Tompkins County Public Library Foundation Executive Director

The Tompkins County Public Library Foundation (TCPLF) invites seasoned fundraising professionals with  experience in leadership, strategic planning, resource management, nonprofit board development, and  collaborative partnership development, to submit application materials for the TCPLF Executive Director  (ED) position. The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation formed through the support of  community leaders and philanthropists to benefit the Tompkins County Public Library. The Foundation  serves to build public and private partnerships that provide funding for programs and services not  supported by taxpayer dollars. Through a variety of giving opportunities, including private donations,  grants, endowments, corporate partners, special events, planned giving programs and memorial gifts,  the Foundation provides annual distributions dedicated to furthering the Library’s mission. Through  ongoing collaboration with the Library leadership, the Foundation is committed to aligning fundraising  strategies with Library programs and services with the greatest need and impact.

The ED will be a successful fundraiser who will:

• Make connections that leverage contributions that help to secure the library’s financial future and build relationships that match the library’s mission, goals, programs, and services with donor priorities and giving interests.
• Foster and sustain a successful library-foundation partnership by shaping and implementing a fundraising strategy in close collaboration with the library director and staying well-informed about the library‘s mission, vision, hopes, dreams and challenges.  
• Serve as a catalyst to generate interest in giving to the library, create connections with donors, and close the deals, in addition to building a donor pipeline that consistently produces results.
• Serve as an ambassador who inspires enthusiasm for the library through outreach, relationships, connections, and knowledge about the library’s unique contributions in the community.
• Lead an effective and well-run organization that contributes to confidence among donors, includes a knowledgeable and skilled staff and volunteers, has clear and consistently administered policies, and executes well-designed programmatic activities. 
• Educate donors about the library’s community impact and help library leaders to embrace and understand how a culture of philanthropy contributes to the library’s long-term financial future.
• Collaborate with the Foundation Board, Library Director, Library Board, and other relevant library leaders to develop and implement a strategic plan for single and multi-year development efforts.
• Develop strategic alliances with community leaders and collaborative partnerships with community organizations, including the Friends of the Tompkins County Public Library, and other community funders. 
• Support Board development in the areas of board recruitment, fundraising and philanthropy.

Position Requirements: 

• Bachelor’s degree preferred. Minimum of five years of progressive experience in fundraising and public relations, including demonstrated experience in the implementation of successful fundraising campaigns and successful grant proposal development
• Knowledge of legal and reporting requirements for 501(c) (3) charitable organizations • Ability to communicate consistently in an effective and accurate manner with tact and diplomacy, in both written and verbal form
• Demonstrated experience with financial statements, budgets and financial planning • Ability to interface and engage diverse volunteers and donor groups
• Strong computer skills, including word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software

Compensation  

The salary is $75,000 - $80,000 commensurate with the qualifications and demonstrated track record of  the selected candidate. A benefits package includes health insurance and paid leave. Annual salary  increases are based on goals/performance metrics achieved during the fiscal year.

Library Description 
The Tompkins County Public Library, the central library of the five-county Finger Lakes Library System  consortium, is a valued and well-used community asset, with 35,000 registered borrowers and an annual  circulation of approximately 800,000 items. The library facility includes a designated Children’s area, as  well as Tween, Teen, and Adult spaces. In addition to the typical collections of books, magazines,  movies, newspapers, audiobooks, and eBooks, the library features a Digital Lab, Local History room,  Makerspace, Teen Center, meeting and study space, and rooms for community and library events.  Library staff develop and offer a diverse range of programs and outreach events, both in-person and  virtual, that engage a broad segment of the community.

Community Description
Ithaca offers big city culture alongside small town community. With its great natural beauty and a  diverse, cosmopolitan, and highly educated workforce, the Ithaca area is an attractive and exciting place  to invest, work and live. Tompkins County is a place where culture and connectivity converge and where  people of all ages, lifestyles and backgrounds choose to live and work. Ithaca and Tompkins County are  located in the Finger Lakes Region of central New York; four hours from New York City, three hours from  Buffalo and Niagara Falls, two hours from Rochester and four hours from Philadelphia. For more  information see https://www.liveinithaca.org/

The TCPL Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to  creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration  for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected  veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

See detailed job description at https://www.tcplfoundation.org/edjobdescription2021

Applicants should submit a letter of interest, resume, and a list of three professional references by January 31, 2022 to:  tcplfoundationapplications@gmail.com