Development Director
Paducah, KY
Full Time
Senior Manager/Supervisor
HR Consulting Solutions is an international executive search firm that has been retained by The Carson Center For The Performing Arts in Paducah, KY to conduct a search for a dedicated Development Director. Below is the job description outlining the expectations of this role. To apply for the position, please visit Indeed or our website at https://hrconsulting.llc/careers/.
MEET THE CARSON CENTER
Located in historic downtown Paducah, Kentucky, The Carson Center For The Performing Arts serves as the region’s premier live performance and event center. Approximately 3 million people of all ages from every state in the nation have visited The Carson Center since its opening in 2004 for performances, concerts, arts education, fundraising events, dinners, weddings, receptions, graduations, meetings, and community functions. The Carson Center is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization. Approximately 35% of its annual funding comes from contributions and sponsorships.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Development Director serves in a key senior staff role that is responsible for meeting contributed revenue goals, managing annual fund campaigns and donor stewardship, engaging major gift donors and prospects, securing sponsors for programs, securing government and foundation funding, and planning and executing special fundraising events. Reporting to and working closely with the Executive Director, the Development Director also works closely with the Finance Director to establish and meet budgetary goals for annual sponsorship revenue and short and long-term goals for contributed revenue. This position requires a strategic and practical thinker who can be effective both independently and as part of a small team.
The Development Director will be creative, resourceful, reliable, and a person of high integrity who is helpful and respectful with customers, co-workers, audiences, patrons, visitors, and callers. The incumbent managers others, and will work collaboratively and independently, meeting all deadlines. This person will excel in attention to detail, accuracy, and customer service. The ideal candidate will have superior skills and experience in donor development, charitable giving, fundraising events, development, grant writing, and communication.
The Development Director will work in the office during regular business hours (Monday – Friday), but also will occasionally be tasked with greeting and engaging patrons at The Carson Center events on evenings and weekends.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The Development Director will work with Executive Director and Finance Director to define and execute Development goals and strategies. The Development Director will also be responsible for performing various job duties including, but not limited to:
Fundraising Events:
- Meet financial and participation goals for The Carson Center’s signature fundraising events, including Party for a Purpose, Distiller's Dinner, and Vine & Dine.
- Coordinate/Lead staff team to plan a “fun”raising event such as Monster Mash Bash 5K or other community event.
- Execute innovative events that exceed expectations for guests.
- Enlist and/or confirm event sponsors.
- Market events in coordination with supervisors and Digital Marketing Associate.
- Secure auction items, auctioneer, caterer(s) for events.
- Form and lead volunteer teams for the fundraising events.
Membership:
- Plan, coordinate, promote, and execute the annual Membership Campaign and develop new Members and manage relationship with sustaining Members.
- Meet financial goals for the Membership annual giving program and manage patron benefits.
- Renew Members and enlist new ones.
- Promote Membership through marketing campaigns and distributing information table at performances and events.
- Track and implement all Membership benefits and events.
- Assist Members by phone and in person and acknowledge Memberships with letters from The Carson Center.
Sponsorships:
- Enlist renewing and new Sponsors for series, performances and events.
- Provide and track all Sponsor benefits.
- Ensure sponsors receive proper recognition on website, signage, eblasts, stage and other promotional materials.
- Provide sponsorship recognition remarks to Executive Director for stage remarks.
Campaigns:
- Plan and implement donor campaigns such as Giving Tuesday and Access Arts in coordination with supervisors and marketing team.
- Although there are no current capital campaigns, the Development Director will manage the collection, acknowledgement, and donor recognition of past campaigns, cash pledges, insurance policies, IRAs, and other planned giving instruments in accordance with policies.
- Assist with any future capital campaigns
Other Miscellaneous Responsibilities
- Seek new grants and prepare grant and foundation applications and follow up reports for City of Paducah, Kentucky Arts Council, SouthArts, and others.
- Set up and interact with guests at a Carson Center Information Table in the lobby to promote Membership, planned giving, and upcoming performances.
- Maintain and update Donor, Member, and Sponsor information in the database.
- Assist with preparations for the State of The Carson Center and Season Previews.
- Lead the team in the preparation and creation of the Annual Report each November.
- Minimum of 5 years’ professional fundraising and development experience, preferably with nonprofit, educational, or cultural organizations.
- Bachelor's Degree – in business administration, marketing, communications, nonprofit management. Master’s degree in related area or additional certifications in fundraising, planned giving, or development will be given preference.
- Strong interest in the performing arts and non-profit work.
- Excellent administrative and organizational skills, including ability to multi-task, set priorities, and manage competing priorities.
- Excellent writing, communication, and copy-editing skills.
- Positive attitude and excellent interpersonal skills with strong ability to interact with patrons in person, on phone, and by email.
- Initiative and problem-solving skills.
- Proficiency in Word, Excel, Google Drive
- Proficiency in Tessitura (our customer relationship manager and ticketing software) or the ability to quickly gain mastery is required. Familiarity with donor databases and ticketing systems is essential.
WHAT WE OFFER YOU
At The Carson Center, we believe in investing in the future of our employees. Our culture fosters an environment of open feedback and improvement that empowers our team to make the best decisions for our customers and organization. We offer:
- Competitive compensation and benefits
- Generous Paid Time Off (PTO)
- Medical/dental/vision/life insurance, and other miscellaneous voluntary insurance options
- 401k retirement plan with Company match
The Carson Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. The organization is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and applicants, providing everyone with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. The facilities at The Carson Center are fully accessible and ADA compliant. All employment decisions at The Carson Center are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. The Carson Center will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind. Our company is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and applicants, providing everyone with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions within our organization are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. We will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.
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