

Location: Hybrid (The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL)

Position Summary: Lead a comprehensive donor experience strategy designed to deepen relationships, strengthen retention, and enhance philanthropic support across all donor levels, including annual, mid-level, major, principal, and institutional funders. Responsible for designing and executing an integrated program of stewardship, recognition, donor communications, events, volunteer engagement, donor gifting, and travel to ensure a consistent, meaningful, and mission-driven donor journey. Serve as a senior member of the Development team and have extensive interaction with the CEO, Board of Trustees, and volunteer campaign and event committees.

Essential Functions:

• Lead the development, execution, and continuous improvement of a comprehensive donor experience and stewardship strategy informed by data and donor insights.
• Design and oversee tailored stewardship programs for all donor segments, partnering closely with major gifts and annual giving teams to deliver personalized engagement.
• Ensure timely, meaningful donor acknowledgment, recognition, and impact reporting across all channels and fundraising initiatives.
• Oversee donor-facing communications, including newsletters, impact reports, digital content, and other stewardship materials.
• Partner with Marketing and Creative teams, as well as external vendors, to develop compelling donor-centered storytelling and recognition materials.
• Develop and implement donor recognition and appreciation programs across print, digital, experiential, and public-facing platforms.
• Lead innovative donor engagement initiatives, including cultivation opportunities, stewardship touchpoints, milestone recognition, and donor gifting programs.
• Oversee a portfolio of donor events and experiences, including cultivation and stewardship events, the Arboretum's travel program, and the annual Evergreen Gala; serve as staff liaison to volunteer leadership committees and oversee event execution.
• Support the recruitment, engagement, and stewardship of volunteer leaders to advance fundraising and campaign goals.
• Manage budgets, financial reporting, endowed fund stewardship coordination, and evaluation of donor engagement, event performance, and overall program effectiveness.
• Demonstrate alignment with the Arboretum’s employee core values.
• Other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Serve in a supervisory capacity of one or more employees, providing leadership guidance and communicating the organization's goals. This includes:

  • Hiring, training, coaching and developing team members, by providing recognition and feedback, and evaluating performance
  • Ensuring that team members adhere to the Arboretum’s policies and procedures, and maintaining a safe and compliant work environment
  • Building and maintaining positive working relationships with team members, colleagues, and other stakeholders to foster a collaborative and supportive work environment

Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree required. 7+ years of fundraising/development experience required, campaign experience preferred. Demonstrated revenue-generating special event experience required. High degree of confidentiality required. Strong verbal and written communication skills required. Experience working with high-level volunteers and staff leadership is essential. Proficiency with Microsoft Office and experience with Google applications beneficial. Experience using database systems, with prior experience using a Constituent Relationship Management system preferred.

Success Factors: Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills to function successfully in a professional team structure. Ability to build positive relationships with volunteers, donors and staff. Ability to be responsive and flexible in a dynamic and evolving organization. Ability to work independently and collaboratively to handle multiple projects and deadlines. Familiarity with audiovisual equipment or the willingness to learn the technical needs of special events. A commitment to, and ability to effectively convey, the Arboretum’s mission with genuine passion, and the willingness to continually learn about the programs and mission.

Physical Demands and Work Environment: The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

• Physical Demands: Requires some physical activity: limited lifting and carrying (up to 25 lbs.), and occasional travel around the Arboretum grounds and locally.

• Work Environment: Office environment with occasional outdoor work required.

• Equipment: General office equipment, audiovisual equipment, two-way radio, Arboretum golf cart, and Cushman cart.

• Schedule: Position requires occasional extended work hours, including evenings and weekends.

The expected hiring range for this position is annualized at $110,000-$125,000 based on experience that will be evaluated during the candidate selection process. We believe in the importance of pay equity and consider the internal equity of our current team members as a part of the final offer.

Our benefits include:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
• 401(k) with generous match
• Generous vacation, floating holidays, and sick days

And more! For a complete list of benefits, please view our competitive benefits package.

For full consideration, please submit a resume and cover letter.

The Morton Arboretum is a champion for diversity, supporting a culture of inclusion that attracts, inspires, and engages people to achieve success. The Arboretum is committed to hire and develop employees based on job-related qualifications irrespective of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, or veteran status. The Morton Arboretum is dedicated to complying with our obligations as an equal opportunity employer. All applicants are guaranteed equal consideration for employment.