Director of Development And Communications

Skills: Development Strategy, Donor Communication, Major Gift Solicitations, Fundraising, Marketing Strategy, Constituent Relationship Management (CRM), Non-profit Fund Development, Event Planning, Stewardship

Position Overview

Top candidates for the Director of Development and Communications position will be passionate about the organization’s mission and will combine their fundraising experience with creativity and entrepreneurial energy. The role is a mix of hands-on work and organizational strategy building, so strong relationship-building and interpersonal skills will be as important as attention to detail and sound judgment. Reporting to and collaborating with the Executive Director, the Director of Development & Communications spearheads all of NVAM’s fundraising and branding-awareness efforts. The new Director will be a partner to the Executive Director, a thought leader in widening the organization’s public profile, and a growth strategist. Seeking new donors and Board growth and diversification will be priorities, and potential large fundraising efforts may be on the horizon. At the same time, success in managing direct reports and in hands-on work will be needed. The successful candidate for this position will:

• Show a breadth of hands-on fundraising experience that will support successful implementation across all areas of development and oversight of staff responsibilities
• Embrace communications and brand awareness as an extension of development strategies to broaden the donor base and expand partnerships
• Demonstrate the ability to collaborate with a team of internal and external vendors as well as cross-functionally
• Build genuine relationships with a wide diversity of stakeholders, from national donors to Chicagoland neighbors
• Be an open communicator, ready with ideas while open to other possibilities
• Have a genuine passion and a history of engagement in the arts and/or military-veteran community, personally or professionally

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Strategic Thinking and Planning
• Create and implement an annual development and communications plan
• Using the strategic plan as a guide, develop and track metrics for fundraising success
• Collaborate with Executive Director, Board and staff to set fundraising goals, supported by data
• Collaborate with programing initiatives to identify funding needs and identify and pursue funding opportunities
• Provide strategy for, lead, and oversee NVAM’s brand awareness and communications activities
• Collaborate with staff and board to build portfolios of donor prospects and donors
• Monitor grant reports and allocations in partnership with contractual Grants Manager and Operations Admin
• Supervise and support the contractual Grants Manager, Operations Admin, and contractual social media manager, including providing assistance, expertise, and professional development as well as managing workload and priorities
• Hire and manage vendors as needed to support and develop communications and donor strategies, including PR campaigns and NVAM’s annual report

Fundraising, Communications, and Brand Awareness

• Carry a portfolio of major donor prospects and donors and support staff and board in cultivating and stewarding their portfolios
• Implement communications and brand-awareness strategies and tasks, hiring and supervising vendors as needed
• Implement development strategies and tasks hands-on as needed including annual direct mail and e-appeals and other donor communications
• Steward the existing individual and institutional donor base while identifying and cultivating prospective donors
• Create and implement NVAM’s capital campaign and recruit initial bequest commitments
• Ensure quality control over data entry in the organization’s donor/prospect database
• Develop and execute fundraising and cultivation events, hiring and supervising vendors as needed
• Work closely with the Executive Director to ensure the accurate recording and reporting of gifts and grants including tracking annual results in real time
• Other relevant duties as assigned

First 90 Days

• Collaborate with the Board on engagement and diversifying Board recruitment
• Create strategic action items to build and launch the capital campaign
• Direct and design the creation of the annual report

The Director of Development and Communications will ensure that all development transactions and communications are conducted with a high level of integrity consistent with the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ Code of Ethical Principles and Standards, including proper stewardship of all donor funds which includes recognition and execution of all donor restrictions accepted by the organization.

Qualifications

• Top candidates will have at least seven years progressive experience in nonprofit fundraising with demonstrated success in:
• Identifying and soliciting individual donors
• Supervising full- and part-time staff
• Planning and executing fundraising events
• Creating print and online communications
• Developing and implementing marketing and/or PR strategies
• Managing and using fundraising CRMs (Constituent Relationship Management)
• Balancing big picture thinking and detailed hands-on work
• Experience in the veteran/military and/or arts sector at the local or regional level is preferred but not required. Some local and regional travel will be required, for which the ability to drive a car and a valid driver’s license will be necessary. A personal vehicle is not required.

Compensation and Benefits

• NVAM offers a competitive benefits package that includes:
• Paid holidays, personal days, vacation, and sick days
• Health insurance for employees
• Hybrid work schedule/flex time
• Strong commitment to professional development

This position is currently remote with office spaces at NVAM’s future home in the Jefferson Park neighborhood of Chicago underway.

The salary range for this position is $75,000-$85,000. Compensation is commensurate with experience.

The National Veterans Art Museum is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, veteran status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, or marital status. Increasing diversity of all kinds at the staff and board levels is an organizational priority. Veterans are encouraged to apply.

Instructions for Applicants

Please submit your resume and a cover letter that describes your experience for this position to [email protected] with subject line Development and Communications. We encourage you to highlight your interest in NVAM’s mission, including your genuine passion and history of professional or personal engagement in the veteran-military, and/or arts community.

Recruitment will continue until the position is filled.

National Veterans Art Museum Mission:

At NVAM, our mission is to inspire dialogue of the impact of war through the collection, preservation and exhibition of art by military veterans.

National Veterans Art Museum