Director of Advancement

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 work plans, 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.

Key Data Points

•Department Size: 7-10

•Direct Reports: 4-5

•Organizational Budget Size: Approx $9.5M

•Contributed Income, including from special events: Approx $5M

•Number of Trustees: 35

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.

Our Mission

We invite you to discover contemporary art in settings that provoke thought and joy. Our programs join

art with place in a pursuit of a deeper experience, a bigger conversation, and a closer community.

Our Vision

We believe in the capacity of art to transform lives. We dream of a future where more eyes, ears, hearts

and minds are opened by contemporary art in all of its forms.

Our Values

• Extending the Welcome – We want every person to feel like they belong here. Our invitation is

    completely open and inclusive.

• Always Caring - We know that details matter. We care deeply about the quality of our work and about the experiences of our guests, the artists we collaborate with, our staff, and all those we have yet to meet.
• Socially Mindful - We believe that contemporary art is a way for people to connect their personal experiences with the broader social and cultural dialogues of our place and time.
• Staying Curious - We observe closely, listen intently, and inquire sincerely because we have a boundless fascination with people, art and ideas.
• Making Progress - We always want to be better—to inspire more deeply, to engage more openly, and to serve more joyfully. We are mindful of feedback and committed to ongoing reflection and iteration.
• Being Here - A place can transform your experience of art, and art can transform your experience of a place. We activate our downtown exhibition space and our lakeside sculpture park in imaginative ways to serve Austin.
• Trying New Things - We believe in the importance of experimentation, play, and the surprise that often results from trying something new. We know that progress comes through both bravery and vulnerability.

Our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and access (DEIA)

The Contemporary Austin values a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace, and we seek to model

these values in our hiring and engagement practices for all our artistic and educational programs. We welcome applications by BIPOC candidates as well as individuals who bring new perspectives in a host of ways. It is the policy of The Contemporary Austin not to discriminate against any person because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, age, disability, or veteran status and to take action to ensure that those seeking to do business with the Contemporary are treated fairly. The Contemporary Austin aims to create a safe, welcoming working environment and doesn’t tolerate discrimination of any kind. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

To submit your application for this position, please visit our Careers Posting.

05/31/2025