Director of Advancement

Position Summary

The Director of Advancement will serve as the museum’s principal development strategist and fundraiser and will report to the Executive Director while building a network of new support for the mission of ADKX and stewarding its longtime donors. This leader will oversee donor relations, membership, major gifts, planned giving, grant writing, and special events as well as fundraising for capital and endowment campaigns. ADKX’s current goal is $1.5 million in annual support and ADKX is in the planning phase of a $25 million capital campaign for educational, exhibition, infrastructure, and endowment growth. New exhibitions will focus on African American History, climate change, and the environment as well as other topics. The Director of Advancement will manage a dedicated team of three to four people, fostering a collaborative and high-performing culture aligned with the museum’s mission. As a member of the senior leadership team, the Director of Advancement will contribute to organizational strategy, ensure the sustainability of fundraising programs, and represent ADKX with credibility, diplomacy, and enthusiasm.

 

Role and Responsibilities

Fundraising Leadership

• Develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising plan, including the current capital campaign, major gifts, and planned giving.
• Direct the planning and execution of high-impact fundraising events and campaigns.
• Build, cultivate, and steward relationships with individual, corporate, foundation, and government donors.
• Collaborate with staff and trustees to identify prospects and devise tailored engagement strategies.
• Oversee grant writing and management, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities.
• Serve as the staff liaison to the Development, Capital Campaign, and Governance and Nominating Committees of the Board.
• Embrace other fundraising leadership tasks as needed.

Staff Management and Team Development

• Lead and mentor the Advancement team, setting clear goals, providing regular feedback, and fostering professional growth.
• Coordinate departmental responsibilities through an annual work plan and master calendar.
• Conduct annual staff evaluations and encourage a collaborative, mission-driven culture.
• Ensure alignment between Advancement initiatives and organizational goals.
• Work with senior leaders in education, curatorial, and marketing, among others, to identify and grow contributed and earned revenue.
• Embrace other staff management and team development tasks as needed.

Organizing and Planning

• Manage the Advancement Department’s budget, ensuring efficient use of resources to meet revenue targets.
• Guarantee a comprehensive donor database is in place and maintained to track relationships and engagement.
• Prepare reports and presentations for the board, including fundraising updates and donor insights.
• Embrace other organizing and planning tasks as needed.

Donor and Member Relations

• Strengthen donor engagement by crafting compelling cases for support and personalized stewardship plans.
• Oversee membership programs, developing strategies to grow and retain members while enhancing their experience.
• Collaborate with the marketing team to ensure consistent communication with donors, members, and the broader community.
• Embrace other donor and member relations tasks as needed.

 

Traits and Characteristics

The Director of Advancement will be an organized and visionary leader who combines strategic thinking with hands-on implementation. They will be a collaborative team player with exceptional interpersonal skills, capable of inspiring staff, board members, and donors. Demonstrating diplomacy and teamwork, they will foster collaboration. A people-focused leader, the Director of Advancement will prioritize building strong, meaningful relationships while appreciating the unique contributions of others. The successful candidate will excel at time and priority management, ensuring that tasks are organized, deadlines are met, and resources are effectively utilized. With a results-driven mindset, they will balance strategic goal orientation with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, delivering measurable outcomes that align with ADKX’s mission and objectives.

Other key competencies include:

• Diplomacy and Teamwork – Skillfully navigates diverse perspectives and promotes cooperation to achieve shared goals.
• Customer Focus and Appreciating Others – Cultivates strong relationships and demonstrates respect for colleagues, donors, and community members.
• Time and Priority Management – Balances competing demands effectively and ensures efficient use of time and resources.
• Goal Orientation and Project Management – Sets clear objectives, devises actionable plans, and achieves results through thoughtful execution.
• Creativity and Innovation – The acumen to develop new approaches and processes to fundraising and donor stewardship and cultivation.

 

Qualifications

Demonstrated success in securing major gifts and capital campaigns is essential, and museum experience is preferred. A bachelor’s degree and a minimum of six years of related experience in nonprofit fundraising leadership are desirable. The successful candidate will have excellent verbal and written communication skills, with strong planning, administrative, and organizational skills. They will be able to read and interpret financial reports and will have a working knowledge of legal issues related to fundraising. Attendance at evening and weekend events will be necessary, as will some travel.

If you do not meet all the qualifications but possess transferable or equivalent skills, experience, or education, we encourage you to apply and highlight those areas.

 

Compensation and Benefits

ADKX provides a competitive and equitable compensation package in the range of $120,000 to $140,000, with benefits that include paid time off and holidays; health insurance; long-term disability and life insurance; and a 401(k) retirement plan.

 

Applications and Inquiries

To submit a cover letter and resume with a summary of demonstrable accomplishments (electronic submissions preferred), please click here or visit artsconsulting.com/opensearches. For questions or general inquiries about this job opportunity, please contact:

Flora Stamatiades, Vice President

1040 First Avenue, Suite 352

New York, NY 10022-2991

Tel       (888) 234.4236 Ext. 238

Email    [email protected]

 

It is the Adirondack Experience’s policy to provide equal opportunity in employment to all employees and applicants. No person shall be discriminated against in any condition of employment because of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability, military or veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender dysphoria, citizenship status, genetic information, predisposition or carrier status, domestic violence victim status, and any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.