Director of Major Gifts

The Director of Major Gifts will provide strategic leadership in securing significant philanthropic support for the museum. Overseeing a growing team of Major Gift Officers, the Director will develop and implement a comprehensive major gifts strategy to grow and manage a portfolio of donors capable of contributing six figures and above to the Whitney. They will be responsible for guiding and coaching MGOs in effective moves management while also managing a portfolio of high-level donors. This position will report to the Chief Advancement Officer. 

Responsibilities:

• Develop overarching strategy for major gift fundraising at the Whitney, including fundraising for exhibitions, endowment, education, capital projects, and other strategic priorities  
• Coach a team of high-performing MGOs toward individualized fundraising goals; routinely review portfolios and pipeline health, monitoring related metrics  
• Lead by example by practicing strong major donor management for own portfolio of six-figure donors  
• Partner closely with the Director of Individual Giving, membership team, and prospect researcher to develop a robust major gifts pipeline   
• Ensure organizational leaders (staff and volunteer) are effectively prepared to engage and solicit key donors  
• Promote a strong stewardship experience that encourages donor retention and upgrades  
• Attend key patron group, acquisition committee, and museum events to build and steward relationships with donors and prospects 

Additional Responsibilities: 

• Create systems for tracking progress toward goals in partnership with the Director of Advancement Operations 
• Stay current with industry best practices for fundraising and donor relationship management 
• Lead and coordinate relevant trainings and professional development opportunities for Major Gifts team on moves management, relationship-building, industry trends, and goal setting 
• Build library of Major Gifts process documentation, in partnership with Director of Advancement Operations 
• Oversee team budget in partnership with Chief Advancement Officer and Chief Financial Officer

Requirements:  

• Bachelor’s Degree  
• 8-10+ years' experience in nonprofit advancement/major gifts fundraising; experience in museums or cultural institutions a plus  
• Proven track record of securing six figure+ gifts  
• Proven ability to manage donor information with discretion  
• Expert written and oral communication skills- ability to communicate the Whitney’s mission to a broad audience; adept at crafting proposals, donor correspondence, and other materials  
• Experience managing and coaching others toward success 
• Collaborative, team player who excels at partnering with colleagues
• Data-driven fundraiser with comfort leveraging Raiser’s Edge or related software  
• Self-starter with the ability to multi-task and prioritize requests  
• Strong organizational skills  

Compensation & Benefits: 

• Salary range is $150,000 - $175,000 and will be commensurate with experience 
• Medical, Dental, Vision, 403(b) elections 
• Generous Paid Time Off benefits 
• Commuter benefits - parking and mass transit 
• Admission to world-renowned museums across the city and nationally 
• Pet insurance and discounted membership for Citibike 

The advertised pay scale reflects the good faith minimum and maximum salary range for this role. The advertised pay scale 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. 

Not sure you meet 100% of our qualifications? Research shows that men apply for jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the criteria. Yet, women and other people who are systematically marginalized tend to only apply if they meet every requirement. If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply. We are dedicated to considering a broad array of candidates, including those with diverse workplace experiences and backgrounds. Whether you’re new to arts and culture administration, returning to work after a gap in employment, simply looking to transition, or take the next step in your career path, we will be glad to have you on our radar. Please use your cover letter to tell us about your interest in the arts and culture space and what you hope to bring to this role. 

About the Whitney: 

The Whitney Museum of American Art, founded in 1930 by the artist and philanthropist Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, houses the foremost collection of American art from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. From her vision arose the Whitney Museum of American Art, which has been championing the most innovative art of the United States for 86 years. The core of the Whitney’s mission is to collect, preserve, interpret, and exhibit American art of our time and serve a wide variety of audiences in celebration of the complexity and diversity of art and culture in the United States. Through this mission and a steadfast commitment to artists themselves, the Whitney has long been a powerful force in support of modern and contemporary art and continues to help define what is innovative and influential in American art today. 

EEO Statement: 

The Whitney Museum of American Art is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Museum does not discriminate because of age, sex, religion, race, color, creed, national origin, alienage or citizenship, disability, marital status, partnership status, veteran status, gender (including gender identity), sexual orientation, or any other factor prohibited by law. The Museum hires and promotes individuals solely on the basis of their qualifications for the job to be filled. The Museum encourages all qualified candidates to apply for vacant positions at all levels. This description shall not be construed as a contract of any sort for a specific period of employment.