Description

Position Summary: 

Reporting to the Oshman Director and CEO, who leads institutional fundraising strategy, The Director of Development coordinates fundraising initiatives across key channels, including major and planned giving, annual appeals, corporate sponsorships, special events, membership, and donor stewardship, to maximize the Museum’s short and long-term revenue growth.  The Director of Development is responsible for developing and monitoring revenue forecasts for the operating budget and prepares reports for the Board and committees on fundraising initiatives, revenue projections, and financial forecasting. They work closely with the Oshman Director and CEO to steward and cultivate the Board of Trustees, and to implement special campaigns for exhibitions, collections, programs and endowment. The Director of Development also serves as the staff liaison to the Board’s Development committee and works closely with the committee to design and implement fundraising strategy for the Museum’s Gala+Auction, which raises 10% of the annual operating budget. 

The Director of Development oversees directly and indirectly a five-person team that includes a Development Operations and Grants Manager, a Development Officer, a Development Associate, Development Assistant and a Membership Manager (currently open) and partners cross-institutionally with the Museum’s Director of Events, who manages event logistics, and Deputy Director, who leads the strategy and deliverables for government and foundation funding. The Director of Development is a member of the Museum’s senior staff and executive management team. 

The role maintains a visible community presence and regularly participates in community networking, including evenings and weekends. 

Duties and Responsibilities 

• Identifies, cultivates, solicits, and stewards a portfolio of 30+ principal gift prospects with the capacity to give $50K or more annually.
• Conducts personal solicitations of donors, generally in the South Bay, and sometimes outside the Bay Area. Oversees processes of prospect identification for the donor pipeline, including Silicon Valley corporate leadership and prospective donors identified by Councils Committee/Trustees; matching prospective donors to volunteers; preparation of background information for solicitations; and following up with volunteers and senior staff through completion of assignment.
• Maintains an active schedule of personal solicitations, cultivation visits/events, and stewardship activities, tracking this activity in the donor database.
• Supports solicitations by the director as needed, preparing background information and helping develop strategies.
• Oversees the Museum’s signature annual fundraising event, the Gala + Auction, working with the Board’s Development/Gala committee and Museum staff partners.
• Collaborating with the Development Officer, develops tailored cultivation and solicitation strategies for a portfolio of major prospects and donors; creates and presents compelling written and oral proposals in partnership with the Development Officer and with Trustees.
• Plans, attends, and works with the Development team to produce patron member events, salons, exhibition openings, and member receptions, and supervises the Development Officer in planning and executing travel logistics for the local, national, and international donor trip program.
• Develops and executes strategies to maximize corporate funding opportunities, including matching gifts, sponsorships, and direct giving.
• Actively grows individual and corporate pipelines for unrestricted, temporary restricted, and endowment support
• Partners with the Deputy Director to shape and execute strategies for institutional funding, including foundation and government grants.
• In coordination with the Director, manages and stewards Trustee giving.
• Supports the Director to recruit Trustees and other leadership volunteers, and builds their capacity to strengthen philanthropic relationships.
• Serves as the liaison to the Board-appointed Development Committee Chair, Development and Gala Committee members, and Legacy Giving Society Chair to cultivate new donors, while energizing and stewarding the donor base. Spearhead the re-establishment of Corporate Leadership Council.  
• Ensures that Development policies are implemented and ensures that Trustees, staff, and volunteers adhere to the policy on donor confidentiality.
• Delivers regular reports to the Board of Trustees , Executive Committee, Development Committee, and Finance and Policy Committee on fundraising initiatives, revenue projections, and financial forecasts.
• Manages the Development Officer and the Development Operations and Grants Manager.
• Oversees the membership program to meet objectives of strong renewals, acquiring new members, and integrating the program into overall fund development activities.
• Supports and mentors the Development team as they build their professional capacity.
• Recruits, trains, and manages staff and key volunteers who play a role in fundraising efforts.
• Together with the Development Operations and Grants Manager, oversees the operations of the Development Department, including effective use of CRM system, gift processing, donor recognition systems, reporting, and stewardship.
• Creates and manages Development's annual budget, monitoring expenses, and preparing forecasts. Stays up-to-date on financial practices and regulations related to development and fundraising trends, and recommends new, innovative strategies for change.
• Other duties may be assigned or requested. 

