Institutional Giving Officer

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, after school 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 after school 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.

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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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…