The Associate Director of Development is a leader in the Development Department responsible for overseeing alumni affairs, major gifts, and institutional giving at the American Academy in Rome. Towards this end, they build and execute fundraising appeals; create, manage, and reconcile Development Department financial reports; oversee fundraising goals; and more. The Development Department at the American Academy in Rome is a close-knit and evolving team. Working harmoniously while reaching goals is imperative to this role. RESPONSIBILITIES: Alumni Affairs & Major Gifts (60%):
- Directs individual donor fundraising activities to achieve annual fundraising goal of more than $4 million for general operating support, including the cultivation and solicitation of major donors and supervising timely production of fundraising appeals. Work closely with all members of the team both in New York and Rome to accomplish goals.
- Identifies and cultivates major gift prospects through programs and visits with Senior Development Officer, Development Manager, and Development team at large.
- Strategizes approaches and solicitations for operating and priority initiatives.
- Oversees AAR's alumni relations strategy and operations to develop an active and engaged alumni base.
- Develops short- and long-term plans, goals, and objectives to create and sustain strong relations between AAR and its alumni and major gifts base.
- Designs, implements and evaluates strategies and initiatives to increase involvement among alumni through various outreach and affinity programs.
- Supports and collaborates with a range of alumni affinity groups and engage in diversity, equity, and inclusion work, with an emphasis on building an inclusive and welcoming community among AAR's diverse and international alumni.
- Develops and implements strategies to enhance the Annual Giving program.
- Establishes benchmarks and oversees moves management program.
- Supports in membership analytics.
Institutional Fundraising (30%):
- Working closely with executive and program staff, oversees all aspects of institutional giving efforts.
- Support the Director of Development in securing and managing gifts from the Director of Development's institutional giving portfolio.
- Raises and manages gifts from own portfolio.
- Stewards donors, identifies new prospects for cultivation and solicitation, and develops strategy for approach.
- Writes grant proposals and reports for institutional funders (foundations, government, corporations) in a timely manner, meeting deadlines to secure new commitments and renewals.
- Maintains prospect pipeline for institutional funders.
- Manages compliance with endowment and grant-related requirements, including reports.
- Works with the Finance Department to ensure compliance with financial requirements of grants.
Administration (10%)
- Serves as on the ground resource for the Development Department when Director of Development is away from the office.
- Strategizes with Director of Development on effective systems and processes to ensure smooth Department operations.
Other
- Participates in Academy meetings, events, and programs.
- Perform other duties and projects as needed and assigned.
SUPERVISORY:
- Development Manager (New York)
QUALIFICATIONS AND EDUCATION:
- Bachelor's degree with at least 10 years fundraising experience required.
- Experience working in college or university alumni relations, or relevant experience in fields such as external affairs that involve strong constituency relations.
- Experience working with a Development Office to create pipelines for solicitations, campaigns, etc.
- Impeccable writing skills; ability to write quickly and under deadline pressure.
- Proven track record in writing proposals that win grants from institutional funders.
- Proficiency in multi-platform communications strategies.
- Strong planning, organizational, and time management abilities.
- Thorough understanding of donor cycles.
- Experience in volunteer management and engagement, preferably with alumni.
- Proficiency in program reporting and evaluation.
- Willingness to participate in events outside regular work hours.
SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
- Proven strength in effectively prioritizing and managing time, taking initiative, communicating potential needs, and juggling multiple projects with strong attention to detail.
- Willingness and flexibility to support shifting priorities.
- Passion for the mission and programs of the American Academy in Rome.
- Flexible mindset and ability to collaborate effectively in a dynamic and maturing fundraising environment.
- Outstanding oral and interpersonal communication skills with ability to interact professionally and work productively with a wide range of constituents.
- Discretion and commitment to maintaining confidentiality.
- Experience working with development databases; Salesforce experience a plus
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
- Experience with Development Databases including Salesforce and Raiser's Edge.
The American Academy in Rome is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to the well-being and future of our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes health, dental, and vision coverage to ensure you and your family stay healthy. Additionally, we offer robust retirement benefits to help you plan for your future. We value your experience, and our competitive salary will be commensurate with the expertise you bring to our team. Join us to enjoy a supportive work environment with exceptional benefits tailored to your needs! To Apply: Please submit a cover letter outlining your interest in the Academy, the contributions you expect to make to the Academy's mission, and your qualifications for the position of Associate Director of Development. Applications will be accepted through August 26, 2024.