About Us:  
The San José Museum of Art (SJMA) is a contemporary art museum dedicated to inclusivity, new thinking, and visionary ideas. Founded in 1969 by artists and community leaders, its dynamic exhibitions, collection, and programs resonate with defining characteristics of San José and Silicon Valley–from its rich diversity to its hallmark innovative ethos. The Museum offers lifelong learning for school children and their educators, multigenerational families, creative adults, university students and faculty, and community groups. SJMA is committed to being a borderless museum, essential to creative life throughout the diverse communities of San José and beyond: https://sjmusart.org/about  
 
SJMAhas been awarded re-accreditationby the American Association of Museums(AAM), a recognition given to just1,106of the nation’s33,000 museumsand SJMA is one of only 78 museums accredited in California.With its mix of self-assessment, peer review, and public recognition, AAM Accreditation ensures the integrity and accessibility of museum collections, reinforces the education and public service roles of museums, and requires good governance practices and ethicalbehavior.SJMA has been awarded Charity Navigator Four Stars and Guidestar Platinum Transparency, noting the highest non-profit distinctions exceeding or meeting best practices and industry standards.  

Locatednearthe Plaza de César Chavez in downtown San José, the Museum serves100,000 peoplea year, including30,000 school children, and is the largest provider of arts education in Santa ClaraCounty. 

SJMA conducts pre-employment, post-offer background checks in accordance with state and federal law.  
SJMA offers a competitive benefits plan including medical, dental, vision and paid sick and vacation time. The Museum also offers a generous retirement program. 

SJMA is actively seeking individuals from diverse backgrounds. We deeply appreciate cultural, racial, and ethnic diversity, as well as different gender expressions and abilities. We encourage BIPOC, LGBTQ+, bilingual or multilingual candidates, and individuals with disabilities to apply. As an equal opportunity employer, we at SJMA highly esteem the diversity of individuals and the multitude of ideas, perspectives, insights, and values they contribute to our workplace.  
SJMA's hiring policy requires all candidates to be at least 18 years of age. Due to the high volume of interest, regrettably, we cannot respond to individual applicants. If you are selected as a potential candidate, SJMA will contact you to schedule an interview. No phone calls, please. 

Requirements

Supervisory Responsibilities:  

• Directly supervises employees in the Development Department. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.  
• The role supervises the Development Officer, Development Operations and Grants Manager, Membership Manager (currently vacant). The Director will also collaborate closely with the Deputy Director, who has a dotted-line reporting relationship with the Development Operations and Grants Officer. The Deputy Director leads the strategy and deliverables for government and foundation funding and serves as a close collaborator and thought partner to the Director of Development on fundraising strategy. 

Qualifications: 

• Education and/or Experience: Bachelor's degree (B.A.) from four-year college or university preferred, and ten (10) years related experience and/or training, or equivalent combination of education and experience. 
• Preferred experience: 5+ years of experience working with leadership donors, including conducting personal solicitations, working with and coaching Trustees and leadership volunteers to conduct personal solicitations of these donors. Track record of developing and executing successful multi-year Fund Development plans, including all levels of individual giving, corporate relations, events, and legacy gifts, as well as working with colleagues to develop related marketing and communications strategies to support this work
• Demonstrated expertise in public speaking required.
• Extensive knowledge of fundraising principles and strategies that span multi-year individual giving, corporate donations and grants, membership, annual appeals, planned giving and events, and experience with capital and endowment campaigns and art gifts (preferred).
• Excellent management and administrative skills, including a track record of managing a development team and inspiring steady and successful performance.
• History of creating and/or professionalizing and building development function within an intellectually and culturally grounded not-for-profit environment.
• Proven success in building enduring relationships; personal experience in forming, presenting, and negotiating high-level gift arrangements, including a track record of involvement in significant donor gifts.
• Strong familiarity with the philanthropic and arts communities; experience working with nonprofit boards, committees, and donors.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, sound judgment, and the ability to represent SJMA effectively and professionally to potential donors and external organizations.
• Strong understanding of budgets and finance, including restricted and unrestricted funds; experience with budget projections, forecasting, and tracking.
• Competence with Microsoft 365 products and project management software, including advanced knowledge of CRM (Blackbaud/Altru, preferred).
• Ability to work with discretion, diplomacy, and tact; excellent problem-solving, time- management, and multitasking skills as well as an organized and detail-oriented approach.
• Frequent evening and weekend work for events and donor cultivation etc required.