Director of Development

The National Academy of Design seeks a passionate, forward-thinking, art-loving, and motivated Director of Development to grow its development department. 

The Director of Development will be a key member of our team and will work closely with the Executive Director, the Deputy Director, and the staff to oversee a comprehensive fundraising plan to raise $2 million to support annual programs and special projects for the National Academy. The Director of Development plans, implements, and sustains a comprehensive annual fundraising effort and oversees the work of  a Development Manager. As an essential member of the Academy’s senior leadership team, the Director of Development is instrumental in the Academy’s sustainability and growth and contributes to the overall strategic direction of the institution. The Academy is looking for a fundraising leader to accomplish the organization’s financial goals by fostering relationships with donors, funders, and stakeholders who are excited to support the Academy’s mission.

Duties and Responsibilities

Leadership and Planning

Plan, implement, and oversee a comprehensive annual fund development program comprised of individuals, businesses, private foundations, government agencies, and earned income streams, focused on raising funds from diverse sources with an eye toward long-term institutional sustainability; Identify organizational funding needs in collaboration with the Executive Director and staff,  creating strategic short- and long-term fundraising plans to meet income goals for programmatic, capital, and capacity needs for the Academy; In partnership with the Director of Communications, develop donor marketing and communications efforts, strategies, and protocols for a comprehensive and multifaceted donor communication and messaging plan to support fundraising outreach.

Fundraising and Stewardship

Identify and implement new strategies and tools to further develop relationships with individual donors with the goal of enhancing major giving, annual giving, and Director’s Circle and Friends membership programs; In partnership with a Development Manager, plan and execute major annual fundraising benefit events and ongoing targeted cultivation activities throughout the year; Oversee and grow a small planned giving program; Preparation and submission of grant proposals and steward a portfolio of current institutional funders to ensure timely, quality submission of proposals and fulfillment of reporting requirements (Foundations, Corporations, and Government); Research and identify new foundation and corporate giving prospects based on Academy’s programmatic initiatives; cultivate new funding relationships and opportunities; Prepare the Academy for a possible future capital campaign. Train, mentor, and support Academy staff and Board in their donor and prospect engagement activities; seek ways to maximize the Board’s personal giving and participation in philanthropic programs.

Management and Reporting

Oversee day-to-day fundraising operations, ensuring effective and accurate grant and gift tracking, revenue reports, and donor management; Motivate, supervise, evaluate, and mentor development staff; create a supportive, collaborative, productive, and healthy work environment based on respect, teamwork, and clear expectations and responsibilities; set performance standards and provide timely, constructive feedback; support opportunities for professional development; Oversee and support the use of Salesforce in conjunction with development staff and other staff as needed; Review and update as needed development department policy documents, including but not limited to gift acceptance policy, procedures for processing gifts, and Board of Governors Manual.

External Affairs

Foster relationships with community members, including elected officials, major donors, and prospective funders; Be involved with the arts and NYC community by attending community events, promoting a positive public image and increasing the visibility of the Academy’s work and impact; Maintain knowledge about the external environment as it relates to arts and culture.

Qualifications

5-8+ years of demonstrated success and leadership in professional fundraising for a not-for-profit organization, preferably in arts and culture or equivalent experience; BS/BA and Masters degree preferred;  Experience securing support for a mission-driven nonprofit from a variety of sources, including major donors, institutional funders, digital and social media, special events, corporate partnerships, and grassroots campaigns; Outstanding written and oral communications skills, with ability to work fluidly across all levels, build collaboration and buy-in, and generate support from internal and external stakeholders; ability to craft and articulate nuanced, sophisticated cases for support to diverse audiences and constituents; Ability to see the “big picture,” think strategically, and translate strategy into goals and actions; Excellent project management, organizational, and prioritizing skills that include problem solving and analysis, as well as efficiency and accuracy when multitasking; Self-starter, proactive, flexible, and a creative problem-solver;

Demonstrated supervisory and delegation skills; Demonstrated experience using Salesforce or similar CRM and proficiency in Google Drive, as well as experience using project management and internal instant message softwares. 

Compensation

Salary range is $110,000-$125,000 and is commensurate with experience and abilities. An excellent comprehensive benefits package is included.

Location and Schedule

Position is available immediately and is full-time, Monday through Friday, with some evening and weekend attendance required for board meetings, community events, and select programs. This is a full-time exempt position. All National Academy full-time staff are required to work in our Chelsea offices at least three full days each week. While there is some flexibility for remote work, there is an expectation for this senior-level position to be local and available if/when needed in our offices.

Application Instructions

Please submit a résumé and one-page cover letter, combined in one PDF named “Last Name_Development Director,” via email to careers@nationalacademy.org. Please include “Director of Development” in the subject line. No phone calls, please. 

Hiring Statement

The National Academy of Design is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. We strongly encourage women, veterans, people with disabilities, people of color, and gender-nonconforming candidates to apply. The National Academy of Design is an equal opportunity employer and considers all candidates for employment regardless of race, color, sex, age, gender identification, national origin, creed, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or political affiliation.