Senior Director of Philanthropy

Description

With a history defined by tenaciousness, vision, risk-taking, artistic excellence, and a commitment to the revitalization and economic growth of the region, MASS MoCA (MM) is primed for its next quarter century of innovation and leadership. Kristy Edmunds – a world-renowned arts director, curator, and creative producer – was appointed in October 2021 to move the organization forward and to build a durable, sustainable future. Seizing the opportunity, Kristy, working with MASS MoCA's dedicated Board of Trustees, authored a new, multi-year Strategic Plan reflecting and articulating a new vision for cultural institutions at a time when museums and all arts organizations must reevaluate their role and relevance in society. Specific initiatives in the Strategic Plan include the significant greening of MASS MoCA's campus; creating new housing for artists; launching a curatorial exchange program to bring in perspectives of under-represented curators to the museum; and deepening MASS MoCA’s partnership with the City of North Adams on interconnected civic development projects. To support these ambitious goals, MASS MoCA aims to grow the annual budget to add staff capacity and significantly expand the current $28 million endowment through the development and execution of a comprehensive capital campaign, building on the success of MASS MoCA's first 25 years and forging a new culture of philanthropy.

In this exciting time of evolution, MASS MoCA seeks an experienced and forward-thinking fundraiser to join the Advancement team as our Senior Director of Philanthropy. Based in New York and working with patrons in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami and other major arts hubs, the Senior Director of Philanthropy has an opportunity to make a significant impact on MM’s ambitious goals, authoring and driving the growth of philanthropic giving in support of these transformational ideals. 

As a member of the executive leadership team, and a key partner to the Director, Kristy Edmunds, the Chief Advancement Officer (CAO), the Board of Trustees, and fellow leadership staff, the Senior Director of Philanthropy will help to develop, nurture, and manage joyful and mutually beneficial philanthropic relationships, building a combined major and patron giving program that contributes between $3M and $4M to MM’s annual operating budget, plus additional philanthropy for capital, endowment, and other off-budget projects.  The Senior Director will play a leadership role in shaping and expanding the individual donor pipeline for a multi-year comprehensive campaign for which planning is now underway. 

Requirements

Requirements:

• Creates and executes comprehensive donor engagement and individual giving strategies - identifying, cultivating, and soliciting new donors, as well as stewarding existing relationships and bringing personal relationships to MASS MoCA. Emphasis on gifts from $10k and $1M+
• Oversees and Individual Gift Officer 
• Works closely with the Director, CAO, Curators and programmers to identify funding opportunities  - connecting to prospects for philanthropic support.
• Establishes and manages patron and travel programs for major donors and Board members supported by the Gift Officer or equivalent.
• Works with the Director of Curatorial Affairs, Curators, and Board Engagement Committee to design and arrange domestic and international board and donor trips.
• In collaboration with Sr Leadership, helps establish a strategic giving program that assists and informs capital campaign development - mapping prospects to MASS MoCA and post campaign stewardship.
• Maintains continuous awareness of programmatic undertakings across all departments (including those associated with the Director's Initiatives.) Collaborates with curatorial teams to stay knowledgeable about artists commissions, new work interests and future projects with an eye to matching philanthropic prospects to programmatic support.
• Matches donor interests and crafts compelling narratives highlighting MMs mission and programs and the tangible outcomes, tracking the impact of patron support.
• Gala: Works with Sr Leadership to help establish overall income strategy and secures financial support through sponsorships, table sales, seeding the paddle raise and assisting with auction sales.
• Capital Campaign: Supports CAO and sr leadership in framing and executing campaign plan, Interfacing with Trustees and the Campaign Committee.
• This job description is intended to describe the general nature of the role and the work being performed. It is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities. The Senior Director of Philanthropy may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities, as needed.

Qualifications:

• Must be conversant in visual and performing arts and have an appreciation and