Development Officer Gund at Kenyon College

Development Officer for The Gund at Kenyon College

Posted: 2 days ago. Be among the first 25 applicants.

The Gund at Kenyon College, located in Gambier, OH, is at an exciting moment of growth. We are seeking a Development Officer to shape the museum’s future and advance our strategic plan centered on shared learning, curatorial excellence, collection stewardship, civic engagement, and organizational effectiveness.

Reporting to the David and Francie Horvitz Family Foundation Director and Chief Curator, and to the Associate Vice President for Development, you will expand the philanthropic base for exhibits, collections, education, outreach, and endowment needs. Candidates should have 3–5 years of frontline fundraising experience, demonstrated prospect management across the engagement pipeline, and a track record of closing individual donor gifts in the 6+ figure range.

• Develop and manage a plan to achieve annual fundraising goals from individuals, foundations, corporations, and other revenue sources.
• Strengthen The Gund’s major gifts pipeline, focusing on identification, cultivation, stewardship, solicitation, and acknowledgement of individual donors.
• Work with Board members, serving as liaison for the Development Committee, to manage and maximize their fundraising efforts.
• Partner with the Director & Chief Curator and Board leadership to identify and recruit new Board members.
• Support the Director & Chief Curator in planning events, including Board trips and donor cultivation initiatives, ensuring they are cost-effective and strategically aligned.
• Grow institutional giving by increasing support from foundations and developing a corporate partnership program.
• Manage external consultants for grant writing and event planning.
• Present regular progress reports to key stakeholders at The Gund and Kenyon College.
• Collaborate with Kenyon teams (advancement, finance, marketing, public relations) to maintain a holistic approach to donor cultivation and communication.
• Represent The Gund at key arts events and foster connections within the broader arts community.
• Bring best practices in individual and institutional giving within the visual arts and museum field.

• Deep understanding of art museum fundraising and ability to translate The Gund’s mission into compelling cases for support.
• Knowledge of university art museum opportunities and challenges.
• Experience across multiple contributed revenue streams, major gifts, foundations, corporate, and government support.
• Experience with innovative earned revenue streams in museums.
• Ability to align The Gund’s fundraising priorities with the College’s priorities.
• Adept with CRM systems (e.g., Slate) and flexible with Development administrative work.
• Open to embracing contemporary art and deepening engagement with the field.

Competitive salary commensurate with experience. Kenyon offers benefits for employees and family members, including 100% tuition waivers for employees’ children at Kenyon and 90% waivers at nineteen other liberal arts colleges through the Great Lakes Colleges Association. Health, dental, and vision insurance, TIAA retirement, and many other benefits are also provided.

Kenyon is an equal‑opportunity employer. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals. The College evaluates qualified applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, physical and/or mental disability, age, religion, medical condition, veteran status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by policy or law.

Applications close:
Open until filled.

This is a full‑time position. Remote / hybrid work may be an option.