Institutional Giving Officer

Harlem Grown Overview

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 14 urban agricultural sites featuring 6 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.  

Last year alone, our programming served over 6,880 youth in Harlem. We produced and distributed over 118,211 servings of food and diverted over 9,580 pounds of food scraps into local compost operations. 

About Us 

Harlem Grown’s mission is to inspire youth to lead healthy and ambitious lives through mentorship and hands-on education in urban farming, sustainability, and nutrition. Founded in 2011, Harlem Grown serves youth ages 5–18 and the broader Harlem community, using food and farm education to build healthy habits early and strengthen community well-being. 

We operate 14 urban agricultural sites across Central Harlem, including soil-based farms, school gardens, hydroponic greenhouses, and a mushroom chamber. These spaces are community hubs where youth, families and neighbors grow together. 

Our Programs 

Harlem Grown delivers year-round youth and community programs grounded in food justice, racial equity, and environmental sustainability. Our youth programs include school partnerships, afterschool and summer camp, Saturday enrichment, farm tours, service learning, and mobile education. We also host inclusive community programming such as weekly Farm Stands offering free fresh produce, food scrap collection for composting, wellness workshops, and seasonal events that foster connection and belonging. 

Our impact continues to grow. Since 2021, we’ve served over 10,000 youth and expanded our reach more than tenfold – demonstrating the power of long-term, community-rooted investment. In 2024 alone, Harlem Grown reached more than 23,000 community members, doubled our afterschool program, increased summer camp enrollment by 50%, distributed over 118,000 pounds of fresh produce, diverted over 9,500 pounds of food scraps into local compost operations and delivered nearly 1,000 food and farm education classes. By growing, sharing, and teaching about fresh food, Harlem Grown addresses food insecurity, inequitable access to green space, and the root causes of food injustice – while cultivating healthier, more resilient communities for generations to come. 

Position Overview

The Institutional Giving Officer a crucial role in securing philanthropic support from corporations and foundations to advance the mission and programs of Harlem Grown. The Officer manages a portfolio of approximately 120 funders, with a focus on increasing the number of $10,000 philanthropic corporate and foundation funders. The Officer works closely with the Senior Director of Advancement, program staff, and leadership to align institutional funding strategies with organizational priorities, deepen engagement among funders, and foster a culture of philanthropy across the Harlem Grown community. 

Success in This Role Means

• Growing the portfolio of institutional partners year-over-year.
• Securing new and renewed gifts that contribute to the organization’s $5M annual fundraising goal.
• Demonstrating the measurable impact of philanthropic partnerships.

Responsibilities

Fundraising and Portfolio Management

• Identify, solicit, proactively cultivate, and steward a portfolio of 120 corporate and foundation funders, with a focus on those with the capacity to give $10,000 annually.
• Meet or exceed annual fundraising and activity goals, tracking all progress in Salesforce.
• Keep abreast of relevant industry trends and best practices in institutional funding, major giving, and youth development.

Relationship Building and Stewardship

• Build values-driven relationships with funders and partners through consistent communication, site visits, and engagement opportunities.
• Secure meaningful investment in Harlem Grown by aligning corporate and foundation interests with our priorities.
• Collaborate with leadership, volunteers, and colleagues to engage funders in meaningful ways—including corporate volunteer engagements, corporate benefits delivery, oversight of grant applications and other related activities/events as needed.
• Provide personalized stewardship experiences that demonstrate the impact of each partnership.
• Lead the cultivation of a culture of philanthropy among partners, donors, volunteers, and staff through strategic communication and collaboration. 

Corporate Benefits Delivery

• Maintain up-to-date corporate benefits and sponsorship packages.
• Manage the fulfillment of corporate benefits packages, prioritizing the highest-level sponsorships while making the best use of the team’s time and resources.
• Coordinate experiences for corporate partners, such as co-branding opportunities, site visits, cultivation events, volunteer days, and lunch & learns.
• Develop, document, track and continually enhance systems and procedures related to corporate benefits delivery.

Collaboration and Communication

• Participate in strategy sessions and team meetings to share insights that strengthen fundraising performance.
• Keep abreast of relevant industry trends and best practices in institutional funding, major giving, and youth development.
• Partner across the organization to develop and advance strategies to engage and grow a diverse donor base.
• Attend internal meetings and external events to proactively deepen relationships and secure follow-up meetings.

Required Qualifications

• 5 years of experience in relationship-based fundraising, with track record of growing portfolio revenue year-over-year and securing $10,000 gifts.
• Track record of securing $100,000 gifts from corporate and foundation funders.
• Proven ability to effectively communicate complex ideas to high-level stakeholders in a persuasive manner.
• High level of organizational skills with strong attention to detail
• Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines
• Willingness to travel up to 50% for partner events, engagements, and meetings.
• A passion for Harlem Grown’s mission, values, and accomplishments.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with youth development, sustainability, or food justice sectors.
• Familiarity with Salesforce.

How to Apply: Visit www.harlemgrown.org/careers and click the link to apply on our ADP 
Career Center. Please submit a resume and cover letter.

Application Deadline: Rolling

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At Harlem Grown, diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the heart of what we do. We are an equal opportunity employer, and are committed to creating a culture of inclusivity, where each individual feels as if their identity, experience, and values are represented and supported. We are dedicated to creating a space where children, especially those of color, are given the opportunity and skills to lead healthy and ambitious lives. We strongly believe in building a team that reflects and appreciates the underrepresented population of students, families, and people that we serve. Become a member of our family.