Director of Development
ABOUT SHAKER MUSEUM: Shaker Museum is building a 21st-century museum to showcase the world’s most comprehensive collection of Shaker material culture and archives, transforming a small country museum founded 75 years ago into an international destination.
The four-floor facility located in Chatham, NY is by Selldorf Architects, renowned worldwide for designing subtle but powerful art spaces. The new museum includes the transformation of an historic building and construction of a modern addition and surrounding public gardens.
The design and the programming envisioned for this new site re-examines the experience and interaction of a visitor with a museum while keeping practicality and inclusivity at the forefront, ranging from the arrival experience to common space usage to exhibition accessibility.
The museum design has more than 7,500 square feet of space for permanent and rotating exhibitions. It will also host events, workshops, academic meetings, and be available for public use, serving as a community anchor.
For more information about Shaker Museum, please visit shakermuseum.us
THE OPPORTUNITY: Shaker Museum is seeking a hands on, entrepreneurial Director of Development (DoD) to expand its fundraising capabilities at a pivotal moment in the evolution of the institution. A highly visible position, the DoD will set the strategic direction and pace of all the museum’s fundraising activities.
The DoD reports to the Executive Director and works in close partnership with the museum’s Board of Trustees. The DoD will build and lead a team over time, providing guidance and support to ensure effective day-to-day operations and the achievement of fundraising benchmarks.
FUNDING: Shaker Museum has annual operating budget of $1.5 million. The DoD will have a leading role in the capital campaign ($27 million raised to date toward a goal of $50 million) and build the annual fundraising budget from $1.5 million to $5 million over the next several years.
IDEAL QUALIFICATIONS:
- A genuine interest in the Shaker Museum mission.
- A minimum of 10 years of progressive fundraising experience with a proven track record of success, including leading capital campaigns and working with individual giving.
- At least 5 years of experience in a supervisory role, guiding teams to achieve ambitious goals.
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and effectively with an Executive Director.
- Knowledge of NYS funding sources including application and grants management processes is preferred.
- Exceptional interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills with the ability to connect authentically with diverse audiences, deliver persuasive messaging, and foster strong relationships with donors, colleagues, and stakeholders.
- Demonstrated leadership abilities as a collaborative partner and innovative problem solver, skilled at navigating complex challenges and inspiring teams toward excellence.
- Entrepreneurial and creative.
- Experience in fundraising, sales, or marketing analytics with a keen ability to analyze trends, measure effectiveness, and drive strategic decision making based on data insights.
- Proficiency in Blackbaud, Raiser’s Edge, and other fundraising software with a deep understanding of data management, donor engagement, and reporting functions; proficiency with Microsoft 365.
- Availability to work evenings and/or weekends as needed.
- Bachelor’s degree is required with a strong foundation in not-for-profit management, business, or a related field.
The annual compensation range for this role is $180,000-$200,000 commensurate with experience and accomplishments plus attractive benefits.
Shaker Museum has engaged the executive search firm of Howe-Lewis International to assist the Search Committee in the process. Nominations and expressions of interest will be held in confidence and may be emailed to Kirk McDonald at [email protected]
To apply, please click here or visit howe-lewis.com and click on the “Assignments” tab on the top menu. All expressions of interest will be held in confidence.
