The International African American Museum – scheduled to open in Summer 2023 – seeks a Director of Annual Giving & Memberships to help advance our mission as we work to establish a world-class museum.
This is a rare opportunity for a creative, entrepreneurial fundraiser to design and lead this new Museum’s annual giving and memberships portfolio. The Museum has a strong base of current individual donors and members from its development phase and the Learning and Engagement department is established and currently designing distinctive, impactful programs for local, national and international audiences. The organizational culture is collaborative, and the position offers full benefits including a hybrid work policy. Read more about the Museum’s dedicated team here: https://iaamuseum.org/people
How to Apply
Interested applicants are asked to apply online via Indeed.com by submitting your resume AND answering the short answer questions. Resumes without answers to the short-answer questions may not be considered. A cover letter is optional.
About the International African American Museum
Located on one of the most sacred sites of African American history, the International African American Museum (IAAM) in Charleston, SC is a museum, memorial center, and site of conscience that commemorates the foundational role Africans and their descendants played in the making of America. It will be one of the most important historical and cultural institutions in the country – presenting critical history and programming that will have a meaningful social impact. Visitors, both young and old, will encounter a place of exploration and inspiration, experiencing African American history and culture through our innovative exhibits, stunning African Ancestors Memorial Garden, and through genealogical research at our Center for Family History. Learn more about our organization at iaamuseum.org.
Position Summary:
The Director of Annual Giving and Memberships leads the design, strategy and implementation of IAAM’s annual donor and membership programs, which will engage thousands of entry-level and mid-level donors locally, nationally, and internationally. The Museum’s membership program provides an exciting, benefit-driven opportunity for individuals, families, and organizations to engage in the life of the Museum and serves as an entry-point for the Museum’s individual giving program. The Museum’s annual giving program provides highly engaging, benefit-driven giving circles for annual donors up to $10,000. This opportunity is ideal for a creative, entrepreneurial, and collaborative fundraising leader excited by the prospect of building a highly engaged portfolio of donors at scale who will anchor – and grow – this new, significant institution.
The Director reports to the Chief Development Officer and oversees a team of two staff who support the memberships portfolio.
Duties/Responsibilities include:
- Designs and drives a national network-based, at-scale strategy for the Museum’s membership & annual giving programs, creating exciting, benefit driven programs for individuals, families, and organizations to engage in the life of the Museum, build loyalty, and form a diversified base for the Museum’s individual giving pipeline.
- In collaboration with the Chief Development Officer, Sr. Manager of Memberships, Museum Curators, the Learning & Engagement Department and the Memberships Manager, curates a suite of tiered membership and annual giving benefits which align with annual exhibitions, educational programs, and organizational offerings.
- Develop a deep and nuanced understanding of annual donor & member giving and impact motivations. Curate prospecting and cultivation opportunities with CEO and Museum leaders that engage annual donors & members in the life and future vision of the Museum at an appropriate size and scale for each giving level. Leverage IAAM’s organizational assets and annual institutional marketing calendar to engage donors in creative and innovative ways through the Museum’s major exhibitions, programs and auxiliary activities that provide access to the people, places, objects, and experiences behind them. Directs and mentors the Sr. Manager of Memberships in designing & producing membership engagement events & activations.
- Develops regular reports on annual giving participation and renewals, supported by the museum’s database and the Database & Benefits Fulfillment Coordinator. Oversees and directs the Sr. Manager of Memberships in developing regular reports on membership participation and renewals based on membership records.
- Monitors engagement and participation in annual giving program and benefits, recommending new programs, services or benefits based on use, target audiences, and annual programming offerings. Make multi-year projections for growing and optimizing the annual giving program. Oversees and directs the Sr. Manager of Memberships in doing the same for the memberships program.
- Develop solicitation strategies for each annual donor segment based on Museum relationships.
- Collaborate with the CEO, Chief Development Officer, and, where applicable, external event producers, on all museum fundraising events.
- Mine membership data to identify prospective new annual donors. Lead cultivation and solicitation efforts for these donors.
- Lead all communications with the annual donor portfolio, including ensuring engaging, timely, and accurate communications that provide opportunities for donors to advance to increasingly higher levels of giving, impact and engagement. Collaborate with Learning & Engagement department and Marketing department to collect Museum activity data and testimonials to regularly communicate the impact of annual donor contributions to an personalized, at-scale approach. Collaborate with Marketing department and design and production teams on the production of fundraising collateral and content, as needed. Oversees and directs the Sr. Manager of Memberships in leading the same for the memberships program.
- Develop and monitor revenue projections and expense budgets. Ensure accurate data capture and analysis for campaigns. Track and oversee gift acknowledgments, ensuring accurate records and timely followups.
- Hire, train, mentor and motivate the Sr. Manager of Memberships which supports this effort.
Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- 7+ years of annual giving and/or membership experience at a national scale. Experience in an institution which leverages a network-based, at-scale fundraising approach preferred (such as, for example, AARP, United Way, March of Dimes, etc.)
- High emotional intelligence and interest and ability in building authentic and trusting relationships with individuals from a variety of backgrounds in service of IAAM’s mission
- Ability to think creatively, innovatively, and analytically
- Ability to work independently and structure one’s own time productively towards quarterly and annual goals
- Intimate understanding of traditional and emerging fundraising strategies and tools
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to successfully collaborate in a matrixed, cross functional team to accomplish organizational goals
- Any combination of education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job will be considered.
- Persons who do not meet all listed criteria but who feel that their knowledge, skills, and experience make them well qualified candidates are encouraged to apply.
The International African American Museum is committed to building a culturally diverse and inclusive staff and strongly encourages applications from women and racially underrepresented candidates. It is the policy of International African American Museum to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, the IAAM will make reasonable accommodations to known physical or mental limitations of an otherwise qualified applicant with a disability, unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of our business.
We seek to fill this position as soon as possible. Applicants who do not meet the stated qualifications listed in the posting will not be considered for the position. Due to the volume of applications received, we are unable to respond to inquiries regarding the status of an application, or detailed information about positions.
Other Information:
- Full-time exempt position
- Some nights and weekends required
- Start date: Second Quarter, 2023
- Benefits include: medical, dental, vision, 403B retirement contribution, paid vacation and sick leave, and a hybrid work policy
- Salary range $80,000-$100,000
- Some Travel Required