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Director of Development for FairfieldARTS

Employer
Fairfield University
Location
Connecticut, United States
Salary
Salary Not Specified
Date posted
Jun 10, 2022

Job Details

Fairfield University is a co-educational, comprehensive Jesuit university with a 200-acre campus located along the scenic shoreline community of Fairfield, CT. The University is comprised of approximately 3,500 undergraduate and 1,200 graduate students pursuing degrees within 5 schools: The College of Arts and Sciences, The Charles F. Dolan School of Business, The School of Engineering, The Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies, and School of Education and Human Development. As an expression of our Jesuit, Catholic mission and identity, Fairfield embraces a liberal humanistic approach to education, encouraging critical thinking, cultivating free and open inquiry, and fostering ethical and religious values.

Job Description:

DIVISION: Advancement



DEPARTMENT: Development

POSITION OBJECTIVE:

Mission and Vision of FairfieldARTS

The mission of FairfieldARTS is to elevate and celebrate the arts across Fairfield University, Fairfield County and the region, inspired in part by the University’s educational mission “to develop the creative intellectual potential of its students.” The community of FairfieldARTS is dedicated to making their spaces (classrooms, galleries, studios, and stages) laboratories of learning and creativity that inform and support the University curriculum for our students, while serving as a destination of choice for patrons of the arts. FairfieldARTS will unite the arts-related programming of the College of Arts and Science, the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts (QCA), and the Fairfield University Art Museum (FUAM).

Position Summary

In this new position, the core responsibilities of the Director of Development for FairfieldARTS will be to create, implement and achieve the goals of a comprehensive strategic development plan resulting in increased major gift, membership and sponsorship revenues, while enhancing the brand recognition of FairfieldARTS. The Director will be responsible for major gift fundraising by identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors in the five- and six-figure gift range primarily from community philanthropists, leaders and patrons of the arts. In addition, the Director will help to elevate the profile of the FairfieldARTS organizations through increased patronage, contributed revenues, and the development of advisory boards.

Reporting directly to the Associate Vice President for Development in the University Advancement (UA) division, the Director will serve as the liaison and primary fundraiser for FairfieldARTS, and will work closely with leadership of CAS, QCA, and FUAM to develop and implement plans to maximize support. The Director will work closely with colleagues in UA, particularly the Senior Director of Development for CAS, to collaborate on fundraising initiatives and with prospects. In addition, the Director may raise funds for other University priorities as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION: A Bachelor’s degree in a related field is required. A Master’s Degree is a plus.

EXPERIENCE: Minimum five years successful fundraising experience, with demonstrated experience identifying, cultivating, soliciting and securing individual major gifts, with a track record of continually growing revenues. Experience generating revenue by identifying and developing prospects and partnerships with community members and leaders and creating and implementing a successful multi-faceted development plan. Experience recruiting and working with volunteer boards for fundraising purposes. Experience working in an arts-related non-profit organization required, and higher education experience a plus. Experience with planned giving a plus.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL NEEDED: Strong entrepreneurial and strategic-thinking skills are required. Strong verbal and written communication skills; excellent proposal writing skills. Strong ability to prepare as well as understand complicated case statements and articulate the need for support for campaign and other priorities to prospective donors. Ability to exercise appropriate and mature judgment. Strong ability to work collaboratively with multiple campus colleagues, including those in UA, QCA, FUAM, CAS and Marketing & Communications, as well as to work independently and responsibly. Ability to utilize effective time management skills. Demonstrated interest in and knowledge of the field of the arts and higher education is necessary. Keen attention to detail. Ability to travel regionally. Flexibility with weekend and evening hours for University special events, dinners, and University related activities.

UNUSUAL WORK CONDITIONS: Ability to travel extensively. Some weekend and evening responsibilities required.



REPORTS TO: Associate Vice President of Development

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Fund Development: Working with the AVP, Development and FairfieldARTS’ leadership, the Director will devise, develop, and implement a comprehensive fund development strategy resulting in increased philanthropic revenue, with a focus on major gifts:
  • Grow, manage and close major gifts from a portfolio of major gift prospects identified through membership databases, and community philanthropists and leaders.

  • Work collaboratively with Advancement and campus peers to identify, develop, and steward potential and existing individual, foundation, and corporate partners for the FairfieldARTS.

  • In collaboration with colleagues in University Advancement and Marketing & Communications divisions, design, implement, and manage strategic initiatives and campaigns to drive patronage, and to increase visibility and contributed revenue sources, including but not limited to, annual initiatives such as the annual appeals, membership appeal (QCA), 2010 Society (FUAM), fundraising events (QCA), and corporate sponsorships
    • Review and develop related advertising and promotional opportunities, coordinating with Executive Directors and University Marketing to include these in the advancement plan

    • Effectively create and drive campaigns to meet and enhance annual targets

    • Develop innovative outreach approaches including development of sponsorship proposals and other collateral in collaboration with UA.

