Director of Development - Visual Arts Center of Richmond

Visual Arts Center of Richmond

Director of Development

Reports to: Executive Director

The Opportunity:

The Visual Arts Center of Richmond (VisArts) is a nonprofit community arts center located in the heart of Richmond's Fan District. VisArts' mission is to celebrate and support the creative life of all people, and has helped adults and youth explore their creativity and make art in Richmond since 1963.

Each year, the organization touches the lives of more than 50,000 people through its classes, exhibitions, community programs, camps, workshops and special events. VisArts offers more than 1,600 visual and creative arts classes in clay, wood, fiber, painting, photography, printmaking, glass, metal, drawing, writing, decorative arts and other visual media. VisArts employs the greatest number of visual artists in Virginia, with a network of 250 artists teaching for the organization.

We are currently looking for their next Director of Development.

The Director of Development leads the organization's multi-faceted fundraising strategies, including individual, foundation, government and corporate giving as well as lead fundraising strategies for our annual special events. Reporting to the Executive Director, the Director of Development develops and implements strategies to attain philanthropic support from current and prospective donors to support VisArts' evolving needs. The Director of Development will serve on a leadership team for the organization, acting as an advocate for VisArts within our community and building strong relationships both internally and externally with a variety of key stakeholders. They will be a positive role model for the organization, valuing diversity and collaboration and fostering an organization that is inclusive and equitable.

Job type: Full-time, flexible hours

Location: On-site, Richmond, VA

Compensation Package Includes

• Annual base salary range of $68,250–$98,250
• Health and dental insurance
• Short- and long-term disability and life insurance provided
• 401(k) retirement account with employer match
• Generous paid time off (PTO) policy
• 14 paid holidays per year

Target start date: March 1, 2026

Essential Functions

1. Responsible for achieving contributed revenue goals for all individual and institutional giving. This includes corporate, government and foundation grants in excess of $250,000, event sponsorships in excess of $200,000 and individual and membership giving goals at or in excess of $200,000.
2. Writes and implements an annual development plan detailing overall departmental strategies for all development activities in collaboration with the Executive Director and other relevant staff.
3. Sets departmental fundraising goals and steers the overall direction of VisArts' major events, including Craft + Design and Collectors' Night in collaboration with the Special Events Manager and other staff.
4. Serve as the lead for major fundraising projects related to the recent acquisition of new property that will expand the VisArts campus and overall capacity.
5. Supervises two staff members, providing oversight, direction and support as needed.
6. Works closely with other staff teams to ensure development strategies are centered around VisArts' mission and reflect current activities and needs.
7. Collaborates with marketing staff to ensure consistent communication strategies for development activities.
8. Oversees the Board of Directors' development committee and supports and attends committee meetings for VisArts' major events.
9. Manages relationships with a portfolio of major individual donors, working closely with the Executive Director, board members and committee members to assist in cultivation and stewardship as appropriate.
10. Supports staff grant writing team to ensure all grant applications and reports are submitted on schedule to meet annual revenue goals. Regularly contributes to the grant writing process when needed.
11. Provides oversight to the VisArts membership program, working closely with the Senior Development Manager.
12. Oversees and continuously improves systems and processes for donor identification, outreach, cultivation, stewardship, and gift management. Ensures accurate gift and donor records are kept in Donor Perfect.
13. Conducts prospect research and creates strategies to engage new sources of philanthropic support.
14. Responsible for developing and monitoring the annual operating budgets for all areas under their supervision. Monitors revenue and expenses related to fundraising. Tracks departmental progress month to month and engages staff in monthly goal setting and reporting.
15. Manages and further develops VisArts' corporate membership program and planned giving program.
16. Provides fundraising training and support to board members and staff. Engages the board to identify new resources and fundraising strategies.
17. Special projects, as needed.

Qualifications

The successful candidate will be passionate about the mission of the Visual Art Center and possess the following qualifications:

• A successful track record of fundraising within a nonprofit institution.
• Excellent communication skills and strong public speaking ability.
• Passion and ability for developing and maintaining relationships with diverse stakeholders from many lived experiences including donors, partner organizations and members of the arts community.
• Demonstrated experience managing staff and leading committees or similar groups.
• Understanding of nonprofits and fundraising best practices.
• A willingness to participate actively in local arts events and VisArts' schedule of activities and events during weekdays, evenings and weekends.
• Background in visual arts, experience working in the arts, or an interest or passion for the arts is preferred.
• An undergraduate degree is required; an advanced degree (MA, MBA, MFA etc.) is desirable. Experience may be considered in lieu of degree.

Supervisory Responsibility

2-3 full-time staff members. Occasional volunteers and interns.

Work Environment

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.

Physical Demands

This is largely a sedentary role; however, some movement is required. The ability to walk, drive, lift boxes and stand for long periods of time is required.

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time position. Core days and hours of work are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is expected that this position will often attend multiple evening and weekend events per month, including gallery talks, exhibition openings, preview parties, art auctions and other arts-related events. Other evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand.

Average Hours of Work per week

It is expected that the position will work 40-45 hours per week.

Travel

Occasional.

EEO / AA Statement

Visual Arts of Richmond provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Visual Arts of Richmond complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.