Executive Director, Advancement Services

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT SERVICES

California Institute of the Arts

Valencia, California

The Search

California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) seeks an innovative, data-driven, and highly collaborative operations leader to serve as the executive director of advancement services (EDAS).  Reporting to the chief advancement officer and serving as a critical member of the advancement senior leadership team, this individual will be responsible for overseeing the data-dependent infrastructure that supports all fundraising efforts and alumnx and family engagement efforts at CalArts. Further, the EDAS will foster an inclusive culture and donor-centric environment where all members of the team rely on and contribute to the success of advancement services.

CalArts embarks on this search at a pivotal moment for its advancement enterprise. The division has a once in a lifetime opportunity to build its infrastructure and grow the staff as a result of investment through restricted private philanthropy. In addition, the advancement division continues to benefit greatly from the leadership of President Ravi S. Rajan—a dynamic and data-minded leader committed to investing in philanthropy—and new Chief Advancement Officer Natalie Farrar Adams who has set fundraising at CalArts on an ambitious new trajectory. As active and accessible thought partners to the EDAS, President Rajan and CAO Farrar Adams value the need for high-functioning systems and data management to inform the success of an advancement operation and a future comprehensive campaign.

The EDAS will be a strategic and contemporary advancement leader who brings a broad and global perspective to advancement services and the use of data to help make decisions at the highest levels. The EDAS will manage a three-person team dedicated to database management; gift recording, acknowledgement, and recognition; as well as prospect research and identification. The EDAS will foster a team culture that prioritizes providing the highest-level customer service to colleagues and supports the success of frontline fundraising efforts in institutional giving, major gifts, annual giving, communications, and community engagement.

This is an exceptional opportunity for an ambitious and results-oriented advancement professional with a systems-oriented approach and a collegial and accessible leadership style to contribute to a culture that is dedicated to excellence. The EDAS will have a deep appreciation and passion for the mission, vision, and core values of CalArts, along with a strong commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity, and access.

CalArts has retained Rachel Ellenport of the national executive search firm, Isaacson, Miller, to assist in this important recruitment. Confidential inquiries, nominations, and applications should be directed to the search firm at https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/california-institute-arts/executive-director-advancement-services.

California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) seeks to employ faculty and staff who can engage our diverse communities of learners at the highest levels of artistic endeavor and critical thinking. Across the range of practitioners from artists to scholars and librarians, we welcome candidates who possess a demonstrated worldview and cultural competency to support teaching and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students of varied backgrounds, capabilities, perspectives, social identities, and gender expressions. CalArts is an equal opportunity employer.