Job Summary
The Director of Advancement (DoA) oversees The Contemporary Austin’s fundraising and advancement efforts across all functional areas, including individual and institutional giving; Annual, endowment and special campaign initiatives; fundraising events, corporate partnership opportunities and other more entrepreneurial activities.
Supervising a growing team of 7-10 staff members, the DoA is responsible for the organization’s fundraising goals and works closely with Trustees, committee members, event committees, and the executive director and leadership team to ensure that a strong and compelling fundraising strategy is in place, that income goals are met, and that the advancement needs and priorities of the organization are legible, compellingly presented and well stewarded. In addition to setting goals, strategy, annual workplans, and overseeing all fundraising benchmarking and reporting, the DoA maintains their own donor portfolio of approximately 50-75 donors and institutional funders.
The DoA sits on the organization’s leadership team and plays a key role in setting the tone and culture for the institution. They are well-positioned to make a significant impact within the organization and within Austin’s evolving arts and cultural ecosystem.
The DoA:
• Embodies the values of the Contemporary Austin and has a passion for the mission
• Has a proven track record as a do-er, a fundraiser, a supervisor, a leader, a clear communicator and a deal closer
• Is both a strategist and an operator
• Has the ability to manage up, down and sideways with clarity, confidence and grace
• Has a keen understanding of philanthropic trends and the ability to innovate as the sector changes
• Brings rigor and professionalism to the team
About The Contemporary Austin
As Austin’s only museum focused on contemporary artists and their work, The Contemporary Austin offers exhibitions, educational opportunities, and events that start conversations and fuel the city’s creative spirit. Known for artist-centric projects and collaborations, The Contemporary invites exploration at both its urban and natural settings—downtown at the Jones Center on Congress Avenue, lakeside at the Laguna Gloria campus (including the Betty and Edward Marcus Sculpture Park, the Art School, and the historic Driscoll Villa), and around Austin through the Museum Without Walls program.
The Opportunity
Austin is at a unique moment. With significant growth and expansion afoot, there is a tremendous opportunity to grow a philanthropic contemporary arts community. What has historically been a government and university town has grown not only in size but in the city’s readiness to build out its cultural institutions and make them relevant for a rapidly changing arts ecosystem, and the current and future residents and visitors to Texas’s capital. The right individual will work closely across departments (curatorial, programs & engagement, communications/marketing, operations/facilities, finance, HR/people) to shape the future of The Contemporary Austin and to ensure its important work has the impact it sets out to have. With a new strategic plan in place and significant momentum in recent years, the time is right to bring on a dynamic, seasoned and creative leader for the development team.
The team
The Development department currently comprises 7 team members, including key roles managing Grants, Events, Membership, Individual Giving, and Stewardship and Operations.
Duties/Responsibilities:
• Establishes annual and multi-year fundraising goals and budgets based on short- and long-term organizational goals and in line with the strategic plan
• Oversees the donor relationship journey – from research to prospecting, cultivation, asking, thanking, and stewarding – and ensures that relationship-building, care and transparency are core to the fundraising program. Ensures that all supporters are well stewarded, including their own portfolio of Trustees major donors, institutional and corporate funders among others
• Oversees institutional giving strategy and execution, including supervision of Grants Manager, guiding grant opportunities, developing and maintaining key corporate relationships, and large-scale sponsorships
• Works closely with the executive director, board leadership, the resource development committee and cross-departmental constituents to develop and meet fundraising goals
• Manages department staff, serving as a supervisor, thought partner and leader to the team across corporate, foundation, government, individual, and special event giving.
• Sets fundraising strategies and works closely across departments to ensure key data tracking, reporting, storytelling and case making are happening
• Collaborates closely with the communications team to develop comprehensive and compelling print and digital fundraising collateral
• Ensures that the administrative and operational aspect of the department is high functioning and efficient including timely and accurate gift acknowledgements, records of receipts, and disbursements of funds, close restricted gift tracking, data entry, grant reporting and so on are all properly administered
Required Skills/Abilities:
• Knowledge of local, regional and national philanthropy landscape
• Clear and compelling verbal and written communication skills
• Keen ability to communicate and serve as an ambassador for the organization’s mission and vision
• Strong and clear supervisory/leadership capabilities to align the various aspects of the organization’s fundraising and contributed income channels
• High executive functioning, project management, and oversight capabilities
• Understanding of and appetite for creative/entrepreneurial approaches to fundraising
• Ability to think tactically/operationally to support and advise on “back of the house” functions and a true commitment to the processes and systems needed for a strong fundraising program
• An energetic, graceful, and inspiring asker
• A human-centered leader with strong social, emotional intelligence that can navigate complex interpersonal dynamics and problem solve
Education and Experience:
• 8+ years of experience working in major gifts and/or institutional giving
• Experience strategizing annual fund, capital campaigns, endowment fundraising and special events
• Experience working with volunteer committees and maximizing ROI on networks and relationships
• Experience establishing best practices for a core organization function, gaining alignment and momentum in implementation phases of necessary change inclusive of technology advancement, policy and organizational effectiveness.
Physical Requirements:
• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Ability to work outside in Central Texas weather
• Occasional evenings and weekends and travel may be required
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
How to Apply
Submit your interest and application via our Careers Page.