Director of Development
Bechtler Museum of Modern Art

ORGANIZATION:

The Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, a gem in the Southern art landscape and in the heart of Uptown Charlotte, is devoted to European and American modern art and its legacies. The cornerstone of its holdings are works collected by the Zürich-based Bechtler family and gifted to the museum by Andreas Bechtler and his family, who have long called Charlotte home. Represented are some of the most influential figures of 20th century modernism, including Alberto Giacometti, Paul Klee, Pablo Picasso and Barbara Hepworth. Now in its second decade, the museum is focused on the global scope of modernism, with changing exhibitions that feature both well-known and underrepresented modernist artists as well as living artists. The museum building, designed by Swiss architect Mario Botta, features Niki de Saint Phalle’s iconic Le Grand Oiseau de Feu sur l’Arche (The Firebird) on its entrance plaza. The Bechtler serves as a hub for live music, artist talks, cocktail hours for young creatives, and family events.

For more information, please visit www.Bechtler.org.

REPORTS/RELATIONSHIPS:

This position reports directly to­­­­ the CEO and will build and lead a team of two.

BASIC FUNCTIONS:

The Director of Development will create and execute the organization’s comprehensive fundraising strategy in alignment with the organization’s strategic plan, including overseeing all aspects of donor engagement, fundraising events, grant writing, major and planned giving, membership, and stewardship. The ideal candidate is a dynamic, results-driven leader with a proven track record of securing annual and major gifts and building lasting relationships with donors, foundations, and corporate partners.

Specific duties and key responsibilities will include, but not necessarily be limited to:

• Strategic leadership: develop and implement a multi-year data-driven fundraising plan aligned with the museum’s strategic goals; set annual fundraising targets and create strategies to meet or exceed these goals; collaborate with the Executive Director and Board of Directors to identify and pursue new funding opportunities; participate in institutional planning and budgeting processes and provide regular updates to the Executive Director and Board on fundraising progress and challenges.
• Major Gifts and Individual Giving: manage a portfolio of 150 donors and prospects; develop and execute strategies for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding individual donors ($1,000+); develop and oversee a robust annual fund, focusing on increasing unrestricted giving; create and implement donor recognition and stewardship plans; develop plans for endowment growth and implement a planned giving program to secure long-term support for the museum.
• Institutional Giving: direct corporate sponsorship, foundation, and government grant programs; oversee proposal development and grant management processes; cultivate relationships with corporate partners and develop tailored sponsorship packages; ensure timely submission of grant reports and maintain positive relationships with funders.
• Board engagement: work closely with the Board of Directors to support their fundraising efforts, including fundraising training and support to board members; staff the Development Committee of the Board.
• Special Events: oversee planning and execution of fundraising events, including the annual gala; develop new event concepts to engage donors and attract new supporters, and ensure events are aligned with the museum’s brand and mission; maximize revenue and minimize expenses for all fundraising events.
• Membership program: develop strategies to grow and retain the museum’s membership base; create engaging member events and benefits to increase loyalty; implement a patron engagement strategy to cultivate members into donors; analyze membership data to inform decision-making and improve program effectiveness.
• Team management: lead and mentor the development team and foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and excellence within the department; conduct regular performance evaluations and provide professional development opportunities; manage department budget and resources effectively.
• Systems and operations: ensure effective use of the museum’s CRM system for donor management and reporting; establish and maintain policies and procedures for gift processing, acknowledgment, and stewardship; implement best practices in data management and analysis to inform fundraising strategies and stay current with fundraising trends and technologies.
• Marketing and communications: collaborate with the marketing team to develop compelling fundraising materials and ensure consistent messaging across all donor communications; contribute to the museum’s overall communications strategy to support fundraising goals.
• Community engagement: represent the museum at community events and with key stakeholders; build partnerships with local businesses, cultural organizations, and community groups; engage in local and national professional networks to enhance the museum’s reputation.
  
  

REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, business administration, or arts administration; MBA, MPA, or MA in Arts Administration preferred.
• Passionate about modern and contemporary art and the mission of the Bechtler Museum; highly motivated self-starter with a strong work ethic and the highest level of personal and professional integrity.
• Seven to ten years of progressive fundraising experience with at least three years in a leadership role; experience managing and mentoring development staff; excellent organizational and time management skills and able to manage multiple projects simultaneously.  
• Proven track record of securing annual, major, and planned gifts and managing successful fundraising campaigns; CRFE certification preferred; adaptable and resilient in the face of challenges; a creative problem solver.
• Strong knowledge of best practices in nonprofit development and fundraising ethics; museum or arts organization fundraising experience preferred.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling proposals and reports; diplomatic and able to work effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Demonstrated success in building and maintaining relationships with high net worth individuals, corporate executives, and foundation leaders; experience with capital campaigns, endowments, and planned giving programs; knowledge of tax laws affecting charitable giving.
• Proficiency with fundraising databases and CRM systems (e.g., Humanitru); strong analytical skills and experience using data to drive decision-making; strategic thinker with the ability to set and meet ambitious goals.  
• Grant writing, event planning, and public speaking experience.
• Familiarity with the greater Charlotte philanthropic community a plus.
  
  

COMPENSATION:

Compensation will be commensurate with experience including a competitive base salary, bonus opportunity, and competitive benefits package.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Jeremy Overaker, Consultant
[email protected]
704-377.0362