Director of Advancement

APPLICATION SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS
In an accompanying cover letter, the applicant should answer the following questions:

• As with many mid-sized cultural & arts nonprofits, our leaders must strike a balance between being a visionary thinker and leader and being a “doer.” What demonstrated characteristics and skills do you have to achieve this balance?
• Please describe the balance you look for between autonomy and collaboration in this type of position.

Forward cover letter and resume to jobs@mainemedia.edu

ABOUT MAINE MEDIA

Founded in 1973 as a summer school for photographers, Maine Media Workshops College is today a not-for-profit, fully accredited, degree-granting institution offering more than 400 workshops, certificate, and graduate degree programs in the fields of photography, filmmaking, media art, printmaking, creative writing, and book arts. It serves more than 2000 national and international students annually from a 20-acre campus in Rockport, Maine.

SUMMARY

Reporting to the President and CEO, the Director of Advancement is a key member of the senior leadership team at Maine Media, and is responsible for leading institutional efforts around fundraising, development, and grant writing, as well as collaborative and corporate partnerships. The successful candidate will be a creative, visionary individual with great interpersonal skills and a genuine commitment to the mission of Maine Media.

The Director of Advancement must be focused, organized, and strategic and work with a strong sense of urgency, as evidenced by great follow-up and follow-through. Fundraising operations, financial management experience, and a clear understanding of the role contributed income plays in higher education and art organizations are important. A successful candidate will possess an authentic interest in people from all backgrounds, a talent for relationship development, and a creative thought process. A proven record of cultivating prospects, soliciting donors, and securing major gifts is a must, as is experience partnering effectively with leadership (staff and Board) and colleagues.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Organize and oversee Maine Media’s institutional advancement efforts around fundraising, development, grant writing, and collaborative partnerships.
• Manage the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and recognition of an annual contributed income target of $500k and above.
• Provide overall development strategy and leadership of Maine Media’s short- and long-term fundraising initiatives.
• Refine and execute a yearly advancement plan, including identification of growth areas, measures of success, return on investment, and supporting metrics.
• Ensure a rewarding donor experience to increase retention and annual giving.
• Become a trusted expert in Maine Media’s programming, with the ability to speak compellingly about organizational impact and mission-driven initiatives.
• Collaborate with the President to ensure alignment with institutions objectives.
• Manage development budget and revenue forecasting for advancement efforts.
• Organize and oversee fundraising events, expenses and consultants as needed.
• Conduct foundation/donor research and oversee Maine Media’s grant applications
• Oversee consultants and vendors working in advancement areas
• Contribute to all public relations and marketing efforts

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

• Enthusiasm for visual and literary arts and culture
• 3 years of development or transferable experience, including engagements with a Board of Directors, donors, alumni and/or community leaders
• Superior written and verbal communication skills and the ability to synthesize information into articulate and compelling cases for support.
• Experience in creating annual fundraising calendars and development plans
• Proven record of measurable accomplishments in fundraising, particularly with individual major gifts and corporate giving
• A working knowledge varied fundraising streams, such as annual campaigns, special events, major gifts, foundations, and state, and federal sources
• Experience supervising team members, managing committees, and collaborating with outside consultants,
• Exceptional interpersonal, networking, presentation and verbal communication skills
• Eagerness to learn, grow, and stay on top of trends in philanthropy
• Ability to collaborate on the creation of persuasive marketing materials and collateral
• Exceptional time, task, project management and organizational skills, and a demonstrated ability to work autonomously and effectively without close supervision
• Willingness to function effectively as a member of an Executive Leadership Team
• Knowledge of Salesforce, other CRM, or fundraising software and/or systems
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent life/professional experience. A Certificate in Executive Fundraising classification would be well-received

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $60,000.00 - $70,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Ability to Relocate:

• Rockport, ME 04856: Relocate before starting work (Preferred)

Work Location: In person