Director of Individual Giving & Membership

The Studio Museum; New York (NY); On-site; USD 125,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

The Studio Museum in Harlem is searching for a Director of Individual Giving & Membership. This key position is responsible for managing fundraising initiatives exceeding $4M and leading a dedicated team. The ideal candidate will possess extensive experience in building donor relationships and shaping effective fundraising strategies while navigating the cultural landscape of the arts.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and life insurance

Long-term disability insurance

Retirement account

Substantial vacation time

Qualifications

• Proven track record in raising multiple five and six+ figure gifts.
• Experience in supervising and motivating staff.
• Ability to strategically develop and grow patron programs.

Responsibilities

• Manage major gifts, membership, and annual fund programs.
• Develop fundraising strategies and oversee donor relationships.
• Provide leadership to the Development team.

Skills

Fundraising

Leadership

Communication

Project Management

Relationship Building

Data Analysis

Education

8+ years of progressive experience in individual fundraising

Tools

Microsoft Office

Database Management (Tessitura preferred)

Job description

Director of Individual Giving & Membership

About Our Organization

Founded in 1968, the Studio Museum in Harlem is the nexus for artists of African descent locally, nationally, and internationally and for work that has been inspired and influenced by Black culture. It is a site for the dynamic exchange of ideas about art and society.

Job Summary

The Studio Museum in Harlem seeks a highly motivated and dynamic Director of Individual Giving & Membership to manage the major gifts, membership, and annual fund programs at the Museum. This position is responsible for developing strategies related to the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of individual and major gift donors.

As a senior leader of the Development team, this person will be excellent at frontline fundraising, developing strategy and infrastructure, and managing a team to successful outcomes. The Director oversees and directly manages both a Senior Membership Manager and Major Gifts Coordinator and is responsible for $4M+ in revenue across all channels. They will develop and sustain productive and functional cross-departmental relationships (e.g., Communications, Education, Curatorial and Public Programs) to achieve annual giving goals.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Plan, develop, and implement a robust and creative fundraising program focused on individuals to meet the Museum’s growth projections and strategic goals.
• Manage a portfolio of individual donors and prospects with the capacity to make unrestricted and restricted philanthropic gifts of $10,000 and higher and directly solicit and close gifts from major donors and prospects in collaboration with the Director and Chief Curator, Chief Advancement and External Affairs Officer and other internal stakeholders.
• Support Senior Membership Manager in the creation and effective implementation of a membership and annual fund strategic plan for the acquisition, retention, upgrading, and reinstatement of members and donors.
• Oversee coordination and execution of members-only events and calendar of other stewardship events, including patron donor events .
• Work with the Director of Visitor Services to create a strong museum visitor/member experience.
• Oversee and support direct report staff by sharing expertise, best practices and insights. Assist in task and timeline prioritization with regular and providing constructive feedback.
• Utilize data and metrics to benchmark efforts, inform strategic and tactical decision-making, and identify broad-based solicitation opportunities.
• Responsible for budgeting, forecasting, and reporting, including the creation of regular and meaningful reporting for Chief Advancement and External Affairs Officer and other Museum senior leadership (in concert with Director of Development) to track fundraising progress against plan each month, quarterly, and as needed.
• Support and effectively deploy the Museum’s executive leadership, programmatic staff, and trustees, as appropriate, in the cultivation and solicitation of donors.
• Serve as a representative of the Studio Museum in Harlem to key stakeholders such as the Board of Trustees, patrons, and major donors, among others.
• Attend events on evenings and weekends as appropriate.

Skills and Qualifications

• Interest in the programmatic content of the museum to build the case for why it should be supported.
• Proven track record in raising multiple five and six+ figure gifts with broad knowledge of the principles of fundraising.
• Ability to strategically and creatively develop and grpw patrons programs
• Handle conflicts, make intelligent business decisions and exercise proper action during stressful situations.
• Ability to analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions, and implement recommendations in support of goals.
• Remain flexible and optimistic and adjust to situations as they occur.
• Exceptional management, leadership, presentation, written and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, with an exceptional eye for detail and accuracy and focused on meeting all deadlines and performance goals.
• Ability to work collaboratively and build strong and effective internal and external relationships
• Experience in supervising and motivating staff.
• Deep knowledge of metrics-based moves management and cultivation and solicitation strategies.
• Knowledge of planned giving vehicles desired.
• Computer proficiency with Microsoft Office programs and database management systems, such as Tessitura, preferred.

Education and Experience

• 8+ years of progressive experience in individual fundraising, preferably in the culture and arts landscape.

Physical Demands

This position does not have any physical demands.

• This position is an exempt position and may require working in excess of forty (40) hours during a work week and/or on weekends.
• Fast-paced environment with varying levels of guests and employees present.
• Building Accessibility – office locations are wheelchair accessible, with elevators in the building. Other accessibility accommodations can be further discussed.

Compensation

$125,000 - $135,000 annually

Salary is commensurate with experience within the guidelines of a small not-for-profit. A competitive benefits package is provided, including medical, dental, life and long-term disability insurance, a retirement account, and substantial vacation time.

Application Instructions

Please upload your resume and a cover letter to your application. No phone calls or emails, please.

Please note that while careful consideration will be given to each submission, only a select number of applicants will be contacted due to the volume of interest.

The Studio Museum in Harlem 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. We celebrate our inclusive work environment and encourage folks of all backgrounds and perspectives to apply. At the Studio Museum, we are committed to having an inclusive and transparent environment where every voice is heard and acknowledged. We embrace our differences, and know that our diverse team is a strength that drives our success.

Research shows that women and individuals from underrepresented backgrounds often apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. We recognize that it is highly unlikely that an applicant meets 100% of the qualifications for a given role. Therefore, if much of this job description describes you, then you are highly encouraged to apply for this role.