Senior Director of Advancement

THE ORGANIZATION

Overview

Mechanics' Institute (MI) (https://www.milibrary.org) is a historic membership library, vibrant arts and cultural center and chess club located in San Francisco’s financial district. Founded in 1854 to serve the educational and vocational needs of out-of-work gold miners, the Institute today serves readers, writers, downtown employees, Bay Area residents, students, film lovers, chess players, and others as a place for community members to learn, connect and engage in intellectual and cultural pursuits and the lively exchange of ideas. With a mission to serve and enhance the lives of the community, the Institute provides free or low-cost education and cultural enrichment classes, events, and other activities while serving more than 3,000 members and the public in its library, chess room and cultural events spaces.

Housed in a historic Beaux-Arts building, the Institute currently has a collection of over 160,000 items, covering all subjects, with special strengths in literature, arts, history, philosophy, business, finance, and hard-to-find periodicals. MI has substantial digital resources, including audiobook, e-books, and a robust music collection. It also provides easy access to online film and genealogical databases and search tools, financial databases and more.

Each year, the Institute presents over fifty literary events covering a broad spectrum of subjects, authors and themes – both fiction and non-fiction - with topics that include American and world history, arts and architecture, biography, science and technology, social trends, economics and culinary arts. MI’s Film Series presents 35 films, featuring classic American, retrospective, and foreign films. Screening events include discussion panels that include prominent film critics, reviewers, and writers, drawing a diverse audience of dedicated film buffs and newcomers to its Friday night salons.

The Institute is also known for housing the oldest continuously operating chess club in the U.S., the Mechanics’ Institute Chess Club (https://www.milibrary.org/chess). An important community resource, the club offers tournaments, classes, social gatherings and other activities for players of all ages and levels. Programs take place on site, at various venues in the community, and in San Francisco public and private schools. Since the pandemic, the Institute has begun identifying and realizing new ways to serve the community as it re-envisions its services and program models.

THE POSITION

The Senior Director of Advancement (SDA) will oversee fundraising, membership, communications and marketing functions and will design and implement an effective strategic fundraising plan with an important focus on building a successful, long-term individual giving program.

The SDA will be responsible for creating membership engagement and retention strategies and programs, developing fundraising opportunities, cultivating relationships with new and existing members and donors, and securing major and planned gifts. They will represent the Institute in public and industry forums and oversee communications, including branding, marketing materials and print and online collateral. The SDA is a member of the MI leadership team and will work collaboratively with the Institute leadership, the board and other volunteers.

Reporting to the Institute’s CEO, the Senior Director will work collaboratively to build a culture of philanthropy within and for the Institute, educating colleagues and volunteers about fundraising best practices, working with colleagues and Institute leadership to identify fundraising priorities and developing strategies to make a compelling case for support. The SDA must have exceptional communication and interpersonal skills. The SDA will manage the Annual Fund and Marketing Manager, the Membership and Development Associate and various contractors.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Build and lead a diversified development program to grow MI’s revenues and donor base working closely with the CEO, staff and volunteers to build MI’s philanthropic capabilities
• Create and implement annual and longer-term plans aligned with the strategic direction of the organization, including both monetary and activity goals
• Assess, build and manage key functional areas of the fundraising program, including individual and institutional giving, donor recognition/engagement, development operations, research, etc., to increase support for specific initiatives, projects or campaigns
• Develop and grow MI’s major and planned giving programs. Work with the CEO and board to identify and engage a robust donor/prospect pipeline to support MI’s fundraising goals
• Develop and maintain effective systems and processes to support development operations, including gift processing, database management, and reporting
• Provide counsel, training and direction to MI staff and volunteers regarding fundraising
• Oversee member engagement and retention activities, ensuring the smooth operation of membership enrollment, renewal and ongoing communications
• Serve as an ambassador of MI in the community to donors, prospects and funders, involving colleagues and the board as appropriate in outreach, cultivation and solicitation activities
• Oversee MI’s marketing efforts. Develop a marketing strategy to support fundraising efforts, including creative oversight of collateral materials, social media content and other communications to promote MI’s mission, programs and services
• Serve as a key member of the executive leadership team, working collaboratively with the CEO and other senior leaders to develop and implement MI’s strategic plan and vision
• Provide leadership, guidance, and mentorship to advancement staff to build their capacity to reach fundraising goals and to support MI’s mission and goals

CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE

Education:

A bachelor’s degree is required. An advanced degree and CFRE designation are a plus.

Experience:

• A minimum of eight to ten years of development experience with proven skills in individual and institutional giving and at least three years in a leadership role
• Experience diversifying revenue streams and strengthening a development program
• Solid experience in individual gift fundraising, with a proven ability to identify, cultivate, solicit and steward donors/prospects and effectively move them through the development cycle leading to major gifts
• Experience in institutional giving, proposal development and development operations
• Demonstrated ability to engage and support volunteers and colleagues with their efforts in fundraising and donor and prospect engagement
• Experience with nonprofit communications and marketing programs and strategies
• Demonstrated success in staff management and mentorship, with a commitment to creating a positive and inclusive work culture that fosters professional development
• Experience with or broad exposure to membership programs highly desired

COMPETENCIES/ATTRIBUTES

The successful candidate will have or be:

• Strong problem solving and strategic planning skills and a capacity to develop and implement clear goals, systems and priorities
• An ability to develop collaborative relationships, both internally and externally, with diverse constituencies
• An entrepreneurial spirit with a high level of initiative, attention to detail and strong organizational skills
• A positive outlook with a high degree of emotional intelligence
• Unquestionable integrity and commitment to professional ethics, and the ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with integrity
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills and the ability to represent and articulate the mission of MI
• Deep understanding of the principles and regulations pertaining to charitable contributions
• Strong financial skills, including the ability to develop budgets and management reports that present a clear financial picture of fundraising activities
• Technology savvy with practical knowledge of fundraising CRMs, Microsoft Office, and communications platforms
• Ability to provide leadership and direction to the advancement team and other departments as needed to ensure alignment with MI’s goals and objectives
• Demonstrated ability to work respectfully and collaboratively with colleagues of all departments, backgrounds and job roles

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

A competitive compensation package,including a comprehensive benefits package,will be offered. To be considered for this position or for additional information, please send a resume and cover letter.