Development Director

Lane Arts Council

Position: Development Director

Salary: $65,000-$75,000 per year

Reports to: Executive Director

Status: 0 (full-time, 40 hours/week, exempt). Occasional evening and weekend work required.

Location: Primarily based at the Lane Arts Council office in Eugene, with travel across Lane County as needed. Mileage reimbursement provided for work-related travel.

Benefits: Health insurance (65% employer-paid medical, 50% dental), 3 weeks paid vacation, 12 paid holidays, sick leave, and Simplified Employee Pension Plan contribution after 3 years.

ABOUT LANE ARTS COUNCIL

Mission: Lane Arts Council cultivates belonging, learning, and investment to engage all of Lane County in the transformative power of the arts. We carry out our mission in the following ways: Arts Education, Arts Experiences, Artist Support, and Arts Sector Advancement. Our Vision: All arts are deeply embedded in and essential to the social, cultural, educational, and economic well-being of greater Lane County.Founded in 1976 as the centralized arts agency serving the Lane County region, Lane Arts Council is a multi-faceted nonprofit arts organization. Annually, Lane Arts Council serves over 13,000 K-12 students through 4,500+ hours of arts learning, 900 artists—including our roster of 60+ teaching artists—dozens of arts venues and arts organizations, and welcomes almost 15,000 residents and visitors to community events. With about $1 million annual budget, grants currently bring in about $480K annually while individual and corporate contributions are $95k/year. Lane Arts Council is progressing on a 2024-2028 strategic plan with four focus areas: capacity building; organizational identity; diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility+; and organizational reach and partnership.

ABOUT YOU

You are a relationship-centered professional who believes effective fundraising is rooted in trust, storytelling, and community connection. You communicate clearly and kindly, listen to understand, and help people see how their support creates meaningful impact. You prioritize thoughtfully when many needs feel urgent or important, and you help others stay aligned around shared goals. You approach fundraising as a collective organizational effort rather than an individual responsibility. You believe in the transformative power of the arts and that equity and inclusion are commitments not only in words, but also with actions, persistence, and accountability.

ABOUT THIS ROLE

This new role is an opportunity to lead and shape the next phase of fundraising strategy at Lane Arts Council. The Development Director will lead and grow a fundraising program that sustains and advances the organization's mission to cultivate belonging, learning, and investment in the arts across Lane County. This role builds on existing back-end systems, donor tracking, and annual campaign implementation to deepen donor relationships and expand diversified revenue streams. Working closely with the Executive Director, staff, and Board of Directors, this leader will balance immediate revenue needs with long-term fundraising infrastructure in preparation for future growth and the organization's upcoming 50th anniversary.

Duties & Responsibilities

Direct Fundraising & Relationship Management

• Manage a portfolio of individual donors and prospects, focusing on cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Maintain and build a healthy donor and sponsor pipeline, identifying opportunities for increased engagement and giving.
• Lead donor engagement efforts involving board members and leadership.
• Strengthen relationships with foundations, corporate partners, and community stakeholders.
• Support grant strategy, writing, and reporting processes; grants are written by a contract grant writer.
• Plan and support cultivation events and donor engagement gatherings.
• Represent Lane Arts Council as an active and visible community ambassador.

Fundraising Strategy & Leadership

• Build upon and implement a fundraising strategy aligned with organizational goals.
• Expand and diversify revenue streams with an emphasis on individual giving, corporate sponsorships, and events.
• Establish fundraising goals, benchmarks, and performance metrics in partnership with the Executive Director and Board.
• Prepare the organization for future campaign opportunities, including anniversary-related fundraising initiatives.
• Collaborate with program staff to align messaging, storytelling, and fundraising strategy.

Development Operations & Systems

• Refine and establish development systems, policies, and workflows.
• Oversee donor stewardship processes including acknowledgments, reporting, and relationship tracking.
• Oversee accurate management and use of donor and constituent information within the CRM/database.
• Develop dashboards and reporting tools to monitor and share progress toward fundraising goals.
• Coordinate with finance staff to ensure accurate gift reconciliation and financial reporting.
• Promote a culture of philanthropy across the organization through education and clear communication.
• Work with a part-time admin. support person who will do data entry and support development operations.

Board & Organizational Partnership

• Partner with the Executive Director and Program Director on organization strategy.
• Partner with the Board of Directors to strengthen fundraising engagement and confidence.
• Collaborate across the organization to align programs, impact stories, and funding opportunities.

Preferred Education & Experience

• Two or more years of nonprofit fundraising experience or equivalent.
• Experience cultivating and stewarding individual donors and sponsors.
• Experience managing donor databases and fundraising systems.
• Ability to analyze data and communicate progress toward goals.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and professional experience.

Desired Skills & Traits

• Strong storytelling and public relations skills, and the ability to engage with a wide range of stakeholders, partners, donors, and cultural communities
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Basic understanding of budgeting and nonprofit finances
• Ability to support a culture of belonging, equity, and inclusion
• Ability to follow a timeline and meet deadlines in a dynamic environment
• Organized and detail-oriented
• Self-starter, with ability to work both independently and in collaboration with others.

How to Apply

Nonprofit Professionals Now is excited to work with Lane Arts Council to fill this key leadership position. Candidates with a strong interest in our work are encouraged to submit their resume and cover letter for full consideration.Application Deadline: Monday, May 11

Application Link: https://tinyurl.com/laneartsDD Equal Employment Opportunity: Lane Arts Council is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, sexual preference, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other classification by law.

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