Director of Development and Communications

Title: Director of Development & Communications

Reports to: Executive Director

Classification: Exempt, Full Time (40 hours/week)

Salary Range: $95K-$115K DOE

About the Museum of Northwest Art (MoNA)

Mission: The Museum of Northwest Art collects, preserves, interprets, and exhibits art created in the Pacific Northwest, supports artists, and strives to integrate art into the lives of all people.

Founded in 1981, the Museum of Northwest Art (MoNA) celebrates and uplifts the rich artistic traditions of the Pacific Northwest. With a collection of 2,500+ works and a robust schedule of contemporary art exhibitions, MoNA is a cultural anchor in the region, offering free admission seven days a week and welcoming diverse audiences year-round.

As a member of our dedicated team, you will work collaboratively to ensure art is accessible, meaningful, and connected to the lived experiences of our diverse community. Learn more at monamuseum.org/about-mona.

Position Summary

MoNA seeks a strategic, community-oriented, and creative Director of Development & Communications to lead the museum’s fundraising and communications efforts during a period of growth and renewed community engagement.

As a key member of MoNA’s leadership team, the Director shapes the museum’s philanthropic strategy, guides its public voice, and strengthens its culture of belonging and stewardship. This role manages a small but growing team of up to two staff members plus contracted support, and builds authentic relationships with donors, partners, and community members.

This position is ideal for a mid-senior development professional who values relationship-centered fundraising, authentic community engagement, and the opportunity to shape institutional culture that includes intentional, DEIA-driven practices.

The Opportunity

This is the perfect role for a development professional seeking:

• • Significant strategic and creative influence
  • A leadership role in a mission-driven arts institution
  • A chance to strengthen donor and community connections in the Pacific Northwest
  • Autonomy to design and implement new fundraising and communications strategies
  • The satisfaction of visibly growing philanthropic support for an accessible regional museum

You will guide MoNA’s philanthropic future while helping advance our commitments to equity, inclusion, and community-centered engagement.

Key Areas of Responsibility

Fundraising Leadership

Oversee and grow:

• • Annual Fund, Major Gift, and Planned Giving strategies
  • Museum Membership Program, including Collectors Club
  • MoNA Art Auction, our largest annual fundraiser
  • Direct appeals and peer-to-peer fundraising
  • Foundation, corporate, and government grants

Development Strategy

• • Develop and execute a comprehensive Development & Communications Plan
  • Lead donor cultivation and stewardship, guided through proven moves management strategies
  • Use data analysis for forecasting, segmentation, and evaluation
  • Partner with the Executive Director to guide and support Board engagement with donors and stakeholders
  • Manage grant strategy, ensuring timely submission of 20+ proposals and reports annually

Team & Contractor Management

Supervise:

• • Membership & Development Coordinator
  • Marketing Coordinator (remote)
  • Event Coordinator (onsite; to be hired)
  • Contract Grant Writer

Events & Community Engagement

• • Lead planning of MoNA’s Art Auction and quarterly donor/member events
  • Represent MoNA at community events, openings, and partner gatherings
  • Ensure events embody MoNA’s DEIA values and community-first approach

Marketing & Communications

• • Oversee public-facing communications and brand consistency
  • Guide content creation for newsletters, email campaigns, social media, and web
  • Support storytelling that highlights diverse artistic perspectives and voices
  • Lead public relations and audience engagement strategy

Board & Committee Work

• • Serve as staff lead for the Development and Auction Committees
  • Oversee preparation of reports, dashboards, agendas, and committee materials

Institutional Responsibilities

• • Maintain compliance with fundraising regulations and ethical best practices
  • Uphold MoNA’s brand values: education, civic-mindedness, and accessibility
  • Support a culture of learning, accountability, and community connection

Required Qualifications

• • Bachelor’s degree
  • At least 5 years of progressively responsible fundraising experience
  • Proven success securing gifts of $25,000+
  • Track record of growing multiple fundraising streams
  • Strong project and time management skills
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Experience with grant writing and reporting
  • 5+ years of CRM database experience (Salesforce, Neon, Blackbaud, or similar platform)
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office
  • Commitment to MoNA’s DEIA framework
  • COVID-19 vaccination, valid driver’s license, background check clearance

Preferred Qualifications

• • Master’s degree or higher
  • Experience securing gifts of $100,000+
  • Experience with state or federal grant applications (e.g., NCLI, ArtsWA)
  • CFRE certification
  • Active involvement with AFP Advancement NW or PSGA
  • Engagement in the Seattle-area philanthropic community
  • Experience with G Suite
  • Experience managing or fundraising for a capital campaign of $500K+

Working Conditions

• • Approximately 75% office-based work (computer, desk, meetings)
  • Approximately 25% event-based work (standing, walking, bending, lifting)
  • Some evening and weekend hours required
  • Some regional travel required

MoNA Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility

MoNA is committed to being a welcoming place where all members of our community experience belonging, and the ideal candidate for this position will share MoNA’s values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. We recognize that building an equitable, inclusive, and accessible museum requires ongoing, intentional action, and not simply a written statement. We believe that art can help illuminate the complexity of the human condition and build deeper understanding across communities.

As an institution, we strive to:

• • Reflect the diversity of the Northwest across staff, trustees, volunteers, artists, partners, and audiences
  • Ensure full inclusion, representation, and empowerment of people from historically disenfranchised communities
  • Remove systemic barriers that limit access to art, cultural participation, or institutional power
  • Foster courageous, respectful dialogue across differences in perspective, identity, and lived experience
  • Build cultural competency throughout our staff and leadership
  • Hold ourselves accountable through transparent, measurable progress

How to Apply

Please send a cover letter and resume with the subject line Director of Development & Communications Application.

No phone calls, please.

The position is open until filled.

Benefits:

• • $300/month health & wellness stipend
  • 11 paid holidays
  • PTO accrued at 20 days/year (vacation, sick, personal) in the first year of employment
  • Hybrid work option (up to 2 remote days/week)
  • A culture committed to collaboration, learning, and inclusive practices

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