Development Director

Position Overview

Development Director

At an energetic growth period for the institution, Dallas Contemporary seeks a full-time Development Director to support all aspects of fundraising and income management, with a focus on individual giving, foundations and grants, corporate partnerships, and special events.

The development director strategically works to cultivate and engage high level patrons and donors, as well as provides research into other funding sources. The individual is responsible for generating foundation prospect research, relevant materials and managing Dallas Contemporary’s individual giving initiatives such as membership, project and exhibition support, as well as aiding the executive director and senior management with board relations. In addition, the development director will collaborate with the executive director and senior manager of development operations on corporate relationships. The development director is an integral member of the Dallas Contemporary team, reports to the executive director and works collaboratively across departments and liaises with patrons, artists, curators, outside vendors, and board members.

Responsibilities

The Development Director plays a critical role in managing the fundraising activities of the museum. Overseeing and expanding the capacity of the development team, they have internal and external responsibilities, ranging from donor relations, project management, administration, and people management. This position requires strong management and communication skills, with the ability to find creative solutions to problems. In addition, this position is responsible for maximizing and strengthening the capacity of DC’s fundraising team, while stewarding and cultivating relationships with donors, funders and members

• Support the executive director and senior development manager in the execution of annual fundraising strategies and programs.
• Aggressively seek new funding sources, cultivate relationships with new donors, and maintain relationships with existing donors to increase giving levels as appropriate.
• Develop sponsorship opportunities aligning the interests of the museum’s programming with those of major corporate sponsors. 
• Cultivate and steward corporate support and solicit targeted sponsorship for major exhibits and events.
• Assist with the grant-writing process, gathering relevant information and documentation as needed.
• Oversee management of the donor database; set policies and procedures for retention of data, tracking fundraising activity, research and reporting. Maintain security and quality controls.
• Ensure appropriate recognition and stewardship initiatives are developed and implemented to recognize and honor donor and volunteer contributions.
• Ensure that the executive director and Board of Directors are well-positioned and prepared for fundraising meetings and presentations.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to the executive director and senior management to ensure maximum effectiveness in major gift relationships and solicitations.
• Oversee the development department’s slate of stewardship and cultivation.
• Represent the museum in meetings with potential and existing funders and serve as a representative for DC in the greater cultural, philanthropic, and professional communities.
• Support the executive director and senior management in preparing and implementing the museum’s campaigns.
• Manage proposals, negotiations, contracts and gift agreements.
• Identify best practices and improve internal systems and processes with an eye toward future needs and budget realities.
• Monitor revenue margins and projects and report and evaluate attendance figures for development events.
• Report regularly on fundraising revenue targets and achievements to the staff and board.
• Oversee the development and implementation of DC's annual gala and fundraising events, approving event concepts/budgets, providing direction on the invitation and list management processes, and maintaining oversight of event execution.

Patron Group Management: develop and execute compelling events for Dallas Contemporary’s patron group, coordinating with executive staff and Board members as appropriate, and serve as the primary point of contact, sharing event schedules, coordinating renewals, and addressing patron-level member inquiries and requests. Analyze retention and attendance trends to refine offerings with an eye toward increasing engagement and attracting new members. Develop tailored materials and communications and maintain records.

Events: Assume an important role in the planning and execution of the annual gala, including coordination of all key event elements and serving as a primary liaison for the event planning firm, vendors, and benefit co-chairs.

Prospect Research and Grants Management: create detailed prospect research reports and, in coordination with the senior development manager and executive staff, develop and implement effective cultivation and stewardship strategies. Manage overall grant efforts from research to writing and reporting.

Additional projects and administrative duties as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and minimum of five (5) years of professional experience in development, special events, and/or relevant profession.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with outstanding interpersonal skills.
• Strong organizational abilities and facility prioritizing and managing multiple projects.
• Experience developing and managing budgets.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to think creatively and strategically.
• Passionate belief in Dallas Contemporary’s mission and knowledge of the Dallas arts and culture funding community.
• Fluent in Microsoft Office Suite and database management
• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and occasional weekends.

Salary

Salary commensurate with experience. This position is a full-time position.

Interested and qualified candidates should submit a resume and cover letter detailing your relevant background and skills, plus two reference contacts. Email to: [email protected] Subject line: Development Director

No calls please.  Dallas Contemporary is an equal-opportunity employer.