Denver Botanic Gardens: Organizational Overview

Denver Botanic Gardens, founded in 1951, is one of most visited botanical gardens in the United States, annually welcoming more than 1.4 million onsite visitors and more than 34 million digital visitors. In addition to its scientific excellence, the Gardens is a vibrant cultural destination, hosting art exhibitions, education programs, original short films and seasonal events including outdoor concerts, plant sales, Halloween events, and the internationally celebrated Blossoms of Light® that make it a beloved gathering space for the Colorado community and beyond.

With four locations across the Denver area, the Gardens promotes relevance, sustainability, transformation, and inclusion across all facets of its mission. Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, the American Public Gardens Association and the Smithsonian Affiliates, the Gardens is nationally recognized for leadership in plant conservation and water-wise landscaping.

The 23-acre York Street campus serves as the primary location and features more than 50 curated gardens with more than 40,000 plants, a hands-on children’s garden, the Boettcher Memorial Tropical Conservatory, the Science Pyramid, and the Freyer-Newman Center for Science, Art and Education. It also houses a library, herbaria for plants and fungi, genetic labs, the School of Botanical Art & Illustration, and art galleries.

The Gardens also operates Chatfield Farms, a 700-acre native plant refuge and working farm in Jefferson County. Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2025, the property recently completed the first phase of a master development plan that includes a new Welcome Center, Market Square, expanded accessible parking, and newly curated gardens. Regenerative agriculture is a key focus of Chatfield Farms. In 2024, more than 72,000 pounds of produce were grown, with over 18% distributed at low or no cost through partnerships with local nonprofit organizations. Additional sites include Mount Goliath, a subalpine location along the Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway, and the Plains Conservation Center in Aurora, Colorado.

Leadership & Future

The next CEO will follow in the footsteps of Brian Vogt, who led the Gardens from 2007 until his unexpected passing in 2025. Under his visionary leadership, the Gardens experienced transformational growth - most notably the completion of a ten-year master development plan that concluded with the opening of the Freyer - Newman Center in 2021, expansion of community access programs, and advancement of regional and international conservation work.

With an annual operating budget of approximately $46 million, Denver Botanic Gardens is a leading part of Denver’s rich arts and culture ecosystem. The Gardens is a Tier 1 cultural institution within the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD), a seven-county, voter-approved tax district that supports nearly 300 organizations.

With exceptional public support, strong community engagement, financial stability, and national recognition, Denver Botanic Gardens is poised for continued growth, relevance and leadership in horticulture, conservation, sustainability, and cultural programming.

You can learn more at www.botanicgardens.org.

Role Summary: Chief Executive Officer

Denver Botanic Gardens seeks a dynamic, visionary, and collaborative leader to serve as its next Chief Executive Officer (CEO). This is a rare opportunity to steward one of the nation's top public gardens, recognized for its cultural impact, scientific contributions, and community-centered programming, into its next era.

The next CEO will be expected to deepen the Gardens’ connection to the diverse communities of Denver and the broader region, ensuring programs, partnerships, and spaces remain inclusive, accessible, and responsive to community needs. With a current endowment of $55 million and a history of strong financial stewardship, the Gardens is well-positioned for continued growth and sustainability. The incoming leader will play a key role in expanding philanthropic support, growing the endowment, and ensuring long-term financial resilience aligned with the Gardens’ mission and ambitions.

The CEO will directly supervise the senior leadership team, which currently includes 15 department directors across horticulture, education, research and conservation, marketing, operations, philanthropy, visitor experience, and more. The structure is expected to evolve under new leadership, with strong staff support for modernized systems, leadership tiers, and shared goal setting.

Reporting to the Board of Trustees, the CEO oversees all aspects of the Gardens’ operations, including strategic planning, community partnerships, external relations, fundraising, capital projects, and leadership of over 300 full and part-time employees and 2,000 volunteers. The successful candidate will be a charismatic and grounded leader who brings strong people instincts, political savvy, creative vision, and deep respect for the Gardens’ mission and culture.

Key Responsibilities:

Visionary Leadership & Strategic Planning
External Affairs & Advocacy
Organizational Stewardship & Operational Oversight
Fundraising & Resource Development
Board & Stakeholder Engagement
People & Culture

Leadership Competencies & Personal Characteristics

While no candidate will possess every qualification, the most competitive leaders will bring a combination of the following qualities, experiences, and attributes:

Strategic Vision & Systems Thinking: A reflective and forward-looking leader who can set a bold vision, develop and implement strategic plans, and navigate complexity with creativity, pragmatism, and intention. Comfortable balancing long-term planning with immediate needs, especially in the context of organizational growth, capital projects, and public funding cycles.
Mission-Driven & Community-Centered: Deeply aligned with the Gardens’ mission to connect people with plants. Brings a passion for environmental stewardship, public education, and inclusive community engagement, recognizing the Gardens’ role as both a civic anchor and global thought leader.
Culturally Fluent & Politically Savvy: Adept at navigating political ecosystems and civic landscapes with diplomacy and tact. Understands how to build trust across sectors and communities and has the credibility to represent the Gardens with policymakers, funders, and peer institutions.
Inspiring Communicator & Public Ambassador: A compelling storyteller and confident spokesperson who can engage audiences ranging from elected officials and major donors to schoolchildren and scientists. Brings authenticity, curiosity, and clarity to every interaction.
Emotionally Intelligent & Inclusive Leader: Leads with kindness, humility, and care. Models accountability, builds consensus, and fosters a culture of transparency, collaboration, and shared success. Committed to developing others, reducing silos, and sustaining a healthy and high-performing team.
Operational & Financial Acumen: Brings experience leading complex, facilities-based institutions with sizable budgets and multi-stakeholder funding models. Comfortable with scaling systems, overseeing capital projects, and ensuring long-term financial health.
Innovative & Joyful: Holds a bold vision for the Gardens’ future while appreciating the power of play, wonder, and creativity. Leads with optimism and imagination, fostering a dynamic and welcoming culture that inspires staff, visitors, and partners alike.

Compensation and Benefits

Salary is based on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, skill set level and years of previous/applicable experience. The salary range for this role is between $500,000 -$550,000 with a generous benefit package.

How to Express Interest

To express your interest in this opportunity, please submit your resume and cover letter here.

We look forward to hearing from you!

About Maneva Group

Maneva Group is a leading woman and minority owned executive search firm dedicated to connecting exceptional talent with organizations committed to making a meaningful impact. Through a consultative and client-focused approach, Maneva Group partners with mission-driven organizations to build transformative leadership teams.

Our name, Maneva, comes from the combination of two Sanskrit words: “Manev” meaning mankind & “Seva” meaning service. We are driven by the ideal of our name - service to humanity.

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Chief Executive Officer | Denver Botanic Gardens