Director of Institutional Advancement

Job Summary:

The Director of Institutional Advancement is a key senior management position responsible for expanding and providing leadership to the museum’s development and awareness efforts. The position is responsible for leading fundraising, communications and engagement of external constituencies in support of the advancement of the EcoTarium’s mission. This includes the Third Century Capital Campaign, donor cultivation and solicitation, prospect research, planned giving, corporate and foundation gifts, fundraising and marketing events, outreach, marketing, advertising, public relations and volunteer program coordination. The position provides leadership to a team of employees, works closely with the President and Board of Trustees, and oversees the department budget.

Institutional Advancement includes the following functions which are involved in fundraising, communications with external constituents and community engagement:

• Marketing and Communications, which is responsible for communications to all external constituents, internal and external brand management and public relations to raise awareness of the EcoTarium, increase visitation, expand reach and grown our audience.
• Major Gifts, which cultivates and maintains relationships with individual donors, and develops mutually beneficial relationships with corporate members and sponsors.
• Grants Management & Government Relations, which cultivates and obtains funding for capital projects, educational programming and on-going operations from federal and state agencies, and private, public and corporate foundations.
• Development, which builds relationships and gathers the resources needed to maintain and expand the EcoTarium’s educational programs of its mission through annual giving, private philanthropy, and capital campaigns.
• Special Events and Membership, which creates and manages events and outreach activities to build awareness of and showcase the exceptional membership value and experiences available to members of the EcoTarium.
• Corporate Partnerships and Volunteer Program, which engages with area partners and develops and maintains relationships with volunteers who serve in a broad variety of roles to support the EcoTarium.

Qualifications:

• Enthusiasm for STEM learning, community engagement, and strategic planning
• Experience working on or leading a capital campaign
• Demonstrated success in donor relations, cultivation and solicitation
• Proven track record in securing and stewarding six figure gifts
• Solid experience with corporate and foundation gifts, planned giving, donor and foundation research and fundraising events
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral
• Skilled, participatory leader with experience managing and developing a productive team
• Highly skilled as a strategic thinker with ability to lead change and growth
• Expertise in budget development and responsible fiscal management
• Minimum 7-10 years of development experience with a minimum of 3-5 years in development leadership positions
• Bachelor’s degree required, Master’s degree preferred
• Solid computer skills with knowledge of MS Office and donor management software
• Strong social media skills a plus

Responsibilities:

• Provide leadership to Institutional Advancement team, including role clarity, goal setting, professional development and performance management
• Work with President to design and plan Third Century Plan Capital Campaign plans, including completion of Phase One
• Serve as staff to the Capital Campaign and Development Committees of the EcoTarium Board of Trustees as well as additional ad hoc and advisory committees
• Provide oversight for fundraising and special events
• Collaborate on external marketing and communications to build awareness and support
• Cultivate potential new donors and provide oversight to maintain donor relationships
• Provide stewardship of development database
• Represent the EcoTarium at public events and on committees throughout the community
• Collaborate with other directors
• Manage the annual budget, with staff
• Collaboratively research and develop proposals to corporations, institutions and foundations for partnerships, sponsorships, charitable giving, volunteer opportunities, memberships and other mutually beneficial programs