Development Director

Boscobel House and Gardens seeks an experienced Development Director to spearhead a growing fundraising program in support of our $3m annual operating budget and critical capital needs including major building renovations in progress and a future reorganization of the campus. As our organization navigates a transformative moment, this leadership role is vital to communicating and advancing our mission, building strong relationships, and attracting critical resources. Having recently completed a comprehensive an ambitious Master Site Plan, Strategic Plan, Business Plan, Boscobel is also re-envisioning interpretation and programming to deepen our impact and engage new audiences. This is an exciting moment for creative leadership to develop and execute fundraising strategies, institutional planning, and cultivation efforts to ensure short-term success and long term sustainability.

The DD will be a compelling communicator, adept at persuasively advocating on behalf of Boscobel’s mission and its ascendance as a cultural and community hub. The winning candidate will demonstrate proven strategies and a willingness to test new approaches in a quickly-evolving technological landscape. This position involves crafting and executing cultivation strategies for major gifts from individuals, foundations, government entities, and corporations; while also identifying opportunities for mutually beneficial partnerships and institutional capacity-building.

The DD reports to the Executive Director (also a major gift solicitor), oversees a contract grant writer and part-time administrative support, and serves as the primary liaison and coach for the trustee Development Committee. The DD oversees the fundraising functions of a FT Membership + Guest Services Manager, part-time/contract support including a grant writer, corporate outreach consultant, and admin/data entry. The DD also benefits from the work of a Finance team, Communications Manager, Private Event Manager, and all department heads to identify, articulate, and fulfill funding needs.

This full-time, exempt position averages 40 hours/week, with 25-50% spent on person to-person cultivation on- or off-site. All Boscobel employees are expected to work certain holiday and evening programs throughout the year including patron previews, parties, and outings; holiday Twilight Tours; Chamber Music Festival; and other events as needed. Boscobel uses Altru by Blackbaud for fundraising, CRM, ticketing, and other sales.

Specific Duties to be performed:

• Strategic Planning: Collaborate with the Executive Director and Board of Directors to design and execute a comprehensive development plan that expands Boscobel’s donor base, grows contributed income, aligns with strategic goals, and optimizes resources.
• Fundraising Leadership: Lead and manage fundraising initiatives, sponsorship proposals, and grant applications. Oversee acknowledgments, donor recognition, and reporting in collaboration with consultant grant writer. Partner with the Membership + Visitor Services Mgr and Private Events Mgr to align messaging and identify/cultivate $500+ donors and prospects.
• Activate and Leverage Ambassadors: Prepare prospect research, call lists, and talking points for the Executive Director, trustees, and other ambassadors. Inspire and coach staff and trustees to foster a culture of donor engagement.
• Donor Engagement & Communications: Understand and articulate Boscobel’s mission, operations, and strategic objectives, to engage potential donors. Draft and distribute donor communications including letters, proposals, reports, digital content, etc.
• Data Management & Analytics: Work with key staff to develop, maintain, and distribute revenue reports, donor lists, and data analytics to support fundraising efforts. Track and analyze Key Performance Indicators for optimal efficiency.
• Cultivation programming: Plan and execute fundraising, friend-raising, insider opportunities, and recognition events in coordination with key staff and trustees.
• Stakeholder Relations: Represent Boscobel positively to prospects, donors, and within the fundraising community. Cultivate relationships with donors, programmatic partners, government officials, and the local fundraising community.
• Financial Oversight: Collaborate with Finance to reconcile income and allocations, develop and manage budgets, reports, and support tracking and planning functions.
• Other Duties as assigned

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree, with 5+ years of major gift fundraising
• Demonstrably high degree of initiative and results-oriented execution
• Highly organized and attentive to details, with a proven ability to work well under pressure and manage multiple projects and deadlines
• Unquestioned ethics and professional standards; ability to manage records and information with discretion and sensitivity
• Proficient in Fundraising/CRM software, Microsoft Office software (Outlook, Word, Excel); post and email marketing platforms, and ability to maximize technological efficiencies including appropriate uses of AI
• Strong interpersonal skills; capacity to comfortably communicate and interact with a wide variety of people at varying levels of the Museum community and collaborate with and engage colleagues, trustees, and other stakeholders

Salary and Benefits for qualified applicants

• Salary range: $85,000-$115,000, depending on experience
• Museum-paid medical, dental, and life insurance
• Generous 403(b) retirement plan offering up to 7.5% in employer matches • Paid time off, including annual vacation, sick leave, personal days, office holidays
• Standard worker’s compensation, short-term and long-term disability, unemployment insurance, and additional opt-in benefits
• Access and free admission to numerous museums and cultural institutions • Professional development opportunities

Boscobel is committed to diversifying its audience and workforce. Veterans and candidates of any gender, ethnicity, race, religion, and cultural background are encouraged to apply by emailing a cover letter, cv, and 3-5 examples of relevant work product to [email protected].