Chief Development Officer [Museum of Arts and Design]

Museum of Arts and Design

Chief Development Officer

New York, NY

Founded in 1956 by Aileen Osborn Webb as the Museum of Contemporary Crafts and later becoming the American Craft Museum, the museum was renamed the Museum of Arts and Design (“MAD”) in 2002 and celebrates materials and processes embraced by practitioners in the fields of craft, art and design, as well as architecture, fashion, interior design, technology, performing arts, and art and design-driven industries.

MAD focuses on the ways artists and designers transform the world around us, through processes ranging from the artisanal to the digital. MAD’s exhibition program is dedicated to creativity and craftsmanship, and demonstrates the limitless potential of materials and techniques when used by gifted and innovative artists. The Museum’s permanent collection is global in scope and includes art, craft, and design from 1950 to the present day. The Museum also houses classrooms and studios for master classes, seminars, and workshops for students, families, and adults. Three open studios engage visitors in the creative processes of artists at work and enhance the exhibition programs. Lectures, films, performances, and symposia related to the Museum’s collection and subjects across the full spectrum of making practices are also presented.

MAD seeks a seasoned fundraising professional to lead and grow a comprehensive, modern, and sophisticated fundraising program that currently raises over $6M in gifts annually, toward an operating budget of $10M, to support the institution’s unique exhibitions and programs. Reporting to the director, the chief development officer (CDO) will oversee a team of professionals in the areas of major gifts, institutional giving (corporate and foundation), planned giving,annual giving, membership, and special events, and will serve as the lead executive responsible for maintaining and growing the museum’s base of individual and institutional support. The CDO will be charged with building a sustainable major gift-focused fundraising culture that is seamlessly integrated into MAD’s programmatic and marketing initiatives in order to further the museum’s overarching mission: To collect, display, and interpret objects that document contemporary and historic innovation in craft, art, and design, and, through its exhibitions and educational programs, to celebrate the creative process through which materials are crafted into works that enhance contemporary life.

The successful candidate will be an accomplished senior development professional with gravitas, a proven track record in building sustainable high-performing development organizations, and a demonstrated history of successful interactions with high net-worth individuals and institutional leadership. S/he will possess ten years+ of leadership experience in a sophisticated fundraising operation, preferably within a major arts-related institution, non-profit organization, educational institution or other environment of similar complexity, including a strong and documented record of solicitation and stewardship. S/he will have a broad background in development with at least five years in senior leadership posts, including work in all core functional areas of fundraising, as well as deep experience in personal fundraising solicitation with a proven record of accomplishment in major and leadership gift fundraising, as well as a broad-based knowledge of strategic development program building, national/international-caliber fundraising, donor acquisition, planned giving, research, cultivation, stewardship, reporting, and overall management. Planning, implementation, management, and successful conclusion of a major campaign are required. In addition, the successful candidate will possess a strong affinity for New York City and its cultural entities, a credible knowledge of and passionate connection to the city’s arts scene, and deep experience within the metropolitan area philanthropic community.

A bachelor’s degree is required.   A master’s degree or other degree in a relevant discipline that will be credible to donors, with strong academic credentials, is preferred.

Inquiries, nominations and applications (current resumes and cover letters) should be directed electronically to:

Gerard F. Cattie, Jr.

Managing Director

Practice Leader – Development & Philanthropy

Diversified Search

275 Madison Avenue, 39^th Floor

New York, NY 10016

Gerard.Cattie@divsearch.com

212-542-2587

PI89490242