Director of Development

Thinkery • Austin, TX

2d • $70,000 - $74,000

About The Position

The Director of Development supports Thinkery’s strategic fundraising efforts by working directly with the Advancement Team to design, implement, oversee and evaluate multi-faceted corporate and annual giving programs. Goals of these programs include: sharing broadly the museum’s mission and program impact, cultivating new contacts and creating a foothold in the corporate/business and individual donor community, generating a consistent source of revenue from new and existing relationships. This position, in partnership with the Chief Advancement Officer, establishes a predictable and renewable donor pipeline: stewarding donors and developing engagement opportunities (including events) that attract corporate, business, and individual donors, and community partners. The Director of Development manages the Development Coordinator and the Volunteer Coordinator. They are responsible for supporting a combined revenue goal from individuals and corporations in this fiscal year of $1.2 million. Supported by the Chief Advancement Officer, the Director of Development will co-create and execute a long-term growth strategy that increases contributed revenue streams to $2 million+ annually. This includes annual campaigns (Year End, Amplify Austin, Monthly Giving, Corporate Sponsorship/Underwriting and Donor focused Events). The ideal candidate has 3+ years of experience with nonprofit fundraising, supervision experience for staff and/or volunteers, excellent communication skills, is a strategic thinker, enjoys cross-team collaboration, cares deeply about building long-term relationships, and has strong project management skills.

Requirements

• Demonstrated knowledge of donor management, stewardship, and cultivation process.
• Knowledge of donor stewardship, including donor relations, strategic communications, and financial reporting.
• Exercise good judgment, to demonstrate an understanding of ethics related to development activities, and to use discretion in interactions with donors, prospects, volunteers, and others.
• Advanced computing skills including Excel, Word and PowerPoint, and donor database management. Tessitura experience a plus.
• Conduct research, gather data, analyze information, and prepare effective, accurate, and timely reports and other documents to support development objectives.
• Bachelor’s degree in related field preferred
• 3+ years’ progressively responsible experience in development and fundraising; front line fundraising preferred
• 2+ years’ experience supervisory experience for staff and/or volunteers strongly preferred
• 2+ years’ experience securing corporate sponsorship strongly preferred
• 2+ years’ event planning and execution experience
• Observe and react to the needs of guests, staff, volunteers, and community partners.
• Move throughout the museum.
• Manipulate and move exhibit components weighing up to 25 pounds, including those that may be low to the ground or above eye level.
• Communicate and exchange accurate information with guests, staff, volunteers, and community partners in a variety of formats including in-person, electronically, and over the phone.
• Detect and respond to safety hazards.
• Occasionally work in outdoor environments.
• Operate standard office equipment effectively.

Responsibilities

• Develops and implements short- and long-term development plans to meet established development goals and objectives toward a robust annual giving program (corporate/sponsorships, monthly giving, fundraising events and other initiatives throughout the year).
• Serves as a key member of the Development Team, working alongside a Director of Grants and Institutional Giving, achieving an overall $2M goal.
• Ensures that donors experience high-quality interactions with the organization that foster long-term engagement and investment through gift stewardship and donor recognition.
• Leads the planning, execution, and evaluation of our annual gala, Imagine That, including management of gala planning and host committees.
• Works collaboratively with key constituents, including board and community members, through acknowledgment and relationship-building cultivation efforts.
• Makes effective use of Thinkery’s prospect management database (Tessitura), aligning with Finance, to implement moves management systems and ensure appropriate management of donors, members, and prospects in coordination with Thinkery’s fundraising objectives.
• Oversees stewardship activities; ensuring a high-touch response to partners and donors that deliver a high-quality experience to all constituents.
• Ensures direct reports develop themselves professionally by providing opportunities for growth based on individual and organizational goals.
• Manages two direct reports: Development Coordinator and Volunteer Coordinator/Community Relations (related to Corporate Partnerships).
• Operates cross-functionally, coordinating specifically with Marketing/Communications and program staff, establishing cohesive practices related to donor pipeline development, storytelling, and the donor experience.

Benefits

• Thinkery offers competitive and affordable benefits for our full-time staff including options for 100% employer sponsored medical coverage.
• Medical insurance options including HSA, PPO Gold, and PPO Platinum plans
• Affordable dental and vision
• 100% employer sponsored EAP, STD, LTD, AD&D, and Life Insurance
• 2 weeks of paid vacation, 12 days of paid sick leave, and 13 paid holidays each year
• Paid Family and Covid Sick Leave
• Pet and child friendly offices
• Membership to the museum and discounted rates to Camps

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level