Director of Advancement

Monument Lab is a nonprofit public art and history studio based in Philadelphia. Monument Lab works with artists, students, activists, municipal agencies, and cultural institutions on participatory approaches to public engagement and collective memory. As an organization we aspire to make our decisions, including what resources are secured and how they are allocated, based on our values: Art at the Core, Process Matters as Much as Outcome, Intersectionality for Transformation, Collaboration with Boundaries, Citation and Compensation, Integrity with Accountability, Culture of Care, and Wisdom and Learning.

We are currently searching for a Director of Advancement to join our team.

Description

The Director of Advancement will work to strengthen the mission of Monument Lab by creating, leading, planning, and managing a comprehensive development and fundraising effort to deepen and sustain our organizational growth. In collaboration with a wide network of partners and stakeholders, internally and externally, the Director of Advancement will play a key role in supporting existing organizational relationships and cultivating new opportunities with institutional, corporate, and individual donors.

Reporting to the Director of Monument Lab, this position will serve on the leadership team and work in close coordination with the Chief Operating Officer and Board of Directors. The Director of Advancement will collaborate across all departments to organize and execute development initiatives. The position will develop systems and implement best practices to shape an expanding advancement team. In addition, this position will have supervisory responsibilities.

Principal Responsibilities

Strategy & Implementation

• The Director of Advancement will serve as an entrepreneurial leader who will develop and implement the organization’s comprehensive fundraising strategy and program inclusive of institutional, corporate, and individual giving. This position will oversee donor relationships to include stewardship and recognition. Work in collaboration with the Director and Chief Operating Officer on annual and long-term strategic financial planning to ensure organizational growth and sustainability. Liaise with the Board of Directors to communicate fundraising goals and support the Board’s efforts in reaching goals through a variety of engagements and activities. Participate in quarterly board meetings, present strategic plans, provide detailed status updates and analysis, and robust donor reports. Outline concrete fundraising metrics and benchmarks, track ongoing goals to accurately measure growth and determine areas of opportunity. Report on progress on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis. Collaborate with the Communications team to create and maintain a suite of fundraising materials to include, but are not limited to, organization guides, case-making materials, promotional decks, and annual reports. Leverage and integrate development strategies using Monument Lab’s media and digital platforms to include the website, newsletters, online store, and social media. Lead, plan, and manage development events to include cultivation events and annual fundraisers. Ensure Monument Lab events align to strategic development and cultivation goals. Oversee the management of the advancement CRM for fundraising and prospect management. Participate in R&D activities to ensure alignment between fundraising best-practices and the organization's mission and values. Create and maintain a culture of responsible philanthropy in partnership with Monument Lab staff.

Institutional Giving

• Develop and implement annual and long-term strategic plans toward receiving both unrestricted and restricted funds from foundations. Research, identify and cultivate foundation opportunities. Conduct outreach and participate in inquiry meetings with foundation personnel, follow-up, and track next steps. Maintain an annual planning calendar of grant opportunities tooutline application requirements and deadlines. Coordinate grant proposal development processes across the organization to research, ideate, write and fully execute proposals. Work in coordination with the Chief Operating Officer on grant compliance and reporting.

Corporate Giving

• Research, identify, and cultivate corporate giving opportunities. Conduct outreach and participate in inquiry meetings with new contacts, follow-up and track next steps. Solicit sponsorship opportunities for Monument Lab fundraising events and programmatic partners/in-kind support for Monument’s project-based initiatives. Maintain ongoing communications and relationship cultivation with corporate sponsors.

Individual Giving

• Manage, retain, and grow a portfolio of existing and new donors, oversee stewardship and recognition. Manage the organization's donation management system and other aspects of donor stewardship and communication. Report monthly on metrics relating to individual donor acquisition, retention, and engagement.

Leadership

• The Director of Advancement is a part of the organization’s Director’s Group. In this capacity, this position is responsible for maintaining an understanding of the organization’s financial model, fundraising priorities, and financial position. participating in crisis management and mitigation efforts; and supporting the organization’s strategic planning initiatives. Provide the Director’s Group and staff at-large regular updates and insights regarding the day-to-day, short-term, and long-term activities and goals of the Advancement team. Represent Monument Lab at selected public events and speaking engagements on a local, regional, and national level, as needed. Manage direct reports, to include establishing performance annual performance goals, and providing leadership and direction on short-term and long-term responsibilities.

Qualifications

• Candidates must have five to seven years of development experience and a proven track record of raising at least $3/5M annually from a diverse stream of contributed revenues. Excellent understanding of principles and techniques of development activities, including annual giving, major giving, planned giving, event planning, capital campaigns, marketing, and communications. Demonstrated leadership experience, and experience managing multiple direct reports. Extensive experience in grant writing and skills in proposal development. Excellent financial literacy and experience managing budgets. Deft ability to take initiative, prioritize, ideate and implement multiple projects effectively in a collaborative and fast-paced environment. Strong written and oral communication skills and effective networking. Experience in building organization systems and familiarity with nonprofit governance, compliance, and accounting is a plus. This position will require some work in the evenings and weekends as well as some travel. This position is open to candidates with a variety of educational and professional backgrounds. Ideal candidates will have experience in the fields of nonprofit art, business management & administration, culture and/or social justice.

Location & Schedule: Monument Lab’s studio headquarters is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with hours of operation Monday-Friday 9AM-10AM EST. This position will require in-office hours two to three days a week with a flexible work schedule options.

Position Type: Full-Time; exempt; salaried with benefits. Salary range of $90,000 to $95,000.

Application Requirements: Cover letter; resume/CV; a list of three professional references

(name, contact information, relationship) to include at least one direct supervisor; and one project sample that includes demonstration of advancement competency.  Applications will be accepted through Friday, May 26^th, 2023. To apply visit the Opportunities section of our website.

About Monument Lab

Founded in 2012, Monument Lab cultivates and facilitates critical conversations around the past, present, and future of monuments. Through exhibitions, research programs, and fellowships, Monument Lab critically engages our inherited symbols in order to unearth the next generation of monuments that elevate stories of resistance and hope.

Monument Lab is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We respect and seek individuals of a diverse background and do not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.