Assistant Director, Development

The Hudson River Museum seeks an experienced and results-driven Assistant Director, Development to advance and ensure robust support from foundations, individuals, corporations, and government agencies. This person will be a key member of the senior team and participate in developing and leading all aspects of fundraising. This hands-on individual will expand HRM’s capacity by representing the Museum to a broad spectrum of funders, supporters, community leaders, and external stakeholders. The successful candidate will be a proven fundraiser, with a demonstrable record of frontline fundraising, cultivating donors, and securing grants and corporate support. The individual will be an excellent communicator with a passion for the arts, science, and history, a strong understanding of cultural funding opportunities, and a keen sense of revenue opportunities.

Reporting to and working closely with the Director and CEO, the successful candidate will interface with the Board of Trustees and other members of Senior Staff to create funding plans and strategize approaches to meet the goals for this dynamic and expanding museum with an approximate $3.6 million operating budget.

Responsibilities:

Development Strategy:

• Lead Development planning and implementation to meet the organization’s short- and long-term fundraising objectives including an annual strategy for individual, foundation, government, and corporate support for the Museum’s multidisciplinary work; create and maintain a rolling three-year plan for growth.
• Lead the "Fund for HRM" multi-year major gift initiative toward capital, endowment, and operating goals.
• Manage data appropriately to enable effective fundraising and ensure that decisions are informed by clear analysis and reporting.
• Provide regular updates to leadership on fundraising progress against goals; prepare quarterly reports for Board Committees on fundraising status and forecast; provide input into Board reports and other ad hoc report requests from leadership, including KPI tracking, dashboards, and other analytics.
• Work with colleagues across the organization to understand programmatic priorities that are essential fundraising opportunities.

Fundraising:

• Direct all development activity, including annual fund, sponsorships, grants, major gifts, planned giving, and fundraising and special events, including the Gala benefit.
• Manage annual Board giving and a portfolio of donors and prospects through face-to-face cultivation, solicitation, stewardship meetings, and effective written communications.
• Manage the Museum’s portfolio of major donors, including day-to-day details of campaign implementation, arrangements for meetings, campaign correspondence, and monitoring gift and pledge records.
• Direct fundraising efforts of the CEO and the Board of Trustees to secure new and renewed gifts.
• Write compelling proposals and communications for significant [5, 6, and 7-figure] solicitations for projects that include programmatic, capital, and endowment.
• Cultivate and steward relationships with a wide range of donors, grant funders, and volunteers; identify and follow through with new prospects
• Create and implement research and strategies to identify, prioritize, cultivate, solicit, recognize, and steward all prospects and donors; maintain a portfolio of donors and prospects.
• Evaluate current giving programs and donor benefits toward achieving increased revenue streams from current and prospective donors.
• Serve as staff liaison to the Development Committee.
• Serve as a welcoming presence in HRM’s donor community, earning respect and appreciation through advanced communications skills and a donor-first, service-oriented approach, and excellent follow-up.
• Utilize DonorSearch software for prospect research and identification; demonstrate ability to synthesize information to create action plans.

Management:

• Strategically guide and advise the Development staff, leading by positive example. The team currently includes a full-time Development Officer, Membership and Special Events Manager, a part-time Special Projects Coordinator, and contractual development support.
• Supervise the Manager, Membership and Special Events, to ensure database management, processing memberships, and communicating with members.
  • Develop and implement strategies to increase membership, including retention, acquisition, and engagement.
  • Collaborate with other departments to create new membership benefits, events, and programs that enhance the member experience and promote the museum's mission.
• Supervise the Development Officer to ensure foundation, corporate and government grant proposals and reports are compelling and timely.
• Oversee all restricted and unrestricted contributed revenue streams, including Special Event Fundraising, Individual and Corporate Membership, and Individual and Institutional giving.
• Develop annual budgets; lead the goal-setting process for contributed revenue and Membership.
• Provide the infrastructure, processes, procedures, and systems that optimize efficiency and productivity.
• Participate in interdepartmental meetings of Senior Staff, serve as an active collaborator, and hold regular department meetings.
• Ensure gift acknowledgments, prospecting, and communications are timely and accurate.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree; Master’s degree preferred.
• 7+ years of progressive leadership experience in development roles in a not-for-profit organization, preferably in the arts, culture, or higher education, and at least three years of supervisory experience.
• Demonstrable track record in securing six/seven-figure gifts, and nurturing loyal donors.
• Ability to uphold fundraising ethics and respect the confidentiality of donor information.
• Detailed fundraising campaign and legacy planning experience; ability to develop prospect databases
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Suite, visual presentation skills to create pitch decks, and the ability to effectively utilize proprietary software; strong experience with DonorSearch, PatronManager, and Salesforce (or similar software).
• Exceptional capacity for detail and superior organizational skills.
• Occasional weekend and evening hours and ability to travel by car regionally.

Benefits:

• Competitive compensation.
• The Museum pays 100% of premiums for medical, dental, and life insurance.
• 403(b) retirement plan.
• Generous paid time off, including annual leave, sick leave, personal days, and 13 Museum holidays.
• Flexible spending accounts (pre-tax income for eligible health care expenses).
• On-site free parking and discount in Museum Shop.
• Access and free admission to numerous museums and cultural institutions.
• Paid membership in the American Alliance of Museums (AAM).
• Standard worker’s compensation, short-term and long-term disability, and unemployment insurance.
• Participation in TransitChek Commuter Benefit program.
• Hybrid work schedule: 4 days onsite/1 day remote.