Associate Director of Museum Development

Job Description
Department:

Museum Development

Salary

Reporting to the executive director of museum development, the Associate Director of Museum Development is responsible for broadening and deepening philanthropic engagement with the Colby Museum of Art. At an exciting moment of growth for the museum and Colby during the Dare Northward campaign and with an investment in the arts ecosystem that includes collaborative programming located in downtown Waterville, the associate director will primarily raise leadership gifts and sponsor ships to the museum, as well as work with other advancement teams on executing communications and events to highlight the museum’s good work and generate philanthropic interest.

The associate director of museum development will activate a robust community of support for the museum through management of Friends of Art, and by envisioning and executing both broad-based and targeted engagement strategies through events and communications. As the museum’s community of annual philanthropic supporters and advocates, Friends of Art is a capacious vehicle
1) to drive continued relationships with donors – at every level – who care deeply about the museum and
2) to cultivate a new and more diverse generation of philanthropists who will support the museum’s program and values.

This vital contributor to the Colby Museum of Art and the Division of College Advancement will nurture reliable annual support for sustainable philanthropic impact year after year, and develop a pipeline to discover new opportunities for augmented support through leadership annual, capital, and planned giving, as well as through gifts of art to the museum’s collection. In supporting overall objectives for museum development, the associate director of museum development will also provide critical research, reporting, solicitation, and stewardship assistance.

As a liaison to the museum, the associate director of museum development has a deep appreciation for the liberal arts college experience and academic art museums

Essential Functions

To be successful in this position, an individual should be able to perform the essential duties and bring the education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities that support the role. This list of duties is intended to be representative rather than exhaustive, and additional responsibilities may be assigned as needed.

Fundraising

• Manage a portfolio of 100+ households to build meaningful relationships and solicit leadership annual level gifts to the Colby Museum ($2,500 to $99,000)

• Review gifts to the museum regularly and conduct research on donor histories, capacity, and inclination to identify opportunities for further engagement, cultivation, and personalized stewardship

Friends of Art, Appeals and Pipeline Development

• Manage annual solicitation plan to renew and build participation in Friends of Art in close collaboration with the Colby Museum of Art, Colby Fund, and Advancement Communications and Engagement teams and as overseen by the executive director of museum development

• Serve as content expert on Friends of Art print and digital appeals, working closely with Colby Fund team on voice, content, and recipient lists

Museum Development Events

• Contribute to ideation and participate in execution for museum events, including traveling exhibitions, Friends of Art cultivation events, and the annual Summer Luncheon – a daytime festivity that brings together approximately 600 friends of the museum in celebration of its commitment to transforming lives through art, the contributions of artists, and the philanthropy that makes its mission and programs possible

Museum Development Communications

• In partnership with the annual giving team…