Director of Development [Weisman Art Museum, Minneapolis, MN]

Description

Reporting to the Director of the Weisman Art Museum (WAM) and the Vice President for Development, College and Campus Programs at the University of Minnesota Foundation (UMF), the Director of Development serves as the chief fundraising officer for all aspects of WAM. The person in this position is responsible for establishing and implementing an overall fundraising and membership plan and, working with the communications staff at the museum, ensuring that the museum’s external communications support the museum’s development efforts.

Program Leadership and Major Gifts

• Develop, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive fundraising program that aligns with the Museum’s philanthropic aims. This includes setting the fundraising goals and objectives and developing and executing strategies for cultivating and soliciting major gifts, planned gifts, and corporate/foundation gifts.
• Identify, prioritize, cultivate, solicit, and steward a major gifts portfolio that includes individuals, corporations, foundations, and government with an emphasis on major gifts of $50,000+ supporting specific programs and general operating support.
• Develop and implement strategies in support of program fundraising priorities; identify opportunities for support with interdisciplinary programs that currently exist or will emerge in future planning.
• Work collaboratively with the University of Minnesota Foundation (UMF) on annual work planning and effective coordination of donors and prospects with multi-unit interests. Be an active and engaged user of UMF’s central development services on research, stewardship, and the Donor Management System (DMS).
• Complete and file contact reports in a timely manner. Provide regular reports on progress and results with prospects in portfolio.
• Generate proposals, budgets, and other materials in support of all fundraising.
• Coordinate, write, and submit general operating proposals, including Minnesota State Arts Board, as well as specific program proposals with support from staff.

Staff Supervision, Volunteers, and Museum Partnerships

• Work with communications and events staff to create appropriate donor recognition activities and fundraising promotional materials.
• Work closely with the museum’s Colleagues Advisory Board and its executive committee and with museum staff to develop annual board activities and functions; facilitate the activities of the Colleagues Advisory Board initiatives.
• Create a compelling case for philanthropic support in collaboration with the museum’s director.
• Participate as a member of the senior staff in exhibition and program planning with other key museum staff, including long-range planning for the institution.

• Manage development staff members and student interns including hiring; training; setting goals and performance expectations; and providing feedback (recognition, coaching, performance reviews).

Membership Program

• Develop policies and strategies to enhance and expand museum’s membership.
• Work with the museum’s communications staff to ensure that marketing and media relations including marketing materials, events, press releases, and membership promotional campaigns support membership growth.
• Direct a program of solicitation to prospective members and ensure that consistent messages reach members, and the general public.

Requirements

Essential Qualifications and Selection Criteria

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• A minimum of five years demonstrated success in development and/or comparable professional experience in the arts, sales/marketing, or higher education; strongly prefer success in securing major individual gifts
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills, particularly the ability to work effectively with a diverse group of individuals
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and with good judgment and attention to detail
• Evidence of strong organizational and management skills, including training and performance management of staff; experience developing and managing budgets; and skills relevant to managing the prospect cultivation and solicitation process. Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team to support the strategic directions of the institute and the overall vision of the director
• Ability to manage complex projects from conception to execution, with attention to details
• Professionalism, integrity, and discretion
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with management and colleagues

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree
• Affinity with the visual arts
• One year experience managing staff including the selection, training and performance management of staff

• Three-five years demonstrated success in development and major gift work
• Experience with planned giving and capital campaigns

• Evidence of entrepreneurial approach to fund-raising and development.