The MacDowell Colony

The view toward Firth and Shop Studios. Photo by Judith Dupre.

Employment Opportunities

The MacDowell Colony is currently seeking candidates for the position of:

Director of Development
The MacDowell Colony is the nation’s leading artist residency program. Each year MacDowell awards 275 fellowships to exceptional creative artists of all disciplines. MacDowell Fellows are given an inspiring place to create their best work and make the world a better place. MacDowell’s Director of Development is responsible for planning and executing the Colony’s development and fundraising strategies on an annual and long-term basis. The Director of Development will be located in the New York office of the Colony and report to the Executive Director and supervise a staff of four in the development department. The Director of Development works with the Executive Director and board leadership to fund the annual operating budget of $4 million, with a goal of raising half through annual fundraising and half through endowment income.

The successful candidate will be charismatic, have a passion for the arts, and have exceptional communication, planning and organizational skills. He or she will have demonstrated success in achieving goals and an ability to envision new avenues of support. The Director of Development will represent the institution publicly in various contexts and will enjoy an active schedule with the aim of introducing new donors to MacDowell as well as stewarding donors across the country.

The Director of Development will:

Spearhead $2 million in annual fundraising as well as help in executing periodic capital fundraising campaigns to build endowment, maintain and improve facilities, and develop special projects that advance the mission.
Work with the Executive Director and board leadership in crafting the vision of the Colony in order to be articulate about our goals and priorities for funding.
Develop a multi-year fundraising strategy (2014-18) that meets the increasing annual funding goals and that incorporates capital campaign requirements.
Work with the Board Development Committee Chair to engage the entire board and non-board volunteers in executing the strategy and securing support.
Supervise and set priorities for the development staff and oversee development operations and departmental budget.
Manage prospect identification and stewardship activity.
Be responsible for cultivating and soliciting gifts five and six figure gifts ($10,000 and higher) from board, foundation, MacDowell Fellow and non-Fellow friends.
Spend 75% of his/her time managing relationships with approximately 100 top donors (those with a capacity of $10k and above), engaging with donors and prospects through 10-15 visits per month, including frequent travel to visit new and potential donors.
Work with leadership and Development Committee Chair to accomplish 100% participation from the board.
Develop appropriate cultivation strategies for key donors and advise and support the Executive Director, board and volunteers to move potential donors in an appropriate and timely fashion toward solicitation and closure of major gifts.

Qualifications

10+ years of experience, including capital campaign experience.
Keen fundraising strategist who can engage existing donors, engage new prospects and foster relationships with key supporters and volunteer leadership.
Knowledge of the national arts funding arena.
Proven ability to raise significant five- and six-figure gifts from individuals, foundations, institutions and corporations.
Outstanding verbal and written communication skills along with exceptional interpersonal and organizational abilities
Exceptional ability to organize and motivate others, including staff, peers, and volunteers. Experience in training and mentoring other philanthropy staff and volunteers in fundraising practices and techniques.
Ability to function effectively as a team leader, and a willingness to participate in activities and assignments that will benefit other members of the team or will contribute to the accomplishment of team objectives.
Experience in a broad range of fundraising activities including event planning, e-solicitations, patron groups, direct mail, corporate and foundation grants, and donor recognition.
Knowledge of Raiser’s Edge database system and e-communications software.

To Apply

MacDowell offers a competitive compensation package commensurate with experience, including health insurance and retirement benefits.
To apply, email cover letter describing recent work, resume, and salary requirements. Please send to employment@macdowellcolony.org with the subject: "Director of Development". Selected candidates will be contacted.