Director of Development

Job Description –Director of Development

The August Wilson African American Cultural Center is located at the gateway of the Cultural District of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Center, named for Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, and Pittsburgh native, August Wilson, showcases nationally and internationally renowned performing and visual artists, as well as supports and nurtures the burgeoning local arts community. This programming connects the entire community to the rich, substantive artistic content that reflects the African Diaspora.

The August Wilson African American Cultural Center offers multiple exhibition galleries, a 492-seat theater for performances in all genres, multipurpose spaces for classes, lectures and hands-on learning, community programs and events. The Center is housed in an iconic building designed by award winning architect, Alison Williams. Offering the community, a distinctive mix of cultural spaces as well as a rehearsal studio, sweeping walkways and ample community gathering and meeting spaces, this bold facility serves as a true “center,” a place of coming together where all manner of art, artistic expression and community conversation are welcomed and encouraged.

The President and CEO seeks a new leader to drive the next phase fundraising of the renewed August Wilson African American Cultural Center. The Director of Development is a key member of the AWAACC leadership team reporting to the President and CEO. S/he/they will create and implement long- and short-term strategies to generate and maximize contributed income that supports the AWAACC mission and priorities, including capital, programmatic, and endowment campaigns. The Director will tap into new sources of support beyond the organization’s current base of supporters to achieve ambitious results. The Director of Development is responsible for coordinating and managing the organization’s institutional development program as directed by the President and CEO. The candidate will also assist in developing and maintaining active and productive relationships with board members, donors and government officials. In this role, the Director will help forge new external relationships to build AWAACC’s visibility, impact and financial success.

Primary Responsibilities:

• In conjunction with the President and CEO, maintain, expand and implement an annual fundraising plan with financial goals, objectives, and strategies for identifying, cultivating, and soliciting major individual gifts, sustaining partnership gifts, corporate, foundation gifts and sponsorships. Prepare periodic reports for the President & CEO that track fundraising against established development targets.
• Research funding sources and trends to support AWAACC fundraising efforts.
• Provide leadership and administrative support for various AWAACC fundraising and event committees; organize regularly scheduled fundraising and event committee meetings, including presentation materials. Oversee and coordinate follow-up to committee meetings and assist members as needed.
• Plan, fundraise, and execute the annual gala and manage the efforts of event planning team.
• Prepare grant/funding applications and follow-up reports. Coordinate with CFO for grant application budgets and financial reports.
• Serve as AWAACC liaison with Cultural District Shared Services. Coordinate shared services data mining and marketing opportunities.
• Coordinate special fundraising and/or cultivation events to secure new friends and donors. Work closely with the President and CEO to insure productive and efficient relationships with event committees and/or consultants.
• Coordinate and supervise any annual sustaining membership campaign and direct mail programs.
• Maintain all development files and records regarding prospective contributors on all levels and assure that all other necessary records are available as needed for smooth development and auditing operations. Understand and/or establish all donor data base systems and develop procedures to track, record, report, acknowledge, and recognize all contributions and ensure the accuracy and timeliness of all fundraising, prospect, donor, and fundraising volunteer communications.
• Work closely with the President and CEO to develop fundraising materials. Assists the President and CEO and Marketing team in the design and production of all major fundraising publications, including AWAACC’s website and social media. Work with designers and printers to promote the annual fund and friend raising goals and activities.
• Source national funders and manage special projects related to cultivation of new donors.
• Lead strategic plan initiatives and capitalization efforts
• Other duties as may be assigned by the President and CEO.

Skills and Qualifications:

• Understanding and appreciation for the performing arts and other cultural programs with a specific passion for the unconventional and innovative AWAACC culture and programming
• A warm, engaging, charismatic presence.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and to supporting and advancing a diverse team.
• Ability and willingness to attend evening and weekend AWAACC events on a regular basis and to travel, as needed.
• Success as a front-line cultivator and solicitor of transformational, major, principal, and planned gifts.
• Capital campaign leadership experience.
• Seven to ten years’ minimum successful fundraising experience in a comparable non-profit; proven track record of fundraising for large nonprofit organization
• Experience with nonprofit and/or arts organizations preferred
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Commitment to embracing current and emerging tactics in philanthropy, including but not limited to e-philanthropy, and digital/social media platforms.
• Highly motivated and able to work independently
• Ability to garner the respect and trust of the President & CEO, the AWAACC board, various fundraising committees, current and prospective donors.
• Self-confident, flexible, and able to work collaboratively with a variety of volunteer leaders and staff
• Superb relationship builder
• Undergraduate degree, advanced degree and certifications plus
• Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) designation a plus
• Experience with fundraising software and donor database software.
• Proficiency in MS Office applications including Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint

Hours: Salaried exempt full-time position with employee benefits. 35-hour work week minimum, evening and weekend hours as needed. Compensation: Negotiable

Job Type: Full-time

Salary: $85,000.00 to $100,000.00 /year

Benefits:

• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Retirement plan
• Paid time off