Job Description

Information & Responsibilities:

The Director of Development, Student Experience, is a key member of CalArts’ Advancement team. The Director helps shape fundraising initiatives, based on their relationships with student experience leadership and their knowledge and understanding of the prospects and donors that support CalArts’ students and their co-curricular experiences.

The Director of Development focuses on CalArts’ leadership and major gift-giving opportunities during a pivotal time of growth for the Institute. The advancement division has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build its infrastructure and grow the staff because of restricted private philanthropy. Guided by the vision of a dynamic President and Chief Advancement Officer, as well as a highly motivated staff of fundraising professionals, the growing advancement efforts at CalArts support a strategic framework rooted in increased access and equity for all students. In addition to increasing the endowment, giving opportunities will fund campus-wide infrastructure and facility upgrades to ensure sustainable growth and exemplary student experiences.

Each director is responsible for planning and executing strategic fundraising strategies that successfully result in major and principal gifts from a broad base of individual supporters, including CalArts alumni, current and former parents, and friends of the Institute. The Director is also responsible for meeting fundraising targets and contributing to the overall growth of annual operating support for the Institute, including scholarship support, operating support, special projects funding, and capital needs.

The director must be dedicated to nurturing and growing the donor pipeline at all stages of cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship autonomously and with colleagues, and to upholding the Advancement team’s shared values of collaboration, trust, and transparency. As such, the director will collaborate with stakeholders across the Institute—including CalArts Deans, faculty, and administrative leadership.

This position is partnered with the various departments within the Office of Student Experience, meeting regularly with the vice president, assistant vice president, and directors under the direction of the Executive Director of Development and VP/CAO. The director will have previous experience funding student and/or youth programs, higher education initiatives, and/or mental health and wellness organizations. They will have knowledge of the best practices in youth development and higher education co-curricular experiences and will be interested in growing their experience as it relates to the arts by interacting with and learning from donors interested in supporting the creative development of artists and storytellers.

Requirements

Qualifications and Skills:

• Seasoned frontline fundraiser with demonstrated experience in executing all aspects of a comprehensive development program
• A minimum of five years of progressively sophisticated fundraising experience, preferably in higher education and/or the arts, with a broad knowledge of the principles of fundraising and specifically individual philanthropy
• Demonstrated experience soliciting and closing philanthropic gifts of $50,000 and more
• Ability to travel locally and nationally throughout the year, with approximately 5% of the year requiring national travel
• Must be able to work some nights and weekends to cultivate prospects during fundraising events
• Ability to lead when asked, and follow leadership guidance when requested. Graciously acknowledge and incorporate feedback and learning opportunities from management

All team members must:

• Demonstrate strong organizational, written, and oral communication skills. Think strategically and creatively and perform with expertise in order to support the advancement of CalArts
• Work with high level of self-motivation to proactively move multiple tasks forward while documenting and sharing progress, and meeting strict deadlines
• Have experience and confidence in donor database management and ease in functioning in CRM systems
• Be tech savvy and able to use best practices to improve and reinforce business processes, ensuring effective time management and outcomes-based work performance
• Possess strong computer skills: Google suite, CRM databases, mail merges, presentation software, video integrated meeting systems, and digital event registration products
• Maintain confidentiality with regard to donor relations at all times
• Commit to serving diverse constituents in an environment that embraces inclusiveness, diversity, equity and access
• Collaborate effectively with a large team and attend to competing needs
• Work with coworkers to promote and maintain a positive work environment while supporting strategic partnerships and collaborative relationships across the CalArts campus
• Possess the emotional intelligence to interpret and act on emotions in themselves and others
• Utilize personal skills in dealing with people with diplomacy, tact, maturity
• Demostrate grit by maintaining composure when things go wrong as well as a sense of humor to stay sane and keep a positive attitude no matter what happens

Qualifications

Education and/or Experience:

• Bachelor level degree required, Master’s Degree preferred
• Fundraising background (5+ years), preferably in the arts, higher education, or youth development
• Expertise in portfolio management including donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship
• Experience working collaboratively with colleagues, donors, and volunteers
• Experience and/or interest in contemporary art forms across disciplines

Application Instructions

How to Apply

This position is available immediately. If you are interested, please apply through Interfolio at:

Director of Development, Student Experience - ID:101383

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

California Institute of the Arts shall abide by the requirements of 41 CFR §§ 60-1.4(a), 60-300.5(a) and 60-741.5(a). These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities, and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Moreover, these regulations require that covered prime contractors and subcontractors take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.