Chief Advancement Officer [Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH]

Description

BACKGROUND:

The Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA) is known nationally and internationally for the quality and scope of its collection, which comprises some 45,000 objects and spans 6,000 years. Founded in 1913 and opened three years later, the CMA is today one of the world’s most distinguished comprehensive art museums and one of the top five in the country. It continues to augment the collection, which is the springboard for a robust program of exhibitions and educational offerings. Complementing the collection, the CMA’s Ingalls Library and Museum Archives, which holds more than 470,000 volumes, is the third largest art research library in the United States.

Founded “for the benefit of all the people forever,” the museum is committed to building and deepening relationships with community residents of all ages and backgrounds.  It continues to expand its influence and reach in more ways than ever by making outstanding works of art accessible to a wide range of audiences both inside and outside the walls of the institution, through a range of interpretive and public programs, as well as its community engagement initiatives.

An essential community resource, the museum remains free to visitors, which numbered nearly 700,000 in Fiscal year 2016 (July 1, 2015-June 30, 2016).

The museum recently completed a $320 million renovation and expansion project, designed by architect Rafael Viñoly. The project called for the restoration of the CMA’s original 1916 building and 1971 Marcel Breuer addition, as well as the addition of symmetrical wings on both east and west sides. Central to the design is a large, light-filled courtyard enclosed by an elegantly soaring roof. The CMA is now considered one of the most beautiful and impressive civic spaces in Northeast Ohio, and its galleries are among the finest of any museum.

Key elements of the project included an increase of 33 percent in gallery space; Gallery One, a 12,000-square-foot interactive learning center; the soaring glass-enclosed Ames Family Atrium, at 39,000 square feet, Cleveland’s largest free public space; renovated classrooms, lecture and performance halls; a distance learning studio; and improved and expanded exhibition spaces for preeminent loan exhibitions from around the world.  The expansion was made possible by the generous support of the greater Cleveland community.  Long known for its culture of philanthropy, the campaign has been embraced by over 1,500 donors including multiple gifts in excess of $20 million each.

The museum’s 2010 strategic plan, to be updated beginning in fall 2016, stresses the primary importance of the collection as the foundation for everything that the CMA does. It also underscores the primacy of the visitor experience and the museum’s participation in the life of the city and the surrounding community, while balancing local responsibility with a national and international presence. One of the first responsibilities of and opportunities for the new Chief Advancement Officer will be to work with the Museum Director and President as well as other senior staff to update the plan and design its implementation.

The CMA has some 450 employees and an operating budget of more than $40 million. Its endowment stands at approximately $700 million. One quarter of the museum’s operating revenue is generated through its philanthropic efforts, while endowment and earned revenue provide 57.5% and 18%, respectively.  Approximately $10 million is raised by annually through membership, corporate donations including sponsorships, and the robust annual fund.

THE OPPORTUNITY:

The Chief Advancement Officer leads and provides strategic vision for all aspects of the museum’s fundraising activities and constituent relationships. As a member of the museum’s senior leadership team reporting to and working closely with the Director and President, the Chief Advancement Officer is responsible for developing and maintaining active and productive relationships with internal and external constituencies, including the Board of Trustees, curatorial, education, and administrative staff, and friends and supporters of the CMA. He/she is a highly visible presence in the Cleveland community.

The Chief Advancement Officer supervises the following departments that comprise the division of Institutional Advancement:

• Development (Principal and Planned Giving, Annual Giving, Corporate Membership & Sponsorship, Grant & Proposal Development, Engagement/Friends Groups)
• Membership and Visitor Experience (Volunteers, Ticket & Information Center, Event Management, Concierge Services, General Membership)
• Advancement Administration (Advancement Budgeting & Personnel, Research and Evaluation, Records, Advancement Communications)
• Legislative Affairs

The museum has a robust fundraising program that has raised more than $47 million in private and public sector support to date in FY16 (through nearly 27,000 outright gifts and pledges), against a goal of $43 million. This includes gifts and pledges for all purposes, including the building (Transformation) campaign, unrestricted and restricted support, endowment, and gifts of art. Over the last six fiscal years, average attainment (gifts and pledges) has been approximately $37 million per year. The museum has more than 30,000 members, a record high achieved in FY16.

