Director of Major Gifts & Individual Giving
Salary | Full-Time
Posted March 11, 2024
Ailey is seeking an experienced fundraising professional to lead the organization’s individual giving strategy reporting to and partnering with the Managing Director of Development.
Position Summary
The Director of Major Gifts and Individual Giving (“Director”) leads a four-person team dedicated to raising $3.8M+ each year from individuals. The Director develops and implements strategies to maintain and increase revenue from individual donors, including targeted major gift solicitations, direct mail campaigns, online campaigns, planned giving, and special events. The position will have a strong focus on building and managing individual connections through in-person visits and personalized, direct, written and telephone communications is key.
This is a senior administrative position on the Development Team and is responsible for developing and managing talented and committed staff. The Director will also work closely with the Board of Directors, as appropriate, to support their fundraising efforts. This full-time position will be housed in the New York City office, with a network, reach, and community in New York and beyond.
Essential Job Responsibilities
- Managing an individual giving team (three full-time and one part-time) responsible for meeting annual contributed revenue goals.
- Supervising, mentoring, and cultivating staff members to meet their individual goals in service of the team’s fundraising plan(s), as well as contributing to the cultivation of their expertise, interests, and skills.
- Developing and implementing strategies for the research, cultivation, stewardship, and solicitation of donors and prospects to grow engagement and contributed revenue.
- Creating and implementing a strategy for AILEY’s major gifts program and donor pipeline in collaboration with the Chief External Affairs Officer, Managing Director for Development, and individual giving team.
- Working with the Executive Director, Artistic Director, Development Committee of the Board, and Board of Trustees overall on cultivation, stewardship, and solicitation of donors and prospects.
- Conducting research into AILEY’s current individual donors to determine opportunities for increased giving potential, as well as researching the donor potential among other AILEY constituencies, such as ticket buyers, parents of children enrolled in The Ailey School, and adults taking dance classes through the popular Ailey Extension program.
- Creating cultivation events and other opportunities to engage individual donors and build relationships.
- Soliciting contributions from individuals with the goal of growing the Artistic Director’s Circle membership program ($10,000+annual membership) and other groups of major donors.
- Overseeing monthly, quarterly, and yearly plans to quantify individual giving and special events moves management and outcome goals. Director should furnish the organization with ambitious evidence-based revenue projections annually, while establishing longer term goals. Director will monitor goals' efficacy over time and course correct as necessary.
- Partnering with content creation staff, alongside the Managing Director of Development and Chief External Affairs Officer, in ensuring to produce written and online fundraising collateral and maintain the integrity of AILEY’s messaging and case for support.
- Working with Programmatic staff to align AILEY’s fundraising with programmatic priorities and meaningfully include Programmatic staff in Development activities, as appropriate.
Candidate Profile
While no one candidate will possess every quality outlined for this position, strong candidates will bring many of the following professional qualifications and personal attributes:
Expertise in Individual Giving
The Director of Major Gifts and Individual Giving must possess exceptional communication and organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects while maintaining deadlines. The Director manages a team of fundraisers who are responsible for all aspects of individual giving. In addition to developing fundraising strategies and formulating solicitation procedures for the full team, the Director is responsible for the cultivation and stewardship of AILEY’s individual major donor program and the development of a systemized approach for cultivating and securing increased gifts from those donors, while also identifying and pursuing new prospects in the NYC-area and in key tour markets.
Relationship Builder
Critical to success in this role, the Director will be skilled at building and sustaining excellent relationships internally and externally. The Director will be a natural partner with a demonstrated ability to connect and build bridges. A highly adept and fluent communicator, this leader will attract and steward high-level donors by effectively conveying AILEY’s case for support. The ideal candidate will take a creative approach to proposing pathways for new, innovative methods of broadening AILEY’s base for support, resulting in long-term relationships.
Inclusive and Strategic Leader
The Director will be highly strategic, having the ability to set priorities decisively but collaboratively, delegate responsibilities, ensure accountability, and allocate resources to guarantee results. This leader will bring experience affecting change in a complex organization and a proven record of converting strategy into effective execution. The ideal candidate will be an innovative and energetic individual who functions well in a fast-paced team environment, which includes cross-department coordination. Moreover, this leader will build bridges and engage colleagues interdepartmentally. Most importantly, the Director will possess a strong sense of confidence and an adaptable style that will resonate with all internally and externally.
Passion for the Legacy and Mission of the Ailey Organization
The Director will embody the values and mission of the organization and, as a result, will inspire and motivate others. This leader will treat others with respect and lead by example, understanding that at times, empathy and humor are essential qualities. In addition, the Director will be an individual of unquestioned integrity, ethics, and values—someone who can be trusted without reservation. Moreover, the ideal candidate will believe in the power of dance to transform individuals and communities and create social change.
Minimum Qualifications
- Minimum of 10 years of successful fundraising experience, with emphasis on individual giving.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
- Excellent organizational skills with great attention to detail.
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, goal-oriented work environment.
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and Salesforce.
Compensation
$150,000-$170,000
Along with a competitive benefits package, which includes employer-provided health/dental insurance (including EAP), a Flexible Spending (FSA), retirement plan and savings on transit/parking.
The advertised pay rate is not a promise of a particular wage for any specific employee. The specific compensation offered to a candidate may be dependent on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s experience, education, special licensing or qualifications, and other factors.
How to Apply
Click on the apply link below and upload a file for each application requirement (accepted formats include .doc, .docx, or .pdf). Please include your name in the file names of each document. Only applicants who submit the following will be considered:
- Resume
- Cover letter detailing your interest in this position
- Contact information for three professional references
Applications will not be considered without these items. No phone calls, please.