Director of Development

Job Overview:

The Director of Development is a key member of the American Jazz Museum (AJM) senior leadership team and is responsible for all aspects of revenue and income generating activities. They will represent the Museum to a broad spectrum of funders, community leaders, and external stakeholders with the opportunity to support diverse programs and projects. They will participate in developing strategy with the senior team and will create a long-term Development Plan for AJM.

The position will work closely with the Executive Director and Board of Directors to ensure that development strategies are aligned with the mission, vision, and values of the American Jazz Museum; lead and manage the day-to-day activity of all development operations, including government, foundation, and corporate fundraising; individual cultivation and stewardship, membership, annual fund programs, special events and programs, and capital fundraising.

This will be a critical hire for AJM, as the Director of Development will be responsible for sustaining the existing funding structure for the AJM as well as advancing development efforts and launching and managing a capital campaign in the near future.

Duties and Daily Responsibilities:

• Oversee annual fundraising, capital gifts, planned giving campaigns, corporate giving, and grants/funding from private foundations and public sources.
• Cooperate with and assist the Executive Director in advancing the mission of AJM through the coordination of all development activities.
• Remain personally active in the pursuit of major and planned gifts, maintaining a portfolio of 150 high-end donors and prospects.
• Maintain a working knowledge of AJM policies and procedures specifically related to his/her area of responsibility.
• Identify and coordinate appropriate opportunities to utilize the strengths of the Executive Director in his participation in the cultivation and solicitation of high-end donors and prospects.
• Prepare a Strategic Development Plan and department budget prior to the beginning of each fiscal year showing goals, action steps and outcome measures for each fundraising discipline and individual for the ensuing year.
• Establish realistic, inspiring, and challenging development goals and objectives with staff and present to the Executive Director to review and reach agreement on proposed development goals and objectives; provide regular updates on results.
• Maintain a donor database and track all existing institutional, corporate, and individual donor relationships.
• Identify, cultivate, increase, and renew grants and contributions from institutional partners.
• Plan, organize, and supervise special events for solicitation and cultivation purposes, including the museum's annual “Believe In AJM” Gala, regular fundraisers, year-round donor engagement and cultivation events, etc.
• Hire, train and support development staff and monitor accountabilities for results and outcomes of all development initiatives.
• Effectively and efficiently administer the affairs of the department, especially to the creation and monitoring of the budget to ensure compliance with AJM standards, policies, and expectations.
• Maintain a donor database and ensure all records are current and relevant, including comprehensive updates to membership lists and fundraising calendar.
• Oversee the development of all direct mail appeals, rigorously evaluating the productivity and efficiency of mail service vendors to ensure generation of an acceptable return on investment.
• Work closely with the Marketing and Communications Department to ensure all AJM promotional materials are current and appropriate for use in advancing fundraising initiatives of all types.
• Collaborate with other AJM departments on their fundraising needs.
• Serve as a member of the AJM senior leadership team and maintain an effective liaison with AJM personnel to promote clear understanding of development programs and responsibilities.
• Direct the oversight and development of all aspects of the capital campaign to include assessing needs, strategic planning and participation of volunteers and appropriate staff.
• Perform other duties and special projects, as assigned, or as needed.

Performance Factors and Necessary Skills:

• Excellent leadership and organizational abilities.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills. 
• Strong knowledge of fundraising.
• Thorough understanding of business administration, management, and business forecasting strategies and techniques.
• Must be highly ethical and act with integrity; self-motivated; dependable and reliable; detailed oriented; able to interface easily with staff, other senior management personnel and funding sources.
• Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Grant writing experience and skills.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software. 

Adaptability & Change Management: Adapts to changing business needs, conditions, and work responsibilities and works with a variety of situations, individuals, groups, and varying customers needs.

Communication & Cooperation: Adapts to changing business needs, conditions, and   work responsibilities and works with a variety of situations, individuals, groups, and varying customers needs.

Judgement & Decision Making: Makes timely, informed decisions that take into account the facts, goals, constraints, and risks.

Goal & Objective Setting: Ensures joint ownership of goal setting, commitments, and accomplishments. Defining tasks and milestones to achieve objectives, while ensuring the optimal use of resources to achieve those objectives.

Diversity Orientation: Values all people for their unique talents and takes an active role in promoting practices that support diversity, inclusion, and global work, as well as cultural competence.

Qualifications and Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree and/or equivalent experience
• Extensive knowledge of fundraising strategies and principles.
• Capital Campaign experience strongly preferred.
• Minimum (3) years non-profit experience preferred.
• Proven written, oral, and computer skills (Experience with development platforms strongly preferred) ‘
• Ability to ask for donations – both in person and over the phone.
• Ability to track multiple prospects & donors.
• Strong communication, presentation, and organizational skills with the ability to convey how a donor’s generous gifts positively impact the mission of the American Jazz Museum
• Strong skills in written and oral story telling as well as building cases for support.
• Proven management and supervisory skills with a team-oriented management style

To apply please send cover letter and resume to Kim Washington, HR Consultant, kwashington@kcjazz.org.