The Chief Advancement Officer currently has five direct reports and oversees the work of some 30 full-time staff and a fluctuating number of part-time staff.  The operating budget (salaries/benefits and other expenses) of the total Advancement Division totals approximately $5 million.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Serves as the guiding architect of a cohesive and comprehensive fundraising program that celebrates a culture of philanthropy and extends opportunities for those who embrace the museum’s priorities, mission and core values to participate in support of that work.

• Provides strategic and operational fundraising leadership for ongoing initiatives and long-term special campaigns to enable the museum to accomplish its cultural and educational mission.

• Establishes pathways to build greater capacity to support increasing funding requirements and more complex museum priorities, particularly through the expansion of the pool of major gift prospects. Emphasizes the identification and cultivation of the next generation of donors.

• Identifies and capitalizes on opportunities to expand the museum’s endowment and resulting income stream to support a larger physical operation, expanding collections, increasingly important exhibitions, and thriving educational and engagement programs.

• Brings together, as well as guides and supports, development staff, senior staff, board members, and other volunteers to develop fundraising goals and strategies for each giving program and to cultivate and solicit prospective donors.

• Manages a personal portfolio of top-tier donors.

• Sets clear direction and priorities for the entire Advancement division. Promotes excellence through well-defined and measureable goals; inspires and motivates staff through fostering a work environment that rewards new ideas and risk taking, builds confidence, encourages team-based efforts within the museum and across the CMA community, and promotes inclusion and diversity.

• Establishes division policies, systems, and procedures, with a special emphasis on professionalism and ethical standards for soliciting, acknowledging, tracking and reporting gifts.

• Fosters a culture of continuous improvement and utilization of best practices and internal and external customer service.

• Provides the highest level of personal support to Trustees for their activities on behalf of the museum; ensures that their volunteer experience is meaningful, productive and enjoyable, and that the Trustees’ intellectual and emotional connection to the CMA and each other is strengthened.
• Through deep personal civic engagement in the Cleveland community, helps ensure the CMA’s continuing role as the city’s leading cultural institution.

• Work with the Director and President in the identification, cultivation and recruitment of new Board members.

Applications should be submitted to:

Becca Smith, Vice President

H C Smith Ltd

24000 Mercantile Road, Suite 7, Beachwood, OH  44122

216.752.9966   becca@hcsmith.com

Requirements

CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of ten years of experience building and maintaining a successful development program, and formulating and executing a multi-faceted fundraising plan preferably in a museum or arts organization.

• Successful track record of leading a multi-million-dollar fundraising operation, as well as a major capital campaign.

• Proven ability to cultivate, solicit, and steward leadership gifts at the six- and seven-figure level is essential.

• Creative thinker and a dynamic and enthusiastic individual with personal integrity who is comfortable in a complex and collaborative environment and professional in all matters and dealings.

• Excellent communicator, a strong manager, and a team player.

• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, supervisory, research, writing, and communication skills.

• Ability to inspire staff, responsibly delegate tasks, and ensure a collaborative working environment.

• Proven ability to manage multiple projects and tasks and to establish credibility with the Director/President, Board members, staff, affiliate groups, and members of the community.

• Substantial knowledge and skills in managing large budgets and providing leadership for strategic-planning initiatives.

• Superior communication skills and strong organizational skills combined with the ability to handle multiple tasks with agility, thoroughness and good humor.

• Comfort with the use of technology and fund raising tools.  Familiarity with Tessitura is helpful.

• Experience in creatively and effectively bringing about positive change and creating and/or maintaining high morale.

• Proven ability to be both strategic and tactical.

• Knowledge of the Cleveland philanthropic community would be a plus.