Yale Schwarzman Center
Director of Development
Yale Schwarzman Center, New Haven, Connecticut, us, 06540
Position Focus:
Yale University seeks a talented and experienced fundraiser to continue to build a fundraising program supporting Yale Schwarzman Center. Reporting to both the Executive Director of Yale Schwarzman Center and the Yale College Director of Development (DOD), the Director of Development engages and solicits prospective donors for gifts and plays a central role collaborating with the Center’s staff and fundraisers across the university. Yale Schwarzman Center is a commons for university life where art, culinary, and wellness experiences converge to build bridges, nurture creativity, and foster kinship and belonging. Through unexpected connections and collaborations and inspired by its architecture, artists and members of the Yale and New Haven communities engage with creativity through programming that ranges from the intimate to the grand.
In accordance with the Center’s mission and strategic plan, the Director is responsible for setting and communicating the Center’s fundraising priorities. This includes identifying and cultivating relationships with Advisory Board members, alumni, parents, friends, and local community members. The Director oversees and manages personalized visits to campus, tours, and other activities to inspire and strengthen relationships with new donors and friends. In collaboration with the Center’s Executive Director and the Yale College DOD, the Director of Development leads the work of the current Advisory Board which includes high-net worth individuals and celebrity artists, while expanding the membership, and serving as a primary contact for the Schwarzman Foundation.
The Director is responsible for written communications including donor correspondence, proposals, administrator briefings, and stewardship. The Director collaborates closely with the central Office of Development and YSC leadership on creative engagement strategies including conducting research, writing, coordinating cultivation events, developing itineraries, reporting on activity, and tracking expenditures.
This is an amazing opportunity for someone who is interested in building a fundraising program. Yale Schwarzman Center is a new facility with a bold mission and possesses the potential not only as a destination for artistic excellence but also a place to enhance connections across the Yale University community. The ideal candidate will be a seasoned fundraiser who is excited about embracing the culture of a start-up organization.
This is a hybrid role with a minimum in-office expectations of 3 days per week. To achieve fundraising goals, this position requires some overnight travel to meet with donors and attend/staff events, including nights and weekends when needed.
Yale Schwarzman Center is building an inclusive, equitable, and anti-racist organization made up of individuals who share and support the goals set forth in the Center’s mission, and who reflect the diversity of the communities we serve.
Essential Duties:
Serve as strategic adviser to school/unit leadership on development issues.
Develop fundraising priorities and articulate the mission and priorities to support the cultivation and solicitation of a wide array of potential donors.
Work closely with senior management to develop short- and long-term fundraising goals and strategies, including creating and promoting opportunities for communicating fundraising needs and priorities to those who work with a broad audience of potential and prospective donors.
Collaborate with and provide proactive support to individual giving officers in the central Office of Development, serving as a knowledgeable resource in support of potential school/unit prospect and donor development.
Develop and implement cultivation strategies and methods for individual prospects, including identification of appropriate solicitation timetable, ask amount, gift vehicles, and giving opportunities for each.
Work in close collaboration with fundraisers to provide opportunities for donor engagement and to achieve fundraising goals.
Provide fundraising guidance and training, as needed, to school/unit leadership, faculty (where appropriate) and other staff in areas such as development of gift opportunities, donor cultivation and solicitation strategies, and stewardship plans.
May manage limited portfolio of donors and prospects, developing cultivation and solicitation strategies.
Promote positive relations with these prospects and donors.
Participate in gift solicitations.
Work with other Development units (e.g., Planned Giving, Corporate & Foundation Relations) to identify, engage and steward appropriate prospects.
Craft content for use in school/unit fundraising and alumni engagement activities, including correspondence, proposals, briefings, and endowed gift agreements.
Participate in the development of strategy and school/unit-related content for development publications and events.
Evaluate existing stewardship program; develop and implement changes as appropriate; and oversee and manage ongoing program.
Manage or co-manage administrative support staff and/or student assistants, as needed.
May perform other duties as assigned.
Required Education and Experience:
Bachelor's degree and a minimum of six or more years of experience in development/fundraising, or other relationship-building areas in complex organizations; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Required Skill/Ability 1:
Excellent written and oral communication skills with special emphasis on advanced writing ability. Experience synthesizing and prioritizing information from a wide array of sources while maintaining attention to detail and effectively managing overall workflow.
Required Skill/Ability 2:
Demonstrates initiative, drive, and resiliency to secure meetings with prospective donors. Creative, innovative, flexible, with excellent organizational and analytical skills. Demonstrates emotional intelligence as well as intellectual and social curiosity.
Required Skill/Ability 3:
Commitment to an inclusive workplace. Ability to engage with diverse audiences (age, gender, nationality, race/ethnicity, profession, sexual orientation, etc.).
Required Skill/Ability 4:
Ability to work independently, manage multiple projects effectively and maintain a high degree of professionalism in a complex team-oriented environment. Ability to maintain strict confidentiality. Proficiency using standard office software including Word and Excel. Comfort using new technology such as database systems.
Required Skill/Ability 5:
The interest and ability to be an active presence at the Center to look for opportunities to engage new donors on content. Willingness to attend nights and weekend activities to achieve engagement and fundraising objectives. Willingness and ability to travel in keeping with university guidelines.
Preferred Education, Experience and Skills:
Experience fundraising in the arts and/or the nonprofit sector, especially higher education. Familiarity with event planning, organizing and staffing site visits. Experience with the cultural sector (nonprofit and/or commercial such as TV/film/media, theater, dance, music, comedy).
