Senior Manager of Development Chesterwood

JOB SUMMARY
The Senior Manager of Development heads the development function at Chesterwood and is responsible for strengthening the financial health and capability of the site through a comprehensive fundraising program. A member of the senior staff and reporting to the Chesterwood Executive Director the Senior Manager of Development will plan implement manage and carry out all fundraising activities at Chesterwood. They will dedicate specific focus to the cultivation of new and current individual donors writing and submittal of major state and Federal grants as well as acquiring new foundation and corporate grants. They will also increase the involvement and financial engagement of local/regional individual donors including establishing and growing an annual fundraising signature event (annual gala) and increasing giving capacity and participation from the Advisory Council.

This position is funded for 2 years from date of hire. There is the potential for extension based on additional funding.

DUTIES
Fundraising Activity Leadership

• Working with the Executive Director develop an annual plan for all fundraising activities.
• Be a passionate and informed advocate for Chesterwood and serve as one of its key spokespersons actively seeking opportunities to engage with the broader community and to participate in events that position Chesterwood for improved fundraising or visibility.
• Identify and involve new local/regional individual donors for involvement in the organization.
• Provide leadership in all fundraising events including oversight of staff planning financial goal tracking and communication/followup.
• Direct all fundraising activities including: cultivation and tracking of all donor levels for Chesterwood; fulfillment and communication with corporate sponsors and development of strategy to expand corporate support; coordination of foundation and government support strategy; and development of an effective planned giving strategy that includes timeframes milestones and metrics.
• Ensure tracking of and appropriate ongoing communication with key donors. Direct followup by support staff.
• Help to create multiple areas of development engagement for individual donors including targeted campaigns special events sponsorships and more.
• Develop new donor groups including those associated with new programs.
• Manage all fundraising events including managing consultants staff planning financial goal tracking and communication/followup.
• Build participation and fundraising capacity for Chesterwoods annual signature fundraising gala event.
• Focus on identifying and expanding government corporate and foundation grant opportunities.
• Strengthen financial participation from the Advisory Council
• Write all grant applications and final reports for the organization and supervise acknowledgment protocol for gifts across giving levels from membership to major gift fulfillment.
• Reach out to and work in concert with National Trust for Historic Preservation development staff in Washington DC.
• Consult with other historic sites to optimize sitewide donations.
• Ensure donor recognition as appropriate.
• Production of monthly reports tracking progress in all fundraising activities.
• Supervise collaboration with visitor services to stimulate membership growth.

Communications & Engagement

• Work with Executive Director to write and develop all needed fundraising collateral materials and donor appeals.
• Supervise the work of the Senior Associate in Development on all external communications including;
  • All gift acknowledgement letters.
  • Donor database management.
• Work with the Executive Director and Senior Site Manager in:
  • The development of printed and digital communications targeted at increasing constituent engagement and membership renewal.
  • Development of membership/program mailings and yearend appeals
  • Development of ongoing emails newsletters and frequent social media posts.
  • Oversee media outreach related to raising donor visibility for key programs and identify and manage outside consultants as needed.
  • Facilitate the writing and dissemination of press releases facilitate interviews with journalists and develop and cultivate social media influencers.

Chesterwood Advisory Council

• Assist the Executive Director in identifying and cultivating potential members.
• Develop regular communications for advisors and identify ways to engage their interest.
• Solicit Advisory Council members for both annual dues and additional giving towards various campaigns.
• Keep Advisors informed with semiannual reports on development progress challenges in meeting goals data analyses and projections.

QUALIFICATIONS

• At least 7 years of professional level experience including experience with budgeting staffing supervising professionals and leading teams to generate high quality results preferably within a highprofile nonprofit setting.
• Minimum 5 years direct fundraising experience. Proven leadership in development areas of grant identification donor cultivation and gala organization. Prior work in the art/design/museum/botanical garden world is preferred.
• Excellent writing skills.
• Ability to achieve results with limited supervision.
• Ability to engage diplomatically with and engender the trust of donors colleagues board members and other stakeholders at all times.
• Demonstrated working knowledge of fundraising best practices.
• Energetic and skilled networker who enjoys community engagement attending events and participating in activities.
• Successful collaborative supervisor who encourages new ideas and creativity. Able to build a strong team and a creative healthy work environment.
• Experience supervising support staff as well as successfully managing key internal and external stakeholders and relationships.
• Proven ability to collaborate across departments to implement processes and achieve results as well as to work collaboratively with a small dedicated team. Track record of building and maintaining productive relationships with multiple internal stakeholders.
• Demonstrated success in working with culturally diverse audiences partners donors and colleagues.
• Highly organized with ability to prioritize multitask efficiently and respond to a high volume of ongoing requests in a timely fashion.
• Ability to adapt and be flexible in a dynamic work environment.
• Personable style with effective presentation skills. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Must be able to articulate the sites mission to a wide range of audiences in a variety of ways.
• Proven ability to continually develop skills.
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel required. Familiarity with other software including donor or related databases presentation software and social media platforms a plus.
• Regular and reliable attendance required.