Posted on October 12, 2012

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Director of Development

The Neuberger Museum of Art of Purchase College seeks a Director of Development to lead the Museum’s fundraising efforts. Join the Neuberger Museum at an exciting juncture and work with the Museum’s newly appointed Director, Paola Morsiani. Reporting directly to the Museum Director, in partnership with the Vice President of Institutional Advancement, the selected candidate will work in an environment that celebrates individuality, diversity, and creativity in a community of educational excellence.

Purchase College, SUNY was founded by New York State Governor Nelson Rockefeller in 1967. Rockefeller envisioned Purchase College as the cultural gem of the SUNY system, with four arts conservatories, education in humanities and sciences, the Neuberger Museum, and a major performing arts center for professional creation and presentation.

Founded in 1969, the Neuberger Museum of Art is the premiere museum of African, Latin American, and western modern and contemporary art, with a collection of over 6,000 works of art. The Neuberger Museum is an integral part of Purchase College’s 4,200 students and an active resource to its regional, national, and international audiences, with ambitious and successful educational exhibition programs.

The tenth largest college museum in the country, the Neuberger Museum has a $3M operating budget with a full and part-time staff of twenty-two. The Director of Development will serve on the Director’s senior management team. A five-year strategic plan for the Neuberger Museum and a campus-wide comprehensive capital campaign are in the planning stages. The Director of Development will play an important role in supporting the Neuberger Museum’s funding priorities, initiatives and goals. It is anticipated that the Director of Development will have a minimum of 5-7 years of experience in building meaningful relationships with constituents that have resulted in major gifts. The Director will be a genuine relationship builder, skilled in the process of identifying prospects and donors, while gracefully moving them along the continuum of engagement. The Director of Development will work closely with the Museum Director to build a robust fundraising program. Exceptional oral, presentation and writing skills are highly valued by the Museum Director, as well as the ability to be a partner and catalyst for forward-looking, creative and positive outcomes. The Director of Development will manage a current staff of two.

Additional qualities include exuding the energy and credibility that inspire donors to become more involved; superior interpersonal skills that inspire confidence with colleagues and donors; the empathy and listening skills that foster relationships and trust; and the ability to infuse humor and congeniality in daily actions.

The Director of Development for the Neuberger Museum will participate in a newly forming campus-wide advancement team that includes representation in major gifts, annual fund and alumni relations.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Serve the Museum Director as a senior member of the Neuberger Museum of Art, in partnership with the Office of Institutional Advancement, to achieve organizational and fundraising goals
• Create and execute strategies for the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of current and new donors, to include: individuals, foundations, corporations, and sponsors
• Perform direct face-to-face solicitations, and support the Museum Director and Vice President of Institutional Advancement in such activities, in support of the Neuberger Museum
• Support the Museum Director with board development and solicitation, including stewardship of the Friends of the Neuberger Museum
• Manage, plan, and supervise all fundraising and development activities within the assigned area, including corporate sponsorship and underwriting, annual fund appeals, major gifts, grants and proposals
• Manage and supervise special events, including budget, planning, implementation and marketing
• Participate in regular meetings and communicate with the Office of Institutional Advancement to clear prospects, strategies, grant inquiries and proposals along with other campus-wide development directors
• Work closely with the Museum’s Communication and Marketing staff and the College’s Office of Marketing and Integrative Communications to incorporate innovative fundraising messages, themes and ideas
• Ensure that proper data management procedures are maintained
• Increase the visibility of the Neuberger Museum through activities that generate involvement
• Represent the Neuberger Museum of Art in other public settings, advancing the organization’s mission and visibility
• Provide guidance and leadership to the Development Department’s team members and set high performance standards

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree and a minimum of 5-7 years of experience in the development field
• Knowledge of the NYC/Westchester County museum, gallery, arts, cultural and philanthropic community
• Excellent writing, editing, and communication skills
• Documented track record of fundraising among museum constituencies, major donors, foundations, corporations, and sponsors
• History of integrity and care for donor relations and stewardship
• Ability to work flexible hours
• Experience in art museums or a related degree a plus
• Prior supervision of staff a plus
• Experience with Raisers Edge a plus
• CFRE and/or gift planning designation a plus
• Energy, empathy and genuine enthusiasm a must

Salary Range: $85,000 - $100,000

Application Instructions

Candidates interested in applying for this position must submit the requisite documents via the College’s online job vacancy/application website: https://jobs.purchase.edu

Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply. Purchase College is an AA/EEO employer.