Career Opportunities
Donor Database Specialist
Ventura Botanical Gardens is seeking a well-rounded nonprofit professional with 3-5 years of comprehensive database experience to join our growing team. The Donor Database Specialist will play a key role in ensuring the integrity of our data systems to serve Garden members and donors. Some evenings and weekends required. Will consider a full or part-time position.
Job Description
The Donor Database Specialist’s primary responsibilities will center on the maintenance of VBG’s donor database and responding to donor needs. The Donor Database Specialist must have excellent phone skills and enjoy working with the
public and is expected to provide excellent customer service to all donors.
Experience working with and providing leadership to volunteers is desired.
This position will report to the Director of Development and work closely with various Garden staff and volunteers, particularly Membership associates.
Duties & Responsibilities
- Maintain administrative aspects of the Garden donor program through CRM databases to support new and existing donor initiatives.
- Manages the daily donation activity, including all online and offline giving.
- Ensures that donations are correctly coded and credited to the appropriate constituent and that reconciliation and income reports are completed on time.
- Collects and enters gifts into donor database and creates donor records to ensure accuracy and consistency in gift allocation, pledge payments, giving level, matching gift agreements, and contact information/limitations.
- Creates and maintains reports.
- Participates in annual financial audits on an as-needed basis.
- Process donations and coordinate with accounting monthly.
- Handle and resolve donor concerns and inform the supervisor of unusual situations or unresolved issues.
- Apply all Garden policies dealing with donors.
- Implement best strategies in stewardship, renewal and upgrading of current donors.
- Maintain SOPs related to donor database maintenance and policies.
Some evenings and weekends are required. - Make deposits and enter donation data in a timely manner
- Pick up mail from the Post Office Box
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- An understanding of how a strong donor program is an integral part of an organization’s culture of philanthropy.
- Strong organizational skills, self-motivation, and attention to detail.
- Experience working in donor databases.
- Experience working with mail houses, the bulk mail unit, printers, and graphic designers.
- Ability to work alone or with groups of diverse individuals with varying ideas and personalities.
- Creative approaches to problem-solving linked to practical and effective implementation.
- A strong work ethic, the ability to maintain and model high personal, ethical, and professional standards, and an outgoing and positive personality are essential.
- Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office Suite
Confidentiality
The Donor Database Specialist will be privy to confidential information and must ensure that information is dealt with in the strictest of confidence and discretion.
Compensation
The pay range is $20-$24 per hour. Compensation will be commensurate with the individual's qualifications and experience. For full-time employees, there is a matching 401(k).
Application Instructions
To apply, email a cover letter and resume to info@venturabotanicalgardens.com. Please add in the email subject line Donor Database Specialist.
Director of Development
The Ventura Botanical Gardens was created by a small group of visionary Ventura residents in 2005. They came together to formulate plans for a world-class botanical garden showcasing and preserving native plants and providing educational, recreational, and cultural enhancement for the Ventura coastal community. Since that time, the gardens have grown to encompass plants from the five Mediterranean climate zones with future plans to expand public gathering areas and facilities for educational programs, botanic laboratories, collection spaces, and a range of amenities including dining facilities and event center. We rely heavily on fundraising to grow our gardens and sustain our programs. We are seeking a Director of Development to lead our fundraising efforts.
Position Overview:
The Director of Development will be responsible for planning and implementing a comprehensive fundraising program that includes major gifts, annual giving, corporate and foundation giving, planned giving, and special events. The successful candidate will work closely with the Executive Director and Board of Directors to develop fundraising goals and strategies.
Key Responsibilities:
- Develop and implement a comprehensive annual fundraising plan to meet the organization’s annual revenue goals.
- Identify and cultivate major gift prospects, as well as corporate and foundation donors.
- Write donor proposals and grant submissions.
- Plan and execute special events that engage donors and raise funds for the organization.
- Inspire, manage and lead a team of volunteers and fundraising professionals, providing guidance, training, and support as needed.
- Collaborate with our Communications team to develop and execute effective donor communications and marketing materials.
- Work closely with the Board of Directors and Executive Director to develop fundraising strategies and goals.
