Manager of Institutional Giving, Government & Foundation Relations

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Art Students League of New York seeks an experienced and entrepreneurial Manager of Institutional Giving to manage and grow the League's portfolio of government, foundation, and corporate funders, with a particular focus on public-sector capital funding in support of the League's 150th Anniversary Capital Campaign. The League is currently in the Leadership Phase of the campaign, with a public launch planned for FY28, and success will depend significantly on developing capital proposals, securing and managing government contracts, and stewarding relationships with elected officials and public agencies.

Reporting to the Director of Development, the Manager of Institutional Giving is responsible for the full cycle of institutional fundraising — from prospecting and proposal writing through stewardship, reporting, and relationship cultivation. A central priority of this role is leading the League's government funding strategy, including capital appropriations from city and state sources, agency-administered grants, and discretionary allocations from elected officials. The role also includes stewardship of the League's scholarship donors, the majority of whom are foundations.

We are looking for an exceptional writer and relationship builder who will be a compelling and passionate ambassador for the Art Students League of New York.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Grants Strategy and Management

• Lead the development of government capital proposals and applications, including those to NYC DCLA, NYC Council, Manhattan Borough President’s office, NYS Council on the Arts, the NYS Senate and Assembly, DASNY, and other public funders.
• Manage the full lifecycle of government grants and contracts, including registration with the NYC Passport/PIP and NYS Grants Gateway systems, contract negotiation, vouchering, and compliance reporting.
• Track legislative and budget calendars relevant to capital and program funding, and align proposal submission timelines with public-funding cycles.
• Manage the full grant cycle for all institutional donors: prospecting, LOI and proposal writing, submission, tracking, reporting, and funder correspondence.
• Maintain an annual grants calendar of deadlines and reporting requirements, shared with relevant colleagues.
• Build and sustain a strong pipeline of prospective funders through ongoing research and qualification.
• Prepare grant budgets in collaboration with Finance and comply with League reporting procedures as determined by the CFO.
• Work with the Programming Department to ensure accurate data and compelling program narratives are incorporated into funder communications.

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Institutional Cultivation, Solicitation, and Stewardship

• Cultivate and steward relationships with elected officials and their staff — including City Council members, the Manhattan Borough President, State Senators, Assembly Members, and their cultural affairs liaisons — in support of capital and program allocations.
• Coordinate site visits, ribbon-cuttings, and public-recognition opportunities for government funders and elected officials, particularly in connection with capital campaign milestones.
• Partner with the Executive & Artistic Director and Director of Development on advocacy engagement, including testimony at City Council and state budget hearings as relevant.
• Steward current institutional relationships, ensuring proper fulfillment of all grant requirements and commitments.
• Research and identify government, foundation, and corporate prospects aligned with the League's mission and priorities.
• Partner with the Director of Development and Executive & Artistic Director to advance high-level engagement strategies with top funding prospects.
• Steward the League's scholarship donor relationships, synthesizing program outcomes into compelling funder reports and communications.
• Represent the Art Students League at funder meetings, cultivation events, and other external engagements as appropriate.
• Develop and maintain prospect profiles and participate in regular portfolio review meetings.
• Work with the Director of Development to develop corporate partnership and co-branding strategies and proposals.
• Collaborate with the Marketing team to develop engaging institutional funder collateral.

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Data, Systems, and Portfolio Management

• Maintain organized records of government grant agreements, contracts, deliverables, and reimbursement documentation, ensuring audit-readiness for public funders.
• Maintain accurate, up-to-date institutional giving records in Blackbaud NXT.
• Utilize research and wealth-screening tools to inform strategy and prospect development.
• Collaborate with the Development team to build out prospecting functions in Blackbaud NXT and contribute to portfolio review meetings.
• Coordinate with Development, Programming, and Finance to implement best practices around scholarship stewardship, named scholarship establishment, and reporting processes.
• Attend all Development department meetings and other internal staff meetings as needed.

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QUALIFICATIONS

Experience

• 3–5 years of experience in institutional giving or grants management, with demonstrated experience securing and managing government grants and/or capital funding.
• Direct experience with New York City and/or New York State arts and capital funding — including DCLA, NYSCA, NYC Council and Borough President discretionary funding, and/or DASNY capital appropriations — strongly preferred.
• Experience supporting or working on a capital campaign strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with government contracting requirements such as MWBE compliance, prevailing wage, and capital project documentation a plus.

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Skills and Competencies

• Strong knowledge of and connections within the government funding ecosystem (city, state, and federal arts funding), as well as the foundation and corporate giving landscape.
• Comfort navigating public-sector processes — including RFPs, agency portals, contract registration, and reimbursement-based funding models.
• Exceptional written communication skills; ability to translate complex programs and institutional priorities into compelling proposals and reports.
• Excellent relationship management skills across diverse constituencies, including elected officials and their staff, government agency program officers, foundation officers, board members, and artists.
• Proficiency with Blackbaud NXT or a similar CRM; comfort with Excel and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Familiarity with, or willingness to learn, AI tools for fundraising research and communications.
• Strong organizational and project management skills; ability to manage multiple deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to tactfully and diplomatically handle sensitive and confidential information.
• Enthusiasm for the arts and a genuine connection to the mission of the Art Students League of New York.

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Education

• B.A. required; a degree in creative writing, journalism, communications, arts administration, or a related field is a plus.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The salary for this position is $62,000 - $67,000. In addition, this position is eligible for the League's full range of benefits, including health insurance and 401(k) plans, as well as other fringe benefits offered through the Art Students League of New York.

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English