Director of Development | Houston, TX

The Center for African American Military History

Position Title:            Director of Development        

Reports To:               Chief Executive Officer

Department:              Development

Date Update:             January 13, 2021

Salary Range:            $50,000 - $65,000/annually

Job Summary:

The Director of Development provides leadership to advance the fundraising efforts of the Museum. We seek an individual with a strategic mind, a passion of for results and the experience to successfully lead planning and execution of a strong fundraising plan for this exciting organization. This key position is one of 5 department directors reporting to the CEO, each of whom uses their extensive experience to provide strategic and practical leadership to the Museum.

The Museum’s positive environment mirrors the numerous awards and accolades garnered, as well as the joyful spirit of our daily visitors of all ages. Our vision for the right director of development includes someone who will advance that spirit and personal connection into successful annual fundraising of more than $1million. By building on the Museum’s past and current success, with the commitment of an active fundraising board and a dedicated and skilled staff, s/he will lead the department, prioritize our development practices, leverage existing partnerships, and cultivate new relationships to achieve our contribution and strategic goals.

Supervision:

Oversees the Development Department. The other staff actively supports development efforts including Membership, Events Manager, Interns, and administrative assistance.

Principle Responsibilities:

Development

• Cultivate high-end induvial, corporate and foundation donors and prospects; manages. A portfolio of prospects and donors, with primary responsibility for cultivating, soliciting and stewarding theses relationships using a high level of visibility.
• Create, implement and refine a museum-wide action plan for identifying, cultivating, soliciting and stewarding major donors and prospects that allows the museum to actively achieve strategic initiatives set forth in annual, capital and endowment campaigns, along with any informal campaign plans.
• In collaboration with CEO, work closely with the Board of Trustees, Executive Team and campaign leadership to identify funding priorities in order to plan and implement comprehensive campaign strategies and accomplish team goals. Established a communication plan to keep the Executive Team and Board current on fundraising strategies, activity, and results.
• Oversees special events and cultivation activities to raise funds, engage donors and partners, and build the museums image.
• With major gifts leadership, oversee and close the $5million major gist campaign
• Plan and supervise electronic and mailed appeals and communications, grant writing and applications, corporate sponsorship proposals, planned giving and other fundraising initiatives.
• Ensure the effective organization and maintenance of donor database.

Grants

• Ensure stewardship of past, current and prospective donors through personal visits, articulate correspondence, timely gift acknowledgements, and strategic administration of naming opportunities.
• Write proposals, prepare applications and gather supporting documents.
• Maintain and implement a calendar of funding activities including due dates and impact report timelines.
• Research and identify new government, corporate, foundations and private funding prospects.
• Identify funding opportunities’ and new program areas to match clients. Priorities, using relevant research tools.
• Communicate with appropriate funding staff prior to submission of proposals.
• Write and ensure the timely submission of final reports.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree fund development, business, education or related field is required, with seven years’ experience in fundraising
• Expected hours 37.5 per week
• Deep appreciation and understanding of the BSNM mission and the ability to articulate its value and vision internally and externally
• Proven leadership and management capabilities, ranging from creating and executing plans and achieving goals, commitment to excellence in all development activities
• Substantial experience implementing fundraising plans and cultivating relationships for all funding streams with a proven track record of achieving contributed income target of $1M+ annually
• Knowledge of basic fundraising techniques and strategies including proposal writing and donor stewardship
• Strong knowledge and familiarity with research techniques for fundraising prospect research
• Positive, “can-do” attitude, flexible, team-oriented, attends to detail and shows initiative
• Excellent oral, written, analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to train, direct, manage, evaluate and motivate staff and volunteers
• Ability to occasionally work weekends, holidays, and special event hours, as necessary

How to Apply

Email resume with 3 references to desmond@buffalosoldiermuseum.com using the job title as your subject.

Attachments must use your first initial and last name (e.g. JDOE RESUME & COVER LETTER).

The Buffalo Soldiers National Museum is an EOE employer.

Or mail to

Buffalo Soldiers National Museum

3816 Caroline Street  

Houston, TX 77004