Development Director, Fundraising

This is a Full Time Job

Development Director

Position Overview: The Development Director will serve as a contributing member of the senior management team to provide strategic leadership and direction for the organization's fundraising and development initiatives, ensuring sustained growth in contributions and long-term donor engagement. This role involves driving major fundraising campaigns, building robust relationships with individual donors, managing foundation relationships, overseeing grant applications, and managing a development team to support the mission to provide accessible, world-class arts and education programs. The Director will be able to leverage a network of contacts and donor relationships in the NY/NJ metro philanthropic sector to support these goals.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Fundraising Leadership: Develop and implement comprehensive fundraising strategies, including annual giving, major gifts, capital campaigns, planned giving, and corporate sponsorships.

• Donor Cultivation and Stewardship: Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with individual donors, corporate sponsors, and foundations. Identify new prospects and create personalized stewardship plans to enhance donor engagement and retention.

• Grant Management: Oversee grant writing and reporting processes, researching potential grants and ensuring timely submissions. Work closely with foundations and government agencies to secure funding for programs and initiatives.

• Events Management: Plan and oversee donor cultivation events, including the annual gala, donor appreciation events, and other fundraising activities. Collaborate with the Special Events Coordinator to ensure all events align with fundraising goals and provide memorable donor experiences. Integrate best practices, external perspective and innovative approaches to ensure programs are impactful and relevant.

• Team Leadership and Collaboration: Manage a team of development professionals, providing guidance and support to achieve departmental goals. Work closely with marketing, programming, education and finance teams to ensure alignment on organizational goals.

• Board Engagement: Serve as one point of contact for the Board of Trustees on development matters. Support board members in their fundraising efforts and facilitate regular communication to keep them informed of fundraising progress.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Communications, or a related field; a master's degree is a plus.

• Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in development and fundraising, preferably within the arts or nonprofit sectors.

• Proven track record of meeting or exceeding fundraising targets and securing major gifts and grants.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage a diverse range of donors and stakeholders.

• Experience in event planning and execution, as well as managing donor relations and cultivation strategies.

• Familiarity with Raiser's Edge and donor database management software with the ability to quickly and accurately provide donor/prospect tracking, research, and reports as needed to management and the Board of Directors..

Skills and Attributes:

• Strategic thinker with strong analytical and project management skills.

• Ability to lead and inspire a team, fostering collaboration and accountability.

• Detail-oriented and organized, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.

• Passionate about the arts and committed to the mission.

This role offers an exciting opportunity to be at the heart of growth and community impact, helping shape a vibrant future for the performing arts in New Jersey.