Director of Philanthropy & Engagement at Athenaeum Music & Arts Library

Job Title: Director of Philanthropy & Engagement 

Job Status: Full-time

Location: La Jolla, CA

Salary: $85,000–$95,000

The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library seeks a Director of Philanthropy and Engagement to lead its fundraising efforts, membership program, and communications. This newly created position will collaborate deeply with the Executive Director and manage the Membership and Communications departments to achieve organizational fundraising goals that promote and support the Athenaeum’s mission and programs. The Director of Philanthropy and Engagement will design and implement fundraising strategies to meet budget goals for individual, foundation, corporate, and governmental sources; work from an existing development plan to grow membership and income; and work with internal and external stakeholders on important institutional fundraisers, including an annual benefit celebration.

The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library is a non-profit organization and membership library dedicated to providing music and arts library resources, studio art classes, and year-round exhibitions, concerts, lectures, and other public programs to San Diego communities. Our organizational budget is approximately $2 million and we work across two locations: the historic library in downtown La Jolla, and the Athenaeum Art Center in Logan Heights, inside the Bread & Salt building. This position offers an opportunity to join the organization at an exciting moment of growth under new leadership.

The successful candidate will have a proven track record as a nonprofit leader with experience in individual donor development, special events, communications and outreach, and foundation and corporate fund development. He/she/they will have a passion for the essential role the Athenaeum plays in San Diego’s cultural landscape.

Essential Duties:

Department Leadership and Management

  • Develop, budget, and implement yearly fundraising plan to meet Athenaeum revenue goals 

  • Raise at least $175,000 in contributed income annually 

  • Develop complementary fundraising and marketing plans to grow our culture of philanthropy and ties to diverse community groups across the region 

Individual and Corporate Giving 

  • Help steward a pipeline of individual and major donors, including identifying prospects, cultivating relationships, and making direct solicitations, in partnership with the Executive Director and Board members 

  • Further develop a major gifts program with a focus on identifying and cultivating new prospects 

  • Lead corporate membership pursuits and partner with the Executive Director and Library team to nurture existing and potential corporate relationships 

  • Lead board and benefit committee in the production of the annual benefit celebration including collaboration with and oversight of the event consultant to achieve both fundraising and donor engagement goals 

Membership and Communications 

  • Manage the Communications & Membership Manager and Membership Assistant, with a focus on deepening relationships with members 

  • Oversee communications efforts to ensure all social media channels, eblasts, mailings and website are aligned, consistent, and clear 

  • Develop a strategy to cultivate new memberships from diverse groups and communities in the San Diego region and beyond

Grants and Proposals 

  • Manage relations with grantmaking organizations and contacts 

  • Participate in monthly meetings with consulting grant writer, and support consultant in writing successful grants 

  • Manage timely and appropriate grant reports and other grant-related correspondence 

Financials 

  • Manage day-to-day fundraising operations in collaboration with the Bookkeeper 

  • Work with the Executive Director and Accounting Consultant to provide revenue projections and reports; systematically review and evaluate fundraising effectiveness 

Experience and Qualifications 

  • Five+ years experience with progressive responsibility in a not-for-profit development context 

  • Proven track record of raising funds from foundations, corporations, and individuals 

  • Sophisticated solicitor, able to think strategically and creatively 

  • Exceptional relationship builder and communicator, both interpersonally and in writing 

  • Detail-oriented and organized with a strong ability to successfully multitask 

  • Strong collaborative instincts with a growth mindset 

  • Interest in and aptitude for diversity, equity, and inclusion work 

  • Preferred: experience with the Raiser’s Edge  

  • Preferred: experience with arts and culture institutions 

Director of Philanthropy and Engagement is a full-time exempt, 40 hours per week position and reports to the Executive Director. Office location is in La Jolla. Pay range is $85,000–$95,000, commensurate with experience. 

Benefits include: 

  • 2 weeks vacation per year 

  • Medical stipend $200/month after 3 months of employment  

  • Holidays (two weeks) per calendar year on Athenaeum designated holidays 

  • Flexible work environment 

  • Paid sick leave, 1 hour for every 30 hours worked 

  • 403b program with 5% match opportunity after one year

  • Paid parking space in downtown La Jolla 

  • Family membership to the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library 

  • Free admission to Athenaeum lectures, concerts, art classes, and select events 

Starting date: As soon as possible.

To apply, please submit a cover letter and resume addressed to Christie Mitchell, Executive Director to careers@ljathenaeum.org. 

The Athenaeum is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to treating all applicants and employees fairly based on their abilities, achievements, and experience, without regard to sex, race, age, disability, religion, national origin, color, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification protected by law. 

This job was sourced via the Words of Mouth newsletter.