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Yale University seeks a talented and experienced fundraiser to continue to build a fundraising program supporting Yale Schwarzman Center. Reporting to both the Executive Director of Yale Schwarzman Center and the Yale College Director of Development (DOD), the Director of Development engages and solicits prospective donors for gifts and plays a central role collaborating with the Center’s staff and fundraisers across the university. Yale Schwarzman Center is a commons for university life where art, culinary, and wellness experiences converge to build bridges, nurture creativity, and foster kinship and belonging. Through unexpected connections and collaborations and inspired by its architecture, artists and members of the Yale and New Haven communities engage with creativity through programming that ranges from the intimate to the grand.
In accordance with the Center’s mission and strategic plan, the Director is responsible for setting and communicating the Center’s fundraising priorities. This includes identifying and cultivating relationships with Advisory Board members, alumni, parents, friends, and local community members. The Director oversees and manages personalized visits to campus, tours, and other activities to inspire and strengthen relationships with new donors and friends. In collaboration with the Center’s Executive Director and the Yale College DOD, the Director of Development leads the work of the current Advisory Board which includes high-net worth individuals and celebrity artists, while expanding the membership, and serving as a primary contact for the Schwarzman Foundation.
The Director is responsible for written communications including donor correspondence, proposals, administrator briefings, and stewardship. The Director collaborates closely with the central Office of Development and YSC leadership on creative engagement strategies including conducting research, writing, coordinating cultivation events, developing itineraries, reporting on activity, and tracking expenditures.
This is an amazing opportunity for someone who is interested in building a fundraising program. Yale Schwarzman Center is a new facility with a bold mission and possesses the potential not only as a destination for artistic excellence but also a place to enhance connections across the Yale University community. The ideal candidate will be a seasoned fundraiser who is excited about embracing the culture of a start-up organization.
This is a hybrid role with a minimum in-office expectations of 3 days per week. To achieve fundraising goals, this position requires some overnight travel to meet with donors and attend/staff events, including nights and weekends when needed.
Yale Schwarzman Center is building an inclusive, equitable, and anti-racist organization made up of individuals who share and support the goals set forth in the Center’s mission, and who reflect the diversity of the communities we serve.
Essential Duties:
Serve as strategic adviser to school/unit leadership on development issues.
Develop fundraising priorities and articulate the mission and priorities to support the cultivation and solicitation of a wide array of potential donors.
Work closely with senior management to develop short- and long-term fundraising goals and strategies, including creating and promoting opportunities for communicating fundraising needs and priorities to those who work with a broad audience of potential and prospective donors.
Collaborate with and provide proactive support to individual giving officers in the central Office of Development, serving as a knowledgeable resource in support of potential school/unit prospect and donor development.
Develop and implement cultivation strategies and methods for individual prospects, including identification of appropriate solicitation timetable, ask amount, gift vehicles, and giving opportunities for each.
Work in close collaboration with fundraisers to provide opportunities for donor engagement and to achieve fundraising goals.
Provide fundraising guidance and training, as needed, to school/unit leadership, faculty (where appropriate) and other staff in areas such as development of gift opportunities, donor cultivation and solicitation strategies, and stewardship plans.
May manage limited portfolio of donors and prospects, developing cultivation and solicitation strategies.
Promote positive relations with these prospects and donors.
Participate in gift solicitations.
Work with other Development units (e.g., Planned Giving, Corporate & Foundation Relations) to identify, engage and steward appropriate prospects.
Craft content for use in school/unit fundraising and alumni engagement activities, including correspondence, proposals, briefings, and endowed gift agreements.
Participate in the development of strategy and school/unit-related content for development publications and events.
Evaluate existing stewardship program; develop and implement changes as appropriate; and oversee and manage ongoing program.
Manage or co-manage administrative support staff and/or student assistants, as needed.
May perform other duties as assigned.
Required Education and Experience:
Bachelor's degree and a minimum of six or more years of experience in development/fundraising, or other relationship-building areas in complex organizations; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Required Skill/Ability 1:
Excellent written and oral communication skills with special emphasis on advanced writing ability. Experience synthesizing and prioritizing information from a wide array of sources while maintaining attention to detail and effectively managing overall workflow.
Required Skill/Ability 2:
Demonstrates initiative, drive, and resiliency to secure meetings with prospective donors. Creative, innovative, flexible, with excellent organizational and analytical skills. Demonstrates emotional intelligence as well as intellectual and social curiosity.
Required Skill/Ability 3:
Commitment to an inclusive workplace. Ability to engage with diverse audiences (age, gender, nationality, race/ethnicity, profession, sexual orientation, etc.).
Required Skill/Ability 4:
Ability to work independently, manage multiple projects effectively and maintain a high degree of professionalism in a complex team-oriented environment. Ability to maintain strict confidentiality. Proficiency using standard office software including Word and Excel. Comfort using new technology such as database systems.
Required Skill/Ability 5:
The interest and ability to be an active presence at the Center to look for opportunities to engage new donors on content. Willingness to attend nights and weekend activities to achieve engagement and fundraising objectives. Willingness and ability to travel in keeping with university guidelines.
Preferred Education, Experience and Skills:
Experience fundraising in the arts and/or the nonprofit sector, especially higher education. Familiarity with event planning, organizing and staffing site visits. Experience with the cultural sector (nonprofit and/or commercial such as TV/film/media, theater, dance, music, comedy).
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