Director of Development

About the project and the company

GAGE MISSION:
Guided by the belief that artists are made, not born, Gage Academy of Art strives to educate, enrich,
and engage artists and the community in the visual arts. Gage offers instruction in principles of
drawing, painting, and sculpting, and is dedicated to helping students of all ages and skill levels realize
themselves as artists in contemporary society.

WHO WE ARE:
The Gage staff is the most important asset in creating this rich environment for learning and
experiencing art. Our staff, faculty, and instructors receive outstanding benefits and professional
growth opportunities in an environment of passion, community involvement, intellectual excitement,
artistic pursuits, and urban vibrancy.
Gage has locations in the north end of Capitol Hill in Seattle and in Georgetown. Founded more than
three decades ago, Gage touches more than 8,000 arts-lovers every year through youth and adult
classes, workshops, retreats, tours, and various community events – both in-person and online.
Guided by a small administrative team and a volunteer Board, Gage Academy of Art is reimagining
the organization for growth as it enters its next 30 years.

Job Description

Job Title: Director of Development Status: Full-Time, Exempt, Onsite Salary: $85,000-$90,000 annually Benefits: Subsidized medical and dental, vacation and sick days, retirement fund and match, and professional development funds Department: Development Reports To: Executive Director Supported by: FT Advancement Manager, PT Grants Manager (contract), Events Manager POSITION DESCRIPTION: Reporting to the Executive Director, the Director of Development is a team leader who plays a pivotal role in ensuring Gage’s sustainability and growth. This position will gain experience executing a range of development functions including individual and major donor giving campaigns, event planning, grants management, budget and data management while being supported by advancement and event managers on staff and a contract grant writer. It is an exciting opportunity to share stories that galvanize new donors, alumni, community partners, and expand contributed income streams. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: Fund Development  Collaborate with the Executive Director to construct a comprehensive development plan aligned with organizational financial goals and priorities  Oversee planning, execution, monitoring, and evaluation of fundraising events and campaigns  Foster new relationships and sustain interactions with individual donors through the full process of donor prospecting, cultivation, stewardship, gift solicitation, and acknowledgment  Collaborate with a grant writer to prospect, solicit, and manage foundation, government, corporate grants  Strengthen corporate sponsorship program, including prospect research and developing benefits levels  Develop planned giving and alumni giving programs Special Events  In conjunction with ED, Board of Trustees, and other Gage departments, develop fundraising vision, contributed revenue goals, and logistics for Gage’s Spring in-person and online fundraising events  Work with the Events Manager to plan event locations, fundraising activities, entertainment, refreshments, décor that support achievement of revenue goals  Work with Advancement Manger to coordinate in-kind donations and art auction procurement for events  Co-produce with the Marketing department event messaging, promotions, PR, and communications  Coordinate direct asks and matching gifts from board and major donors Management and Supervision  Supervise and train development staff and volunteers  Supervise Advancement Manager’s coordination of Gage’s Membership and Scholarship programs  Oversee the work of the contract grants writer  Guide, coordinate, and coach the Executive Director and Board of Trustees on specific strategies to grow donor involvement and contributed revenue  Build organizational knowledge of fundraising trends and strategies such as Community Centric Fundraising principles, digital crowd funding, and social impact investing Administration  Serve as a leadership partner to the Executive Director to build the organization, contributed income, fundraising, budgeting, and administrative processes – with an eye to continuously analyzing and improving systems  Act as liaison to Board Development Committee, producing timely reports and attending committee meetings as requested by the Executive Director  Develop department budget and manage and track income and expenses  Spearhead the selection of strategic fundraising tools, such as online auction software, data management solutions, and wealth screening technology  Comply with all institutional, local, state, and federal fundraising regulations, and ensure all fund activities are compliant with nonprofit policies and ethical practice  Collaborate with Gage staff to create donor cultivation and stewardship opportunities at other community events, as appropriate  Perform other duties as requested HOW TO APPLY: Please send a cover letter and resume to hr@gagaeacademy.org. The position is open until filled.

Required Qualifications

WHO YOU ARE:  You are a Systems Builder who thrives in environments in which you can problem-solve to find resourceful, effective, and creative ways to engage donors.  You know the Impact of the Arts Learning because, either personally or professionally, you have experienced how the arts can enhance social, emotional, and cognitive development at any age.  You are a Connector who loves to learn about people’s passions and align those passions to Gage’s mission.  You are a Collaborator who likes to be part of a cohesive administrative team and nurture team members’ talents and knowledge to help advance the organization.  You are Entrepreneurial, thinking of innovative approaches to building relationships with diverse groups of supporters and centering the community in your fundraising work.

Desired Qualifications

PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS: We place a high value on commitment, trustworthiness, diversity, and a growth mindset coupled with professional experience. We're looking for a candidate with:  5+ years of direct experience in fundraising and working with high-level volunteers and board members  Commitment to racial equity and advancing anti-racist practices in fundraising systems, including a working knowledge of Community-Centric Fundraising principles  A bachelors degree or equivalent demonstrated interest in arts education, fundraising, and/or nonprofit leadership.  Experiential understanding of corporate/government/foundation structures, grant writing and submission processes, and nonprofit organizations and regulations  Clear, concise, and compelling written and verbal communication skills  Previous usage of data for fundraising and competency with CRM/donor database tool

Other details

GAGE’S COMMITMENT TO EQUITABLE HIRING PRACTICES
At Gage, we embrace our team’s diverse experiences and perspectives, and we strive to be reflective
of the community we serve. We empower our team to be their authentic selves and always be open to
learning from one another. We foster an inclusive and equitable environment were all members of our
community – including staff, students, faculty, and a broad spectrum of Gage supporters – are treated
with dignity and respect. Our hiring practices are reflective of these values: As an equal opportunity
employer, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race,
color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age,
protected veteran, neurodiversity or disability status, or genetic information.