Description

The Wiregrass Museum of Art seeks a Development Director to lead its fundraising efforts. The Development Director will be a relationship builder, skilled in the process of identifying prospects and donors, while gracefully moving them along the continuum of engagement. Approaches may include but are not limited to major gifts, corporate sponsorships, grants, individual gifts, events, membership enrollment, online fundraising and in-kind donations.

It is anticipated that he/she will have experience in building meaningful relationships with constituents that have resulted in major gifts. Additional qualities include exuding the energy and credibility that inspire donors to become more involved; superior interpersonal skills that inspire confidence with colleagues and donors; the empathy and listening skills that foster relationships and trust; and the ability to infuse humor and congeniality in daily actions.

The Development Director will collaborate with the Executive Director to create, implement, revise if needed and monitor progress against a Development Plan that supports the Wiregrass Museum of Art’s strategic direction and priorities. He/She will support and promote a culture of philanthropy among staff, board, donors, and museum constituents.

Job Description

Fundraising Activity Leadership

  • Maintain close working relationships with the executive director and the board to identify, define, acquire and steward funding resources
  • Aggressively seek new private, public, corporate and foundation funding sources through the direct solicitation of contributions and writing of grant proposals
  • Design and implement a comprehensive and balanced fund development program as an aspect of the Museum’s overall management program
  • Develop annual plan and manage all fundraising activities, including: year-end donation solicitations; cultivating and tracking of all donor levels; developing a strategy to expand corporate support; manage annual fundraising and donor cultivation events
  • Identify, track and communicate with key donors.
  • Working with director, write and develop all needed collateral materials
  • Organize and manage maintenance of donor and membership database
  • Communicate development strategies
  • Ensure donor recognition as appropriate
  • Experience with Endowments and Planned Giving

Donor Identification

  • Develop strategy to identify and involve new individual and major donors
  • Raise the organization’s level of participation in grant programs, as appropriate
  • Steward relations with current and past members and donors as well as external funding sources such as corporations, foundations and government grant agencies.
  • Identify new sources of foundation and corporate giving to support operations and programmatic initiatives.
  • Maintain prospect research and donor records, gift management systems, cultivation activities, acknowledgement procedures and recognition programs.
  • Monitor and ensure institutional compliance to restricted donations and grants

Fundraising Event Leadership

•     Develop strategy for fundraising events and donor cultivation events with   director and implement

•     Provide leadership in all fundraising events, including managing staff,

planning, financial goal tracking and communication/follow-up.

Communications & Engagement

  • Develop and cultivate annual membership program
  • Professional level experience with budgeting, staffing, supervising professionals ?and leading teams to generate high quality results
  • Advanced analytical and problem solving skills, including issue identification and prioritization.
  • Ability to manage key internal and external stakeholders and relationships.
  • Serve as a community ambassador, resource and advocate on behalf of the Museum, representing the Museum at events and programs as needed
  • Proven ability to collaborate across departments to implement processes and achieve results, as well as to work collaboratively with a small, dedicated team. Track record of building and maintaining productive relationships with multiple stakeholders.
Requirements
  • Bachelors degree and a minimum of 6 years of experience in the development field
  • Proven leadership in development areas of campaigns, donor cultivation, membership development and corporate support. Prior work in the art/design/museum/botanical garden world is preferred.
  • Excellent writing, editing, and communication skills
  • Highly organized, with ability to prioritize, multi-task efficiently and respond to a high volume of ongoing requests in a timely fashion.
  • Ability to adapt and be flexible in a dynamic work environment
  • Must be able to articulate the museum’s mission to a wide range of audiences in a variety of ways.
  • Demonstrated success in marketing to and engaging culturally diverse audiences and partners.
  • Entrepreneurial spirit and skill set essential.
  • Proven ability to continually develop skills related to use of rapidly changing technology and communications best practices.
  • Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel required. Familiarity with other software, including donor or related databases, presentation software and social media platforms, a plus.
  • Documented track record of fundraising among museum constituencies, major donors, foundations, corporations, and sponsors
  • History of integrity and care for donor relations and stewardship
  • Ability to work flexible hours
  • Energy, empathy and genuine enthusiasm a must

The ideal candidate should be experienced in the arts and cultural not-for-profit sector and have experience of working with membership programs. The Development Director will play a key role in revising and updating the museum’s fundraising activities as part of the strategic planning process planned for 2017.

To apply, please email dlemmer@wiregrassmuseum.org using subject line “Development Director”. Applicants must submit a cover letter, resume and three professional references.

Job Information
  • Dothan, Alabama, 36303, United States
  • 28502766
  • May 12, 2016
  • Development Director
  • Wiregrass Museum of Art
  • Development/Membership
  • No
  • Full-Time
  • Indefinite
  • BA/BS/Undergraduate
  • 5-7 Years
  • 0-10%