Director of Development (New York)

About Gotham Park

Gotham Park is a new public space opened in 2023, located at the base of the Brooklyn Bridge in Manhattan, operated by a 501(c)3 created in 2021, dedicated to advocating for the creation, and now stewarding this unique site for public benefit. Through thoughtful programming, partnerships, and community engagement, Gotham Park works to ensure the park remains accessible, vibrant, and sustainable, while committing to advocating for expansion to create a 9-acre public space stretching from City Hall to the East River.

As Gotham Park continues to grow, the organization is building its fundraising capacity to support long-term stewardship, programming, and capital development.

Learn more about our journey here: 

2023: The Brooklyn Banks, Famous Among N.Y.C. Skateboarders, Could Reopen Soon - The New York Times

2024: You See Rubble and Garbage. She Sees New York’s Next Great Park. - The New York Times

2026: Want to Change Your Neighborhood? Start With a Power Walk.

Position Overview

Gotham Park seeks a strategic and entrepreneurial Director of Development to lead and execute the organization’s fundraising efforts at a pivotal stage of growth. Reporting to the Co-Founder and President and working closely with senior leadership and the Board, this role will drive fundraising strategy while serving alongside the co-founder as one of the organization’s primary frontline fundraisers.

The Director will serve as a strategic thought partner to the President and Board, helping shape Gotham Park's long-term philanthropic vision while building the systems and relationships needed to sustain organizational growth.

This is a hands-on role for someone who can move between big-picture thinking and day-to-day execution—developing strategy, building relationships, writing proposals and appeals, and ensuring strong follow-through across all fundraising activities. The Director will be expected to work independently while contributing to a highly collaborative, mission-driven team.

The Director will oversee and grow all philanthropic revenue streams, including individual giving (annual, major, and leadership gifts), institutional funding, corporate support, and events. They will supervise and partner closely with the part-time Grants Consultant.

Why This Role Matters Now

Gotham Park is in an early and important phase of growth, with a significant opportunity to build a strong and sustainable base of philanthropic support. The Director of Development will play a central role in shaping how the organization grows its funding, strengthening early support while building a pipeline capable of securing larger investments over time.

This includes developing pathways from annual giving to major and leadership gifts, and positioning the organization to secure seven- and eight-figure philanthropic opportunities tied to the park’s long-term vision.

Responsibilities

Fundraising Strategy & Execution

• Implement and refine annual and multi-year fundraising strategies aligned with Gotham Park’s priorities.
• Translate organizational goals into clear plans across annual giving, major gifts, leadership gifts, and institutional support.
• Build a balanced revenue approach that supports both near-term needs and long-term growth.
• Track progress against goals and adjust strategies as needed.
• Develop annual fundraising goals and key performance metrics, regularly evaluating progress and adjusting strategy to achieve revenue targets.
• Identify, research, and qualify new individual, foundation, and corporate funding prospects.

Individual Giving: Annual, Major & Leadership Gifts

• Build and manage a portfolio of donors and high-capacity prospects.
• Lead all aspects of donor engagement: identification, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and upgrade strategy.
• Strengthen the full individual giving pipeline, from annual donors through major and leadership-level supporters.
• Create compelling fundraising materials, including appeals, proposals, donor correspondence, and case statements.
• Partner with the President and Board on top donor relationships and solicitations.
• Build toward a pipeline capable of supporting seven- and eight-figure gifts.
• Help prepare Gotham Park for future comprehensive or capital fundraising initiatives by strengthening donor engagement and philanthropic infrastructure.

Institutional Funding, Operations & Systems

• Supervise and collaborate closely with the Grants Manager on institutional funding efforts, including research, proposal development, reporting, and compliance.
• Develop and maintain donor pipelines, reporting tools, and workflows to support accountability and decision-making.
• Establish and maintain strong moves management practices across all donor segments, ensuring clear next steps and consistent progress.
• Ensure the effective use of the organization's CRM (Salesforce preferred) to manage donor relationships, pipeline activity, reporting, and fundraising analytics.
• Ensure consistent donor stewardship, including acknowledgments, reporting, and ongoing engagement.

Board & Donor Engagement

• Partner with the Board of Directors to support fundraising efforts, including prospect identification, cultivation, and peer outreach.
• Support Board engagement in fundraising through preparation of materials, strategy, and follow-up.
• Serve as a visible representative of Gotham Park with donors, partners, and civic stakeholders.
• Oversee fundraising and donor engagement events, ensuring they support both revenue goals and long-term relationship building.
• Work across the organization to translate programs, public space investments, and civic impact into compelling funding opportunities.
• Equip Board members with strategies, materials, and coaching to support fundraising and donor engagement.

Team Development (Future Growth)

• Supervise the part-time Grants Consultant.
• Help define the future structure and growth of the development function.
• Contribute to building additional development capacity over time, as appropriate. 

Qualifications & Skills

• 5–10 years of progressive fundraising experience, with a strong focus on individual and major gifts.
• Demonstrated success securing five- and six-figure gifts, with the ability to contribute to and close larger gifts, including seven-figure and above.
• Experience managing a donor pipeline across annual, major, and leadership giving levels.
• Excellent writing and editing skills, including experience developing proposals, reports, and donor communications.
• Strong project management and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Ability to track progress, analyze information, and apply data to inform fundraising strategy.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build relationships and represent the organization externally.
• High level of initiative, attention to detail, and follow-through.
• Collaborative mindset and willingness to contribute across the organization.
• Familiarity with New York City’s philanthropic landscape strongly preferred.
• Experience or familiarity working with government agencies, public funding, or civic-facing projects is a plus.
• Bachelor’s degree or comparable experience in fundraising, nonprofit management, public administration, communications, or a related field.
• Proficiency with CRM systems (Salesforce preferred) and standard office tools.

Key Competencies:

• Strategic thinking with strong execution skills
• Exceptional relationship-building abilities
• Entrepreneurial mindset and comfort building new processes
• Excellent judgment and discretion
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, evolving organization

Physical Aspects of the Job

• Ability to travel locally within New York City area for meetings, site visits, and events.
• Ability to sit/stand/walk for extended periods.
• Participation in meetings, donor visits, and community engagement activities as needed.
• Availability to attend occasional evening and weekend events, as appropriate.
• Use of computer and phone required.

Compensation/Benefits

This is a full-time, e]]> <