WE’RE HIRING

POSITION TITLE: Director of Development

JOB DESCRIPTION
The Director of Development is responsible for broadening, deepening, and strengthening North Pole Studio’s support base to maximize the organization’s service to the community by working in collaboration with the Executive Director, Board of Directors and development team to secure approximately $1.2 million in annual contributed revenue from individual, corporate, foundation, and government sources. This position will concentrate equally on maturing the donor pipeline (concentrating on individuals in the “Discovery” pool and soliciting gifts from $25k to $100k), building a major gift ($100k+) portfolio, and meeting the development goals of the organization outlined in the five year strategic plan. Among other duties, the Director of Development will identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major donors and corporate sponsors; direct fundraising events; oversee and contribute to the organization’s public outreach and communications; conduct the annual giving campaign; oversee communications; supervise the development manager and support the organization’s equity policy by researching and investing in equitable fundraising practices. 

This position requires travel and direct contact with donors and donor prospects. The Director of Development works collaboratively with the Board of Directors, and Executive Director,  to identify new prospects and strategically cultivate relationships.

This position is located in Portland, and travel within Oregon as well as to cities in other states is an essential expectation.  Remote/Hybrid work. 

TIMELINE:
Accepting applications January 13- February 7, 2025 .  First Round interviews February 10-14, Second round interviews February 17-21. 

Position Start: March-April, 2025 Depending on candidate availability

STARTING WAGE:  
$85,000-$90,000 annual
*Relocation stipend available for out of region candidates 

BENEFITS:
Employer provided health and dental insurance, 120 hours of PTO first year, plus 7 paid holidays annually.  

SCHEDULE: 

40 hours/ a week. Salaried/exempt position

Weekend and evening work required. 

Typical work week: Monday-Friday

Hours: 9-5 with the ability to flex hours for evening and weekend travel and events
Hybrid Work Option

Reports to Executive Director

Professional Competencies

• Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent combination of skills and experience.

• Five years of professional experience in frontline fundraising OR five years of experience in direct relationship building via a closely related field such as corporate sales as well as significant volunteer experience.

• Working with donors and prospects: Experience in prospect identification, cultivation, and solicitation with the ability to build relationships with donors and prospects connected with the organization. Ability to contribute towards joint solicitations of large gifts, initiate planned gift conversations, and successfully solicit outright gifts.

• Portfolio management and systems: Demonstrated ability to develop strategies for reaching and engaging with all assigned prospects; ability to comfortably use CRM and project management software.

• Professionalism: Ability to establish and maintain working relationships with staff, fundraising colleagues, and Board members, and willingness to contribute to new initiatives and discussions.

• Institutional navigation and industry knowledge: Ability and willingness to learn the history and mission, awareness of the field of Progressive Studios, and stay up to day on current programs and artist projects/opportunities to be able to articulate how North Pole distinguishes itself from peer organizations; ability to maintain knowledge of industry best practices and use events and established relationships for donor engagement.

• Management and supervision of employees: Ability to manage the development staff and contractors, including recognizing strengths of individual team members, providing feedback and assigning appropriate workload and/or program ownership to other staff.

• Board Engagement: develop strong relationships with Board Members and utilize their connections to solicit new donors.  Provide strong leadership for board meetings and official activities, solicit board members. 

• Strategic planning: Strong ability to match pipeline strength, donor interests, and philanthropic priorities in strategic planning and set direction and priorities; ability to communicate how individual initiatives fit into programmatic direction and overall advancement strategy.

• Ability to interact, communicate, and work effectively with individuals, recognizing and respecting each person’s many and varied identities.

• Commitment to promoting and enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.

• Ability to travel.

Preferred Qualifications

• If work experience is in a non-development field, preference will be given to those with relevant experience in the development field.

• Successful close of multiple major gifts ($100k) or gifts of equivalent significance.

• Experience working for an arts organization and familiarity with Progressive Studios

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• 80-90% of time spent using a computer

• Lifting and carrying typical office & event supplies/materials (10-15 lbs)

• Studio and all event venues are ADA accessible

COMMITMENT TO EQUITY:

Our artists, staff, and leadership are committed to organizational policies and practices that are inclusive of historically marginalized groups.  We are committed to ensuring that our leadership reflects a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and identities and that the voices of those that we serve are actively included at all levels of leadership.  We are committed to continuously reflecting on our work and impact while intentionally inviting feedback from those that we work alongside, those we welcome into our events/programming, and those that we serve, to ensure we make the greatest impact possible for and on the artists and community we serve. We encourage people of all lived experience and backgrounds to apply. We want to see you in your wholeness. 

To Apply:

Email the following documents as attachments to carissa@northpolestudio.org:

• Cover Letter outlining 

• personal interest/experience/commitment to working with adult artists with autism and I/DD, 

• Your development experience, and 

• history of successfully securing major gifts ($100k+) or gifts of equivalent significance

• Professional Resume

• Three professional references with contact information

• Writing Samples: up to three examples of messaging that you have written for giving campaigns, donor correspondence, or sponsorship packets/decks (or similar)

Deadline to apply: February 7th, 5pm Pacific