Director of Development

Description

The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation inspires people to discover and embrace an architecture for better living through meaningful connection to nature, the arts and each other. In Wright's own words, our vision is "to make life more beautiful, the world a better one for living in, and to give reason, rhyme and meaning to life."

Position Summary:

Reporting to the Chief Advancement Officer (CAO), this professional has an established background in coordinating fundraising strategies in support of mission-directed activities and general operations.  The Director of Development works with donors directly and in combination with the Foundation’s CEO and Chief Advancement Officer, while managing a staff that works in individual and major giving, membership and annual support, and special event programming.

Our Director of Development provides creativity, strategy, leadership, excitement, and results as the Foundation expands its fund development department and programs.  Key to the success of this role and the team as a whole is the promotion and use of best practices,  clear articulation of robust business policies and procedures and the creation of a strong team culture through individual and team development.

The Director of Development is also responsible for building relationships with individuals that produce strategic financial support for operations and programs across the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation.  The position works closely with the Foundation’s Senior Leadership Team to identify and cultivate new donors, to retain and increase giving from existing donors.  The Director of Development  manages a small portfolio of donors personally, while supporting the larger fundraising efforts through the Advancement team

In all activities, the Director of Development implements the Foundation’s fund development plans in accordance with ethical fundraising principles, following a donor-centric model of philanthropy.  The Foundation seeks to raise $4 million annually to support the work of our mission, including preservation and programs through a mix of individual giving, membership, and institutional/corporate/government support.

Essential Functions:

Oversees/manages the day-to-day performance of the Advancement department’s team of individuals responsible for Operations, Data Management, Membership, and Advancement Communications; currently the team is made up of eight professionals in ongoing and seasonal roles. With the help of this team and under the direction of the CAO, the Director of Development provides leadership for the following:

• Acknowledgement and fulfillment of gifts and pledges while ensuring timely and accurate reporting to funding sources.
• Acquisition, retention, and stewardship of Members.
• Fundraising-specific communications on behalf of the Foundation.
• Development and use of analytics and performance metrics to support monthly Advancement Dashboard and Advancement Summary along with utilization of other standard reporting models and tools.
• Budgeting and forecasting activities for the Advancement team.
• Building robust corporate and major donor portfolios with intent to significantly increase revenue from each segment.
• Establishing a philanthropic support-driven major gifts program, ensuring appropriate recognition and cultivation in a continuous cycle.
• Actively participating in planning and execution of the Annual Campaign, providing additional support for all other fundraising initiatives; the internal activities of the Capital Campaign; and the development of a legacy gifts program that is both an independent effort and a part of any Comprehensive Campaign efforts.

Fostering an understanding of philanthropy within the organization and externally with community stakeholders interested in the Foundation’s mission and fundraising goals, the Director of Development also supports high-level collaboration in the following ways:

• Works with CEO and CAO to assist board members and related committees with scheduling donor meetings, and documenting and following up on meeting outcomes.
• Works with the Associate Vice President for Partnerships and Strategic Initiatives and the Grants Manager to maintain the database of projects funded through grants and related initiatives and to provide status updates on this work to the Leadership team.
• Helps develop initiatives to build a Corporate Partner program to include creating proposals for corporate partnership and sponsorship in support of all Foundation activities and initiatives.
• Utilizes CRM/Donation Management databases and Microsoft Office software products for the benefit of work that is shared throughout the organization.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

This position is full time with a salary of $110,000+/year (commensurate with experience) and comprehensive benefits including a paid time-off package. The Foundation pays up to 85% of monthly health-care premiums and enrolls all regular full-time employees into our life insurance, short-term and long-term disability, and long-term care policies at no cost to employees.

A career at Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation offers more than the opportunity to impact the world through our mission. Our team does vital and valued work that fosters creativity, collaboration, and camaraderie. Besides competitive compensation and benefits, we offer an inclusive environment, amazing views, and incredible architecture to inspire you every day.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Non-Profit Administration, Business Administration, Communications or a related field from an accredited four-year college or university.
• Five years+ experience in nonprofit fundraising, including experience in relationship development, staff management, and grant writing.
• A proven track record in producing programs on time, within budget, and that generate steadily increasing philanthropic support for small to mid-sized organizations as well as community excitement.
• Previous experience in both the cultivation of corporate relationships as well as individual donors.
• Outstanding written, interpersonal, and verbal communication skills.
• Familiarity with Altru, Salesforce NSPS or other preferred CRM platform.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office suite including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, and Outlook.
• Exceptional team leadership and coaching skills.
• Excellent ability to strategize, set and meet goals, be proactive, and have meticulous attention to detail in the completion of tasks.
• Strong professional drive and entrepreneurial spirit.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Direct experience in small to mid-sized arts and/or culture institutions with national and international recognition.
• Demonstrated record of strong management of multiple programs/projects and cross departmental work/alignment.
• Advanced certification and continued education in the field of philanthropy.

Physical Demands and Work Environment: The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.

• Physical Demands: While performing the essential functions of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; occasionally walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; and consistently talk or hear; and rarely taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to twenty-five pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.
• Work environment: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to weather and desert environmental conditions prevalent at the time. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation is an equal opportunity employer.