Director of Development

POSITION OVERVIEW

VSC seeks a seasoned development professional to fill the role of Director of Development. Successful candidates for this position will be experienced nonprofit leaders—or those with exceptional potential to lead—and have the capacity to inspire trust and confidence in VSC stakeholders at all levels. An experienced and creative storyteller, the Director will be a highly collaborative and creative professional who is passionate and knowledgeable about the visual arts and written word. The Director will build a strategic vision for fundraising and strategic partnerships and enhance an existing plan to fulfill revenue goals for the annual fund, major gifts, and institutional and government sources. The person in this role will have the opportunity to build their team and will have the acumen to mentor and guide their staff and board colleagues, sharing knowledge and experience to support the growth of the development department, as well as the organization.

ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION

The Vermont Studio Center (VSC) was founded by artists 38 years ago with the purpose of fostering creativity through community, collaboration, and quiet reflection. Over time, VSC grew to become one of the largest international artists’ and writers’ residency programs in the United States, hosting 600+ residents per year with 17,000 alums worldwide. VSC residencies support visual artists across all media, and writers of poetry, fiction, and non-fiction. In 2024, VSC will celebrate its 40th anniversary.

The mission of VSC is “To provide studio residencies in an inclusive, international community, honoring creative work as the communication of spirit through form.” After a nearly 2-year pandemic pause, VSC reopened in February 2022 to in-person residencies of 2-, 3-, and 4-weeks’ duration; in 2023 VSC expects to host 432 residents.

 The organization is rooted in the universal values of humanitarianism, compassion, respect, simplicity, and harmony. These values are fully integrated into a non-competitive community where the arts and their creation are timeless trusts. Centered on diversity, inclusivity, equity, and accessibility, the organization supports a diverse group of creative individuals within a safe, equitable, and supportive environment to generate new work, solve artistic problems, and cultivate new connections.

Located in Johnson, VT, VSC is approximately equidistant between Burlington, VT and Montpelier, Vermont’s capital city, 2 hours south of Montreal, 3.5 hours north of Boston, and 6 hours (or a short flight) north of NYC. VSC’s campus is comprised of 20 historic buildings, many of which hold architectural importance and have been lovingly restored to provide safe, well-appointed living spaces and inviting, light-filled studios. For additional information, please visit: www.vermontstudiocenter.org

VSC is governed by a 19-member board of trustees and managed by a 20-member staff team. In January 2023, VSC will announce the appointment of a new Executive Director. The 2023 budget is approximately $3.4 million, $1.9 million of which is derived from contributed revenue.

KEY FUNCTIONS

• Cultivate, solicit, and steward leadership gifts and qualify major donor prospects.
• Identify opportunities to build mutually beneficial strategic partnerships with individuals and institutions.
• Establish prospect and donor management strategies, inspire staff and trustees to achieve stewardship goals, and further establish a culture of philanthropy at VSC.
• Enhance data entry protocols and establish policies and procedures that uphold strictest donor confidentiality and data security.
• Initiate a capital funding plan to support facilities renovation.
• Utilize reporting, analytics, wealth screening tools, and data to inform development strategies.
• Evaluate acknowledgment strategies and language, ensuring VSC donors feel recognized, appreciated, and valued.
• Support the planning for VSC’s 40th anniversary in 2024.
• Identify, recruit, manage and mentor a development team of three professionals: annual fund manager, grants manager, and development associate. Provide training and guidance to support the team’s professional growth.
• Collaborate and build trust with internal and external colleagues to support VSC programming, facilities planning, external engagement initiatives, and other goals.
• Manage the development committee in collaboration with the committee chair, providing meaningful data to support decision-making.

 DESIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Success in the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of high-net-worth donors, and implementation of donor engagement strategies.
• Achievement in annual fund, foundation, and corporate financial and relationship goals.
• Knowledge of planned giving tools and strategies strongly desired.
• Strong analytical and decision-making capability, working individually and with a team to achieve institutional goals.
• Demonstrated supervisory experience; ability to mentor, inspire, motivate, and retain a team of talented professionals.
• Excellent written and oral communications skills.
• Adept at creation and management of department and organizational budgets.
• Exceptional project management and planning skills with the ability to set priorities and balance concurrent tasks.
• Proficient in CRM management and implementation including data entry protocols, campaigns, reports, and dashboards. (Salesforce preferred)
• Commitment to professional standards, ethics, and best practices in fundraising and nonprofit management.
• Flexibility to support VSC business on evenings and weekends as needed.
• Ability to travel as needed to engage stakeholders and manage a donor portfolio.

 EDUCATION, COMPENSATION, AND APPLICATION PROCESS

Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

The range of compensation for this position is $105,000–$120,000, as well as comprehensive employee benefits that include health, vision, and dental insurance; a 401K plan; and studio space on campus.

 Work arrangements can be flexible and will be discussed with the final candidate.

 To apply, please submit a cover letter highlighting your relevant experience and a current resume to jobs@vermontstudiocenter.org. This position will remain open until filled.

Data has shown that women and candidates of color less frequently apply for positions where they may not meet all desired qualifications. VSC values both professional and human experience and invites candidates with passion for our work and skill in many of the areas listed to apply for this role.

Vermont Studio Center is an equal opportunity employer and encourages candidates of all racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds to apply. Staff are selected based on ability without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or gender identity.