Director of Advancement, Carnegie Museum of Natural History

In partnership with Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh’s department of Advancement & Community Engagement and Carnegie Museum of Natural History (CMNH) leadership, the Director of Advancement (DoA) develops and implements fundraising strategies to generate philanthropic support for CMNH’s annual and strategic priorities. Within a portfolio system, the DoA enhances existing relationships with donors and develops new relationships between potential donors, volunteers, and museum leadership. The DoA collaborates with colleagues across the family of museums and manages in-Museum fundraising team. Effectively position Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh (CMP) for contributed revenue that will support CMP annual fund and/or strategic priorities in a way that is donor-centered, cooperative, and transparent.

This Full-Time position is eligible for the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh’s many Benefits.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience required.
• 5-7 years of development experience that demonstrates increasing responsibility, supervisory experience as well as demonstrated success in securing funding.
• Experience in museum setting and/or scientific research institution is highly desirable.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Passion for the mission and vision of CMP and CMNH, and strategic ability to connect these to priorities of existing and potential donors.
• Demonstrated success in securing grants & contributed support from individuals, corporations, and foundations.
• Exceptional project management skills.
• Excellent professional writing and verbal communication skills; adept at developing and editing proposals, reports, correspondence, and solicitations, and delivering presentations.
• Diplomatic and persuasive with both donors and colleagues, with success in forging long-lasting relationships.
• Positive, solutions-oriented leader who embraces collaboration with colleagues and volunteers, and generously guides team of direct reports.
• Exceptional organization ability; Demonstrated skills in event management and providing hospitality.
• Ability to successfully manages priorities while maintaining attention to detail and reliably meeting deadlines.
• Demonstrated skills in budget forecasting, project management, and event production.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office required; experience with Raiser’s Edge software a plus.
• Familiarity with the local, regional and national funding community.
• Flexible schedule – early morning, late evening, and weekend hours on occasion.

Principal Accountabilities:

• Champion the initiatives of CMP and CMNH both internally and externally. Aligning the mission, vision, and strategy with the priorities of existing and potential donors.
• Manages and builds a portfolio of donors and prospects with goal of cultivating and stewarding excellent relationships while securing funding for CMP through direct solicitation.
• Qualification of donors from the larger pool of prospects that align with the museum’s criteria.
• Creates reasonable financial goals for each donor or group of donors based on their giving and potential.
• Develops and implements annual and long-term fundraising strategies to generate philanthropic support for CMNH’s priorities. Proactively identifies new opportunities and re-enlivening traditional activities and partner with colleagues to implement these initiatives.
• Manages any assigned fundraising program with responsibility for achieving revenue goals while maintaining and growing the donor base.
• Develops and executes strategies to approach prospects and donors in cooperation with the prospect management & research team and other members of the CMP Advancement & Community Engagement team with the goal of moving donors toward their ultimate gift, including evaluation of gift potential, identification of funding approach, scheduling of meetings, preparation of materials and recording activity in Raiser’s Edge.
• Provides guidance and oversight to museum staff in identifying and securing funding to sustain and/or enhance existing and develop new programs.
• Provides guidance and oversight of donor cultivation and stewardship activities, including fundraising and cultivation events.
• Serves as primary and active liaison and support for assigned volunteer and museum groups, including CMNH’s Advisory Board.
• Attends meetings and participates in events as requested, contributing to the overall team effort in the spirit of cooperation.
• Implements all appropriate stewardship activities in coordination with the stewardship and donor relations team to provide opportunities for on-going personal contact with donors, both personally and with key museum staff to nurture long-term relationships.
• Coordinates all appropriate solicitation materials and solicitation follow-up, including proposals, menus of opportunity, gift acknowledgement and donor recognition.
• Manages budgets as assigned, forecasting revenue, and managing spending appropriately. Assumes special projects as assigned.
• Other duties as required.