Vice Director for Development [Brooklyn Museum]

(Full-time, permanent, non-union position)

The Vice Director for Development will provide leadership and supervision to a staff of ten. The position will oversee the Museum’s programs related to Individual Giving, Foundation and Government Grants, and Corporate Relations, including the Director’s Circle, Collections Councils, planned giving, donor stewardship, prospect research, and special events.

The Vice Director will meet the Museum’s annual contributed revenue goals for Individual Giving, Membership, Corporations, and Foundations; maximize gifts from current donors; and expand the donor base by identifying, cultivating, and soliciting new prospects. The position will develop and expand the major gift pipeline in anticipation of an ambitious campaign, while leading the Development Office’s moves management system; oversee the Museum’s Institutional Giving program by building corporate and foundation giving (unrestricted and restricted), and by instituting an innovative exhibition and program sponsorship program; manage a portfolio of individual prospects and work in partnership with key volunteer leadership as well as curatorial and program staff to achieve fundraising goals; design and implement a planned giving program; and supervise the Collections Councils, working with the Individual Giving Manager to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy for adding new members and upgrading existing members.

The position will work with the Deputy Director for Development to develop and execute a robust, strategy-driven special events calendar; conceive and execute income-generating strategies for fundraising events along with other senior staff; coordinate peer-to-peer solicitations, ticket sales strategies, sponsorship/underwriting solicitation, and ancillary fundraising events; maintain exemplary relationships with vendors, corporate and local business partners, caterers, direct mail/online giving consultants, party rental companies, other vendors, and in-kind donors for fundraising events; and oversee the production of all on- and off-site fundraising events, including the management of event participants and honorees, themes, venues, artistic elements, catering, data/gift-processing, list selection, mailings, response tracking, print and online materials, volunteer coordination, event budgets, and event logistics (facilities, transportation, contracts, seating charts, etc.). He or she will work with volunteers, including Museum Trustees, volunteer benefit chairs, and the leadership of the Museum’s Director’s Circle and Collections Councils, to maximize revenue for annual fundraising events including, but not limited to, the Brooklyn Artists Ball, the Fund for African American Art Annual Dinner, Women in the Arts, and the Sackler Center First Awards.

The Vice Director will sustain a team-oriented, supportive environment that maintains high standards and encourages creativity, collaboration, and professional growth, while performing other duties or special projects as required.

Reports to: Deputy Director for Development

The ideal candidate for this position will have deep experience in developing and implementing a broad-based strategy for identifying, cultivating, and soliciting gifts from individuals, corporations, and foundations; acquiring and upgrading members; soliciting special and major gifts; and organizing large fundraising events in the nonprofit sector.

The individual must have eight years of experience in progressively responsible fundraising for a major arts-related institution, nonprofit organization, educational institution, or other environment of similar complexity with multiple stakeholders, including a strong and documented record of solicitation and stewardship. She or he must have a demonstrated ability to implement a comprehensive development program; a strong affinity for Brooklyn, its cultural gems, and its global exports; deep experience within the New York City philanthropic community; major hands-on experience in cultivation through solicitation and stewardship; familiarity with technology, fundraising databases, and other innovations that can streamline the development process and contribute to the integration of the fundraising functions; and experience with planned giving, grant writing for foundations and corporations, and grooming the next generation of leadership donors. The candidate must demonstrate particular strength in developing strategic and comprehensive fundraising plans, executing these plans to achieve goals and objectives, developing fundraising strategies, and creating and managing a budget. The ability to direct the design of strategies for cultivation and solicitation of major and leadership donor prospects; a proven record of recruiting and developing exceptional people; experience working with volunteer leaders, board members, and organizational leadership to ensure an integrated, organized effort; and proven success in building productive, long-term relationships are musts.

The ideal candidate will be a team builder who takes a nonhierarchical approach to organization, empowers subordinates to get the job done while providing the support they need, and leads and engages in partnerships with fundraising staff and senior leadership. He or she must have extensive experience managing special events, donor relations, stewardship, and communication programs, including evaluating and implementing changes to the programs. She or he must possess strong project management, organization, administrative, communication, presentation, and strategic skills to lead a wide variety of projects and programs; the ability to write and speak clearly, cordially, and compellingly to deliver an effective, coherent, exciting, and consistent message about the Brooklyn Museum’s mission, history, programs, and fundamental strengths; a familiarity with best practices in development, particularly among peer institutions; and a passion for seeking philanthropic support to advance the goals of the organization.

She or he will also possess creativity, particularly with problem-solving; a gregarious personality with a good sense of humor; superior interpersonal skills; an engaging manner; a high level of energy, self-confidence, and optimism; the capacity to inspire and motivate staff, administrative and artistic leadership, volunteers, donors, and prospects; the ability to make appropriate connections among members of these groups and nurture strong and long-lasting corporate and individual relationships; cultural sensitivity and a strong respect for differences; and unimpeachable integrity and trustworthiness. The ideal candidate will be a self-starter with a sense of urgency, a clear set of priorities, a strong work ethic, and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances in a highly collaborative environment.