Director, Foundation Relations

CarnegieHall; City of Niagara Falls (NY); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Carnegie Hall in New York seeks a Director of Foundation Relations to lead a strategic fundraising plan, cultivate foundation donors, and drive over $4M in annual revenue. The role reports to the Chief Development Officer and oversees a small team.

You will collaborate across programs to align funding needs with artistic, education, and social impact priorities, manage prospect research, and guide moves management and reporting.

Qualifications

• BA/BS degree from an accredited institution.
• 7–10 years of progressively responsible leadership experience, preferably in cultural institutions.
• Proven track record of donor engagement, grant preparation, and fundraising success.
• Flexibility with changing priorities and deadlines.
• Ability to establish rapport with high-level donors and program officers and collaborate across Carnegie Hall.
• Demonstrated strategic thinking and excellent writing, editing, analytical and verbal communication skills.
• Experience with relational databases (Tessitura, Raiser's Edge, Salesforce).
• Ability to manage multiple tasks on tight deadlines within a budget.

Responsibilities

• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward foundation prospects and donors to meet annual revenue goals.
• Develop and maintain engagement with foundation contacts through meetings, written communications, and events.
• Maintain in-depth knowledge of Carnegie Hall programs and fundraising needs to support cultivation and proposals.
• Conduct prospect research and oversee moves management strategy to upgrade support.
• Manage and mentor a team of three staff in Foundation Relations, including research, stewardship, and reporting.

Education

BA/BS degree

Tools

Tessitura

Raiser's Edge

Salesforce

Job description

Department: Development

Title of Position: Director, Foundation Relations

Reports to Position: Chief Development Officer

The Director of Foundation Relations is responsible for developing and implementing a strategic fundraising plan and executing strategies to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward foundation donors to generate support for Carnegie Hall’s programs and operations. The Director reports to the Chief Development Officer and oversees an active portfolio of foundation donors to meet annual revenue goals of over $4M each year. The Director works cross-departmentally to identify opportunities and meet funding needs for Carnegie Hall’s artistic, music education, social impact programs, and other strategic priorities.

Position Responsibilities

• Proactively identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward relationships with foundation prospects and donors with the support of the Chief Development Officer, Artistic and Executive Director of Carnegie Hall, and other senior leadership to achieve annual revenue goals.
• Develop and maintain rapport and engagement with foundation contacts and new prospects through meetings, written communication, and invitations to concerts and other unique engagement opportunities and events.
• Develop and maintain in-depth knowledge of Carnegie Hall’s programs, activities, resources, and fundraising needs, working closely with Carnegie Hall colleagues in and outside of Development to create strategies and produce materials to support cultivation and fundraising.
• Conduct prospect research to identify new foundation donors and oversee moves management strategy to upgrade support from current donors
• Manage and mentor a team of three staff members for the Foundation Relations team, including overseeing prospect research, a range of stewardship and cultivation activities, and proposal development and reporting.

Required skills and experience

• BA/BS degree
• 7 to 10 years of progressively responsible leadership experience, preferably in cultural institutions
• A proven track record of success in donor engagement, grant preparation, and achieving fundraising goals
• Flexibility and patience with changing priorities and deadlines
• Ability to establish rapport with high-level donors and program officers, and to collaborate with colleagues across Carnegie Hall
• Demonstrated strategic thinking abilities
• Excellent writing, editing, analytical, and verbal communication skills
• Commitment to accuracy and attention to detail
• Flexibility and patience with changing priorities and deadlines
• Experience working with a relational database (such as Tessitura, Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce)
• Must work well in fast-paced team environment and be able to manage multiple tasks on tight deadlines remaining within a budget.