- Monitor and analyze fundraising data to evaluate performance and adjust strategies as needed.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Minimum of 5 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, with a proven track record of success in major gifts, annual giving, planned giving, and special events.
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in nonprofit management, business administration, or a related field.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to write compelling donor proposals.
- Strong leadership and management skills, with experience managing volunteers and fundraising professionals.
- Familiarity with Donor Perfect or a comparable fundraising CRM platform.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
- Strong entrepreneurial spirit, hands-on, detail oriented.
- Ability to work well in both a collaborative and independent environment.
- Strong written and oral communications skills. Ability to understand complex business strategies and to communicate effectively and efficiently to diverse audiences.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities; exhibit good business judgment and common sense.
- Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and accuracy.
- Able to work some weekends and evenings, when needed.
- Comfortable in a fast-paced environment that requires quick turnaround and flexibility.
- Must be on site at the botanical gardens a majority of the work week and to become intimately familiar with the gardens and facilities.
Certificates and Licenses:
- Must have a valid California driver's license and maintain an acceptable driving record.
Physical Functions:
Must be capable of occasional strenuous physical work, including:
- Sitting for up to 4.0 hours at a time and using a computer and phone for lengthy periods.
- Standing/walking for extended periods of time.
- Lifting and carrying, bending, squatting, and walking stairs and the VBG pathways.
- Tolerance of an outdoor work environment including exposure to outdoor environmental conditions, including extreme temperature fluctuations, rain, dust, allergens, poison oak, insects, small wild animals, and sun exposure.
Contact Info: Joe Cahill (805) 232-3113 x 0
jcahill@venturabotanicalgardens.com
Horticulture Student Intern
The Ventura Botanical Gardens is a young garden that celebrates plants from the five Mediterranean climate regions of the world. Our botanical collections under conservation include many threatened and endangered species that require specialized care. VBG is also an expanding garden with a master plan for 107 acres, 40 acres of which have been developed. Our horticulture team manages the care of the current collection and the ongoing expansion of the gardens.
Responsibilities: Basic groundskeeping, mulching, planting, weeding, irrigation, pest eradication, minor landscaping, etc. Must be willing to work with the team.
Key Skills and Attributes:
- Punctuality and reliability for scheduled hours.
- Attention to detail.
- Safety conscious.
- Some knowledge of horticulture, agriculture, botany, or plant science is preferred.
Location of Work: Outdoors in-person at Ventura Botanical Gardens, 567 Poli St Ventura.
Hours/week: 20 hours per week; schedule is somewhat flexible, weekdays only.
Hours/month: 80 hours per month for 3 months.
Hourly Wage: $12 - $15, depending on experience.
Contact Info: Joe Cahill (805) 232-3113 x 0
jcahill@venturabotanicalgardens.com
Development/Administrative Student Intern
The Ventura Botanical Gardens is a young garden that celebrates plants from the five Mediterranean climate regions of the world. The Development Team role at Ventura Botanical Gardens consists of Memberships, Major Gifts, Annual Giving, and Events. We support and promote VBG’s mission by building relationships with members, volunteers, and donors and helping to convert their love of the Gardens into support and action. Interns work alongside our Development team to gain experience in all areas, including member and donor stewardship, customer service, volunteer coordination, events, and more!
Responsibilities:
- Learn and assist with fulfilling membership orders and preparing member packets and mailings.
- Data entry and data checking
- Historical data organization (filing donor/member information)
- Work with supervisors to come up with and complete a project related to memberships/development advancement
Key Skills and Attributes:
- Willingness to learn Customer Service
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Google Suite
- Weekend and evening availability for events
- Interface with the public (at events, in the Gardens, etc.)
Location of Work: In-person position at Ventura Botanical Gardens office in downtown Ventura.
Hours/week: 20 hours per week; schedule is somewhat flexible, but primarily weekdays.
Hours/month: 80 hours per month for 3 months.
Paid or Volunteer: paid, must be a student, must be enrolled for next semester.
Hourly Wage: $12 - $15, depending on experience.
Contact Info: Joe Cahill (805) 232-3113 x 0
jcahill@venturabotanicalgardens.com
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