The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library seeks a Director of Philanthropy and Engagement to lead its fundraising efforts, membership program, and communications. This newly created position will collaborate deeply with the Executive Director and manage the Membership and Communications departments to achieve organizational fundraising goals that promote and support the Athenaeum’s mission and programs. The Director of Philanthropy and Engagement will design and implement fundraising strategies to meet budget goals for individual, foundation, corporate, and governmental sources; work from an existing development plan to grow membership and income; and work with internal and external stakeholders on important institutional fundraisers, including an annual benefit celebration.

The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library is a non-profit organization and membership library dedicated to providing music and arts library resources, studio art classes, and year-round exhibitions, concerts, lectures, and other public programs to San Diego communities. Our organizational budget is approximately $2 million and we work across two locations: the historic library in downtown La Jolla, and the Athenaeum Art Center in Logan Heights, inside the Bread & Salt building. This position offers an opportunity to join the organization at an exciting moment of growth under new leadership.

The successful candidate will have a proven track record as a nonprofit leader with experience in individual donor development, special events, communications and outreach, and foundation and corporate fund development. He/she/they will have a passion for the essential role the Athenaeum plays in San Diego’s cultural landscape.

Essential Duties:

Department Leadership and Management

Develop, budget, and implement yearly fundraising plan to meet Athenaeum revenue goals
Raise at least $175,000 in contributed income annually
Develop complementary fundraising and marketing plans to grow our culture of philanthropy and ties to diverse community groups across the region

Individual and Corporate Giving

Help steward a pipeline of individual and major donors, including identifying prospects, cultivating relationships, and making direct solicitations, in partnership with the Executive Director and Board members
Further develop a major gifts program with a focus on identifying and cultivating new prospects
Lead corporate membership pursuits and partner with the Executive Director and Library team to nurture existing and potential corporate relationships
Lead board and benefit committee in the production of the annual benefit celebration including collaboration with and oversight of the event consultant to achieve both fundraising and donor engagement goals

Membership and Communications

Manage the Communications & Membership Manager and Membership Assistant, with a focus on deepening relationships with members
Oversee communications efforts to ensure all social media channels, eblasts, mailings and website are aligned, consistent, and clear
Develop a strategy to cultivate new memberships from diverse groups and communities in the San Diego region and beyond

Grants and Proposals

Manage relations with grantmaking organizations and contacts
Participate in monthly meetings with consulting grant writer, and support consultant in writing successful grants
Manage timely and appropriate grant reports and other grant-related correspondence

Financials

Manage day-to-day fundraising operations in collaboration with the Bookkeeper
Work with the Executive Director and Accounting Consultant to provide revenue projections and reports; systematically review and evaluate fundraising effectiveness

Experience and Qualifications

Five+ years experience with progressive responsibility in a not-for-profit development context
Proven track record of raising funds from foundations, corporations, and individuals
Sophisticated solicitor, able to think strategically and creatively
Exceptional relationship builder and communicator, both interpersonally and in writing
Detail-oriented and organized with a strong ability to successfully multitask
Strong collaborative instincts with a growth mindset
Interest in and aptitude for diversity, equity, and inclusion work
Preferred: experience with the Raiser’s Edge
Preferred: experience with arts and culture institutions

Director of Philanthropy and Engagement is a full-time exempt, 40 hours per week position and reports to the Executive Director. Office location is in La Jolla. Pay range is $85,000–$95,000, commensurate with experience.

Benefits include:

2 weeks vacation per year
Medical stipend $200/month after 3 months of employment
Holidays (two weeks) per calendar year on Athenaeum designated holidays
Flexible work environment
Paid sick leave, 1 hour for every 30 hours worked
403b program with match opportunity after one year
Paid parking space in downtown La Jolla
Family membership to the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library
Free admission to Athenaeum lectures, concerts, art classes, and select events

Starting date: As soon as possible.

To apply, please submit a cover letter and resume addressed to Christie Mitchell, Executive Director to careers@ljathenaeum.org.

The Athenaeum is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to treating all applicants and employees fairly based on their abilities, achievements, and experience, without regard to sex, race, age, disability, religion, national origin, color, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification protected by law.