    • Engage with mainstream media, academic institutions, government, companies and individuals to develop potential advertising and/or subscription opportunities for the QCA

  • Identify, cultivate and steward partnerships with potential and existing key community partners, including other non-profits organizations, government, and media, for the purpose of generating revenue and increasing visibility of FairfieldARTS.

Collaboration with campus partners
  • Partner and work collaboratively with other University Advancement staff members, including the Senior Director of Development, CAS, as well as the Office of Research and Grants, to maximize philanthropic support for priority areas and in support of other shared Divisional goals;

  • Manage and achieve fundraising and other goals for FairfieldARTS, in close collaboration with the AVP for Development, CAS Dean, QCA and FUAM teams, Marketing and Communications.

  • Enhance and develop patron support in collaboration with CAS, QCA and FUAM teams

Develop, grow and manage QCA and FUAM Advisory Boards
  • Manage, engage, and grow the QCA Advisory Boards comprised of community and corporate supporters, arts patrons, and University alumni as a way to enhance QCA and identify prospects for fundraising.

  • Develop, manage and engage an Advisory Board for the FUAM (see above)

Create, execute and achieve annual SMART goals, documenting goals and strategies for obtaining goals. Goals will include revenue, visit, personal contact and other metrics to illustrate fundraising progress. Provide Associate Vice President of Development with regular updates on activities, goals and documentation of progress toward goals.

Prepare briefings and other supporting background materials for University officials, and staffs University leadership including the President, deans, directors, faculty, and volunteers, on cultivation, solicitation and stewardship visits. Prepare all meeting follow up letters, materials and proposals.

Design and execute stewardship strategies for donors of major gifts in conjunction with the Associate Vice President for Development and Director of Stewardship.

As appropriate, solicit and close gifts from prospects in portfolio in support of the Fairfield Fund (Fairfield annual fund). Ask all alumni in portfolio for at least one gift on an annual basis to maximize alumni participation.

Responsible for accurate and timely input of records pertaining to visits, contacts and solicitations, and update all relevant donor information in Raiser’s Edge.

Attends department and division staff meetings as requested, and participates in the growth of the department and division.

Acts as a responsible and professional public representative of the University at all times and at both academic and non-academic University events.

Works to continually educate oneself on developments in the areas of advancement, higher education, and the arts.

Promotes safe and secure working conditions. This involves:
  • promoting the proper utilization of equipment and materials;

  • notifying supervisor immediately of any unsafe working conditions.

Performs other duties as required and as departmental needs dictate.

Duties may change and/or be added at any time.

Category:

Advancement - Admin

Performs such other duties, responsibilities, and activities as required by supervisor and as departmental/University needs indicate.

*Disclaimer

The above information indicates the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain and should not be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, activities, and/or qualifications required or expected of employees assigned to this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change and new ones may be assigned at any time, with or without notice.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a satisfactory background check.

Fairfield University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer, committed to excellence through diversity, and, in this spirit, particularly welcomes applications from women, persons of color, Veterans, and members of historically underrepresented groups. The University will provide reasonable accommodations to all qualified individuals with a disability.

Load a resume or CV first, then upload supporting documents including a cover letter at the bottom of the third page under the "My Experience" section where it says to upload a Resume/CV. You will be able to upload up to 5 other documents in this section. You will be unable to edit your application, so please have all documents available before applying. Faculty Positions : If you need to upload more than 5 documents, please either combine them to upload or email the additional documents to the applicable contact in the job description. Staff positions : If you need to upload more than 5 documents, please either combine them to upload or email them to hr@fairfield.edu

Company

Fairfield Univesity

Our scenic, 200-acre campus is situated on the Connecticut coastline, just 60-minutes away from the heart of Manhattan and less than a mile from the beaches of Long Island Sound. But it’s more than just our surroundings that make our campus unique — it’s our commitment to each and every student’s personal and professional growth and their journey to becoming individuals of purpose.

For more than 80 years, Fairfield University has been graduating adept, accomplished, and socially responsible leaders in an academic community where the learning goes deeper, the friendships are more meaningful, and the experiences stay with you long after graduation. As a values-based, student-centric, outcomes-focused Jesuit Catholic University, we are committed to educating the whole person — mind, body, and spirit — and providing students with experiential learning and professional development opportunities that give them a competitive edge in today’s job market. At Fairfield, the future is filled with opportunities as limitless as your potential, and they all begin with you.

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