Description

About the Mattatuck Museum: Small Institution, Big Impact

The Mattatuck Museum is an art and regional history museum located on the historic Green in downtown Waterbury, CT. Founded as the Mattatuck Historical Society in 1877, the Museum opened its first display hall in 1912 and has been exhibiting art ever since.

The Mattatuck Museum is known for engaging its community in an understanding of the past and providing vision and leadership for the future through its exhibitions, programs, and collections of national significance. The Mattatuck is a small yet dynamic institution, a team of professionals doing big things. Candidates should thrive in an environment where all senior staff are expected to be hands-on and contribute to the institution's overall advancement.

About the Area

Waterbury, CT is 30 minutes southwest of Hartford, 40 minutes northwest of New Haven, 1 hour south of the Berkshires, 2 hours northeast of New York City, and 2.5 hours southwest of Boston, MA. Waterbury’s population is 114,403 (2020 census) and it is the second-largest city in New Haven County, Connecticut.

Position Summary

The Director of Development leads the effort to expand and diversify the Museum’s funding sources and donor base. Supervising the development team, the Director will shape the overall development strategy, support earned income goals and oversee all fundraising efforts ($1.3 million annual goal).

In addition to oversight of annual giving, membership and patron programs, special events, foundation and government grants, and corporate sponsorships, the Director will function as a major gift officer, working with the Executive Director to identify, cultivate, and solicit major gifts from individuals.

The ideal candidate must be organized, professional, a strong manager, and enjoy interacting with others. The ability to lead and manage a team to execute a wide range of activities—from day-to-day tasks to complex, long-term projects—is paramount. 

Benefits

The Museum offers a full benefits package including:

• Vacation, paid PTO, and holidays.
• Health, vision, and dental insurance (Health Savings Account with employer match).
• Short- and long-term disability.
• 403(b) plan with employer match.
• Free parking and complimentary annual membership to the Greater Waterbury YMCA.
• Membership in the Art Museum Development Association (underwritten by the museum).
• Support for professional development.

Members of the management team are expected to devote a significant amount of time and energy to the successful fulfillment of their responsibilities. The Director of Development must be prepared to work evenings and weekend hours, in addition to fulfilling the obligations of a routine workday. Occasional travel for work both within and beyond the region may also be required. Position contingent upon a satisfactory background check. All senior staff are expected to live within 40 miles of the Museum.

Requirements

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Planning

• Create and execute an overall fundraising plan for the museum as a key member of the senior management team. This includes outlining the annual plan for targeted appeals and special events.
• Serve as the staff liaison to the Board Development Committee, providing reports, data analysis, and strategic guidance to Board members.
• Coordinate with the Director of Finance to develop the departmental budget for annual revenue, expenses, and cash flow, as well as providing monthly reports, periodic updates and forecasts.
• Manage, monitor, and support development staff to ensure all aspects of development operations are working cohesively and all deadlines are met.

Major Gifts & Donor Cultivation

• Manage a personal portfolio of leadership donors and prospects, moving them through the cycle of identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Identify prospective major donors from the existing donor base, museum leadership contacts, and volunteers.
• Develop good working relationships with "centers of influence" in the community, including attorneys, accountants, and financial advisors.
• Coordinate the participation of the Executive Director, Deputy Director, Chief Curator, Director of Education, Board, and fundraising committee members in cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors.
• Primarily focus on growing and expanding the Museum’s leadership donors.
• Develop and implement a planned giving program to grow the Museum’s endowment.

Operations & Management

• Grants: Supervise the Development Officer in the application process for government and foundation grants. This includes final approval of grant applications, research of opportunities, coordinating with multiple departments on funding requests, and tracking implementation and reporting.
• Corporate Partnerships: Provide strategic oversight for all corporate sponsorship and partnership efforts, guiding the Development Officer in prospecting, proposal development, benefit fulfillment, working with volunteers and committee members, and long-term stewardship.
• Administration: Review gift and membership processing and acknowledgment procedures with Administrative Coordinator to ensure accuracy and timeliness.
• Communications: Collaborate with the Marketing team on the production of the Annual Report, donor newsletters, and appeal campaigns.
• Events & Community Engagement: Manage all fundraising events. Work with volunteers to increase awareness of fundraising activities. Serve as an ambassador for the museum, cultivating new prospective donors and stewarding existing donors.

Qualifications and Skills

• Experience: A track record of prior management experience. Prior nonprofit and/or museum development experience is preferred.
• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills with strong interpersonal abilities, including tact and diplomacy. Must be capable of interfacing with diverse constituents, including funders, board members, volunteers, staff, and community members.
• Technical Skills: Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook. Prior donor database experience is required (Clearview experience a plus).
• Work Style: Self-motivated with creative problem-solving skills. Ability to organize and prioritize work to meet deadlines, as well as work collaboratively to meet organizational goals.
• Ethics: Capability to handle confidential donor/constituency information with sensitivity and integrity.
• Flexibility: Ability to travel as needed and to work evenings and weekends as required.