Associate Director of Advancement

Associate Director of Advancement

Reports To: Chief Advancement Officer

Classification: Onsite, Full-Time, Exempt

Position Summary

The Associate Director of Development (ADoD) is a critical Advancement Team leadership role responsible for the strategic planning and operational execution of key annual revenue streams, including the Museum's gala, membership program, and annual fund. The ADoD will manage a team of three professionals and work closely with the Chief Advancement Officer and other senior staff to achieve ambitious fundraising goals and foster a culture of philanthropy.

Key Responsibilities

Directly supervise and mentor a team of three development professionals:

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  • Manager of Membership and Annual Giving
  
  
  • Manager of Events and Corporate Engagement
  
  
  • Development Associate
  
  
  
  


• Set clear performance goals, provide ongoing feedback, conduct annual reviews, and support professional development for direct reports.


• Foster a collaborative, high-performance team environment focused on meeting, or exceeding, revenue targets and delivering exceptional donor stewardship.


• Manage a portfolio of donors/prospects, building relationships to sustain annual budget fundraising and nurture a pipeline for major gifts. 


• Work with the entire advancement team to identify, qualify, cultivate, and solicit prospects for exhibitions, education, gala, membership.


• In coordination with the Chief Advancement Officer, build out the annual budget for expenses and revenue. 


• Develop and execute a comprehensive gala strategy in coordination with the Manager of Events and Corporate Engagement, including sponsorship cultivation, table/ticket sales, committee management, and post-event follow-up.


• Provide strategic oversight for the Museum's membership and annual giving programs, working with the Manager of Membership and Annual Giving to set optimized tiered benefits, drive acquisition, increase renewal rates, enhance member experience, and ensure the program effectively serves as a pipeline for major giving and patron-level support.


• Along with the Chief Advancement Officer, work closely with the Museum’s Development Committee.


• Work collaboratively with colleagues in Marketing, Operations, Curatorial, Learning and Engagement, and other departments as needed. 

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required. 


• A minimum of 7-10 years of progressive fundraising experience, with a proven track record of successfully managing multi-faceted annual campaigns, large-scale fundraising events (ideally over $500K), and/or membership programs.


• Demonstrated experience in staff supervision and team leadership is required.


• Exceptional written and oral communication skills, with the ability to articulate the Museum's mission compellingly.


• Proficiency with donor management software (CRM) and standard office productivity suites.


• Proven ability to work collaboratively with staff, board members, and external stakeholders.


• Ability to carry up to 25 lbs.

About the Farnsworth

Founded as a bequest of Lucy Copeland Farnsworth, the Museum opened its doors in 1948 in Rockland, Maine, with a singular mission to celebrate Maine’s role in American art. The Farnsworth’s primary purpose is to be a repository for American art objects related to Maine and a resource for all, including local and state residents, as well as tourists visiting from throughout the United States and abroad.

Throughout the Museum’s history, it has championed the unique role that Maine plays in the larger story of American art. The Farnsworth’s collection of approximately 15,000 works focuses on American art from the 18th century to the present, in all media, with a special emphasis on artists with deep connections to Maine. From purchasing works by a young Andrew Wyeth–becoming the first museum to do so–to collecting pieces by pivotal Maine artists such as Fitz Henry Lane, George Bellows, Rockwell Kent, Lynne Drexler, Lois Dodd, Daniel Minter, Ann Craven, and Jeremy Frey, the Museum has and will continue to represent the excellence of the arts in Maine. We are also broadening and diversifying collections to more fully reflect the breadth of Maine artists working today and the interests of our growing and multicultural audience.

The Museum also cares for two historic properties: the Farnsworth Homestead, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, and the Olson House, joining the campus in 1991 and designated as a National Historic Landmark in 2011.

Welcoming approximately 75,000 visitors each year, the Farnsworth has a $58 million economic impact on the mid-coast and surrounding areas and has revitalized the creative capital of Rockland. It is the first art museum in Maine to receive accreditation by AAM.