Chief Development Officer [National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library]

The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library (NCSML) seeks a Chief Development Officer (CDO) to help the museum implement a new, exciting strategic plan to support positive social change and achieve a greater impact in society.

Reporting to the President and CEO, this position is a key member of the executive team and currently leads a staff of three additional development professionals. The CDO is responsible for creating an institution-wide culture of philanthropy, and will build upon the museum’s recently completed, successful $27.5 million capital campaign to extend philanthropic support and ensure the museum’s long-term sustainability. Key development building blocks are in place and the new CDO will have a unique opportunity to continue the museum’s strong momentum.

The new CDO will:

• be an ambitious and dynamic development leader who is dedicated to building a world-class development function;
• have a successful history of closing major gifts and identifying, attracting and adding new donors,
• demonstrate effective networking skills to connect the local, national, and international community to the museum’s work.
• be creative, innovative, and have a strong background of leadership while working collaboratively; and
• have a passion for history and the impact of museums to change people’s lives.

The NCSML is one of the nation’s leading ethnic museums and a local, regional, and national source of pride. Spectacular recovery from a 2008 flood disaster, investments in new infrastructure, a powerful permanent exhibition, and expanded public programs have uniquely positioned the NCSML to provide and facilitate meaningful interaction and connectivity among various people, organizations, and national partnerships. The NCSML was a recipient of the 2013 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the nation’s highest honor conferred on museums and libraries for service to the community. More information about NCSML can be found at www.ncsml.org.

The complete job profile and qualification requirements can be found at http://benefactorgroup.com/chief-development-officer/.

To apply, please send cover letter and resume to:

HR@benefactorgroup.com

Key Job Functions

• Strategic Direction and Planning – Develop an overall strategy for museum fundraising including financial modeling and projections. Determine the most effective fundraising approaches to support the strategy.
• Culture of Philanthropy and Case for Support – Support and promote a culture of philanthropy among staff, board, donors, and museum constituents. Direct the development of a compelling case for support to advance the museum’s philanthropic objectives.
• Fundraising/Development – Develop fundraising plans, tactics, and tools to implement the strategy required to achieve the museum’s goals and objectives. Oversee development programs including:
  • Annual Appeals
  • Membership
  • Major Gifts
  • Events
  • Corporate Sponsorships and Giving
  • Planned Giving
  • Campaigns
  • Relationship Management – Develop effective and strategic relationships with donors, museum members, Czechs and Slovaks, and business communities. Provide support to the board for fundraising activity including training, development of materials, relationship management, and ongoing donor cultivation efforts. Participate in community events to represent the museum and to build relationships. Cultivate and solicit the highest tier individual and institutional donors by spending at least 50% of time managing a portfolio of major gift prospects and closing successive gifts to meet annual and campaign goals.
  • Policy Development – Oversee the development and implementation of department policies, procedures, and systems to ensure the highest level of credibility and integrity of fundraising efforts.
  • Department Leadership – Hire, coach, and lead the development team. Develop and implement a team performance management system, including appropriate performance objectives, metrics, and feedback. Provide effective professional and leadership development training and coaching.
  • Financial Planning/Budgeting – Participate in financial planning and budget preparation; develop related financial projections. Ensure the museum has the appropriate financial and operational metrics and develop appropriate benchmark reports for the President, board, and staff. Recommend adjustments as necessary.

Competencies and Skills

• Deep understanding of fund development principles, strategies, and practices.
• Strategic thinking and planning skills with the ability to establish both short-term and long-term strategies and plans for achieving goals.

• Very strong interpersonal skills with the ability to be persuasive with a variety of constituents including donors, community leaders, funders, and other constituents.
• Strong listening and negotiation skills are critical.
• Very effective communication skills (i.e., verbal, written, presentation) are essential.
• Ability to work independently and be self-directed while also being highly collaborative. Ability to establish priorities, goals, and timelines.
• High-level and effective problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
• Orientation toward action and results and strong command skills.
• A fair and thoughtful approach to management, combined with the flexibility and courage to shift direction and experiment with new initiatives.
• Ethics and integrity in all activities inside and external to the organization.

Job Qualifications

Education

• BA/BS in related field or equivalent.

Experience

• Ten years of successful development and fundraising experience with proven abilities to develop and implement both strategic and tactical plans.
• Track record of achieving successful financial targets.
• Successful experience with major gift fundraising.

Desirable

• Museum fund development experience.
• Graduate degree and CFRE are desirable.