Development Associate - Museum jobs in Pasadena, CA

JOB SUMMARY 

The Cayton Children’s Museum is seeking a Vice President of Development to lead the organization’s development department and oversee the organization’s fundraising efforts, including building and executing the annual fundraising plan, donor and prospect management, cultivation and stewardship, pledge reconciliation, budget oversight, and departmental systems and processes. The VP of Development oversees a 5-person department, has three direct reports, the Development Manager, Grants Manager, and Donor Database Manager, and works closely with the CEO and Board Development Committee to advance fundraising efforts. The ideal candidate for this role will be relationship-driven, energetic, tenacious, and a critical thinker with a proven ability to execute, develop and direct strategy, and mobilize a small team in raising $2.5M in the coming year. 

This is an opportunity to work for a creative, innovative, mission-driven institution committed to the professional growth and wellbeing of its employees. As such, we work in-person at the museum, on a full-time, 32-hour work week with generous benefits.  

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Works collaboratively with the leadership team and governing board to develop annual fundraising goals that meet institutional financial needs and promote long-term stability.  
• Builds a comprehensive development strategy and manages the department in its execution and implementation across all contributed revenue streams, including giving from individuals, foundations, government, and special events.
• Manages a portfolio of top major donors with the goal of increasing donor retention and acquisition.
• Supports the CEO in the management and growth of their portfolio, guiding them on strategy, tracking progress, and providing tools for donor engagement to drive stewardship and move donors up the major gift pipeline.
• Works closely with the CEO to maximize the personal and professional fundraising contributions of the Board of Directors.
• Implements a dynamic moves management system that guides donor cultivation, prospecting, planning, and communications efforts.
• Works in tandem with the Marketing team to develop a strong, effective, and consistent brand message that builds loyalty and advances fundraising efforts.
• Develops a strategic and realistic donor cultivation and stewardship plan that aims to deepen donor relationships, build donor retention, and grow the institution’s donor base.
• Advises the development team on the execution of the cultivation and stewardship plan, including scheduling campaign activities, segmenting donors and prospects, and creating outreach materials that effectively illustrate our impact.
• Assesses department operations, infrastructure, and procedures and identifies solutions that will improve efficiency and communications and will advance fundraising efforts.
• Supervises the ongoing maintenance and management of the donor CRM system, ensuring that donor records are consistently updated and accurate for more effective fundraising.
• Leverages donor analytics tools to identify new prospects and strengthen the donor pipeline.
• Supports the Grants Manager in grant management by identifying and communicating funding needs, thoughtfully reviewing all proposals and reports, and ensuring compliance with grant deliverables and deadlines.
• Manages the Cayton’s Women’s Philanthropy Circle to drive this volunteer auxiliary group’s philanthropic efforts on behalf of the organization.
• Oversees the development team in maintaining an accurate and real-time accounting of pledges and projections to make critical financial assessments and report regularly to our accounting department and governing board on progress toward annual goals.
• Reviews monthly financial reports to ensure funds are appropriately allocated and all pledges are accounted for.
• Demonstrates strong financial literacy and knowledge of the organization’s annual operating budget, financial statements and reports, audited financials and 990s to be responsive to funder questions and guide department in crafting an effective narrative.
• Presents and reports at quarterly Board meetings on progress toward goals, accomplishments, and challenges to inform and engage the organization’s Board of Directors.
• Additional duties as required.  

 QUALIFICATIONS AND CAPABILITIES  

• Management/leadership-level experience and contacts in nonprofit fundraising, preferably in the areas of arts education, museums and cultural institutions, and/or early childhood development and education.
• Experience overseeing a department and supervising multiple staff members.
• Knowledge of donor research and CRM systems strongly preferred. (Organization operates on Blackbaud Altru.)
• A positive, can-do attitude with strong self-direction and leadership skills.
• Outstanding interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills that demonstrate confidence, competence, and integrity.
• Excellent organization and time management skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, while paying close attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to read and comprehend nonprofit financial reports.
• Demonstrated ability to make strategic decisions informed by quantitative and qualitative data and insights.
• Computer literacy; proficiency in software including Microsoft Word, Excel PowerPoint, and Teams, and Asana or similar project management tools.
• Commitment to the mission, vision, and values of the Cayton Children’s Museum.  

 PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS 

The person in this position must be able to: 

• Move about inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, storage shelves, etc.
• Lift up to 20 lbs.
• Communicate via telephone, video conference, email and in-person.
• Stand for sustained periods of time during special events and fundraisers. 

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS 

• Annual salary of $120K - $135K, depending on experience.
• 32-hour work week!
• Health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance.
• Retirement plan after one year; 401k with 4% employer match.
• Health and childcare flexible spending accounts. 
• Vacation and sick days; paid holidays.
• Commuter benefits.
• A friendly work environment with a passion for PLAY!
• Plus, more. 

SCHEDULE 

The Vice President of Development is a full-time, exempt position with a four-day workweek. Typical schedule will be Tuesday - Friday, with some evenings and weekends, as needed, however schedule may vary. Candidates will be expected to work in-office.