JOB SUMMARY
The Director of Development is responsible for designing, directing and managing all fundraising strategies in support of Performa’s year round multi-arts program including visual arts, performance, dance, film, theater and design, as well as its international traveling exhibitions, educational and archiving programs and world-renowned biennial of live performance by visual artists.
The Director of Development will be responsible for maintaining an operating budget of $1.5M and a biennial budget in excess of $1M. A new position in the organization, the Director of Development will work with the Founding Director to build a forward-thinking department, entrepreneurial in spirit, developing not-for-profit support across a range of disciplines. The Director of Development will work with the current Development and Special Events Associate of Individual Giving to foster and expand this section both nationally and internationally.
The Director of Development will build on the high visibility established by Performa in its first decade, developing corporate, foundation and government solicitations, annual donor acquisitions and renewals campaigns, donor cultivation and benefit fulfillment, major gift solicitations, planned giving programs, endowment campaigns and special events. Candidate must possess strong interpersonal skills, a team oriented attitude as well as a high-energy approach to leadership.
As Performa enters its second decade, we aim to consolidate and expand our fundraising capacities, building a strong future on the achievements of the first ten years.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
FUNDRAISING
• Provide leadership to create and implement annual development plan and strategy that appropriately addresses all four donor groups (individuals, foundations, corporations and government)
• Work with Board of Directors, the Director and the senior staff to assure that Performa’s development plan supports the organization’s strategic plan and objectives
• Serve as the liaison to the Board of Directors to support their philanthropy and advocacy, and ensure stewardship
• Lead and manage Performa’s overall development efforts to raise an annual operating budget of $1.5Million
• Create long-range strategic development plan that includes corporate sponsorship, major donor cultivation, planned giving and endowment and capital campaigns, as well as all grant writing
• Train and lead other staff to support fundraising efforts
• Working with colleagues, cultivate and nurture relationships with current and potential corporate & foundation sponsors. Lead grant research and the grant writing process. Write grant proposals and report to corporate, foundation and government funders.
• Grow our individual donor base, manage annual giving campaign, cultivate major gifts and planned gifts
• Generate, with appropriate staff, all donor and prospect solicitation and stewardship material and correspondence
• Improve and expand on our patron data system, implementing procedures that assure that all interactions, follow-up and acknowledgments of donors are properly tracked and recorded, and used to exponentially grow the donor base
MANAGEMENT
• In coordination with the Director, manage and help develop a strong working Board of Directors, together making it a highly creative and productive group
• With the Director, seek to expand the Board to reflect the multi-media arts of Performa’s mission as well its international reach; seek individuals who can contribute ideas to the organization’s marketing, advertising and real estate needs; create working subcommittees so that Board activities propel the organization into its second decade to reach its highest potential
• Work with Senior Staff to develop fundraising initiatives in support of their programs
• Participate as a member of the senior management team
• Responsible for managing development personnel
• Attend all Performa programming, cultivation events, and conferences
EXPERIENCE
Must possess a graduate degree and demonstrable expertise in all the areas of responsibilities as described above. Must have proven development and fundraising experience in a nonprofit arts organization and a successful track record in individual, corporate and major giving.
Candidate must possess strong interpersonal and motivational skills, organizational ability, and superior communication skills, both written and oral, as well as a thorough understanding of the tools of fundraising in the United States combined with the ability to work closely with a Board of Directors and as part of a high-energy team.
Demonstrated success in soliciting and securing major gifts from individuals, corporations, foundations and government sources is essential. Knowledge of contact management systems, databases, research or other donor relations tools is essential, as are superior skills working with spreadsheets, donor relationship software and word processing systems.
SALARY AND TERMS
Salary commensurate with experience. This is a full time permanent position with benefits.
To apply, please submit a cover letter of interest to the attention of RoseLee Goldberg and the Performa Board of Directors, a current CV and a writing sample to [email protected].
Image: RoseLee Goldberg, Founding Director and Curator Performa. Photo Patrick McMullan. Courtesy Performa