Vice President, Fundraising

SUMMARY

Working closely with the Chief Advancement Officer, the VP, Fundraising oversees all individual giving efforts including annual, leadership, major gifts and planned giving responsibilities. The VP, Fundraising manages the directors of development/major gift officers while maintaining a robust portfolio of principal gift prospects. In addition, the VP, Fundraising is responsible for general support of the CAO and President’s portfolios and provides cultivation and stewardship support so that each stays actively engaged with their closest supporters.

As a member of the Advancement leadership team, the VP, Fundraising works closely with the CAO and other Advancement leaders on all aspects of engagement, development, and advancement services, collaborating on all decisions that elevate the ability for successful fundraising.

The Advancement division has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build its infrastructure and grow the philanthropic support for this esteemed institution. With a dynamic President, and a new Chief Advancement Officer, as well as a highly motivated staff of fundraising professionals - the growing advancement efforts at CalArts support a strategic vision rooted in increased access and equity for all students. In addition to increasing endowed scholarship dollars, giving opportunities will fund curriculum innovation as well as campus-wide infrastructure and facility upgrades to ensure sustainable growth and exemplary student experiences.

The successful candidate will be highly adept at understanding the entire donor cycle and be actively involved in advising on all aspects of cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. They will have a depth of experience working with high-level donors contributing to the Los Angeles arts and educational communities and they will be able to attract new prospects to the Institute through their highly effective cultivation skills. They will lead strategy on fundraising initiatives, focusing on growing the donor base and pipeline while ensuring their staff is successful at engaging their own portfolio of prospects and donors in the CalArts community. In addition, VP, Fundraising will collaborate with their Advancement colleagues to build a strong and cohesive team of professionals dedicated to the growth of the Institute through significant philanthropic support.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Manage team of 11 (50% of time on an annual basis)
  • Lead, support and inspire a team of experienced frontline fundraisers, with 7 direct reports: Principal Gifts AVP, Planned GO, Institutional Giving Sr Dir, MGO, Mid-Level GO, Annual Fund Manager, Dev Assistant
  • Coach, strategize and partner with staff to create compelling engagement and giving opportunities for donors at all levels 
  • Oversee portfolio management, including maintaining strict adherence to moves management tracking and metrics
  • Ensure frontline fundraising maintains personal data tracking and CRM efficiency in order to build a robust understanding of their portfolios 
• Principal gifts (25% of time on an annual basis) 
  • Prospect new potential principal donors, work with the Advancement research team to identify and develop strategies for cultivating and engaging new relationships that will help elevate the potential for transformative giving during the upcoming comprehensive campaign 
  • Manage a portfolio of 30 to 40 principal gift prospects/donors 
  • Support concierge service of all trustee donors in alignment with the CAO and office of trustees
  • Empower metrics-based fundraising that increases giving from alumnx and families and build the leadership pipeline over time 
  • Coach towards positive collaboration among fundraising opportunities 
• Campus Collaboration (25% of time on an annual basis) 
  • Liaise with other VPs across Institute divisions focusing on improving collaboration with Finance, Enrollment, Student Services, Provost's office, and the Deans of each school
  • Identify opportunities to promote the Strategic Framework in all fundraising campaigns, ensure prospect conversations and proposals align with the goals and objectives set forth by the president’s office and campus leadership 
  • Support the CAO’s close relationship with the president’s office in all ways and attend strategy meetings regularly

SKILLS/ABILITIES:

• A strategic and creative-minded nonprofit or higher education advancement executive with a track record developing compelling and successful experiences for prospective donors and closing 6- and 7-figure gifts 
• Strong leadership vision. Inspire trust through authenticity and transparency. Ability to build small collaborative groups, run meetings with a diverse body of staff and volunteers, delegate to both direct support and peers, and lead discussions of strategy with campus leadership
• Excellent relationship management and interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with donors, volunteers, and staff; display superior judgment and diplomatic skills; excellent verbal and written communications skills
• Commitment to excellence, self-motivation, and a professional demeanor 
• Strong organizational skills, highly sophisticated in establishing systems and tracking details large and small, critical and simple 
• The ability to handle multiple tasks with organization and accuracy as well as a confident, calm demeanor 
• Commitment to serving diverse constituents. Ability to effectively convey messages to different audiences in a variety of formats 
• Emotional intelligence to interpret and act on emotions in themselves and others 
• A collaborative, team-oriented attitude. Maintain a positive presence on campus and extend a good‐natured grace and enthusiasm in all personal interactions
• Ability to collaborate with a large team and attend to competing needs. Works effectively with coworkers to promote and maintain a positive work environment while supporting strategic partnerships and collaborative relationships across the CalArts campus 
• Grit to maintain composure when things go wrong and a sense of humor to stay sane and keep a positive attitude no matter what happens
• High level of self-motivation to proactively move multiple tasks forward while documenting and sharing progress, and meeting strict deadlines
• Proficiency in Google Suite, internet research, and a strong knowledge of marketing channels as related to event promotion and volunteer engagement 
• Proficiency in utilizing fundraising and special events databases and software

EDUCATION:

• Bachelor level degree required, Masters degree preferred

EXPERIENCE: 

• Expert personnel manager with a track record of successful coaching, role modeling, and holding employees accountable
• Individual major and principal gifts fundraising that has resulted in significant growth and success of an institution or organization (minimum 5 years) 
• Extensive knowledge and expertise in managing all aspects of moves management to ensure a successful prospect and donor giving cycles 
• Experience running a development office independently and overseeing multiple funding streams and a diverse body of campaigns (minimum 5 years) 
• Budget management and experience being an effective steward of funds in the nonprofit and higher education sphere 
• Experience in the arts disciplines is a requirement, higher education preferred

FURTHER INFORMATION:

The Advancement Division works in a hybrid model, spending 1-2 days per week on campus and also can work from CalArts’ DTLA office and from home. Significant time will also be spent in donor visits around Los Angeles and occasionally in other regions (primarily the Bay Area and New York City). . Because we are responsible for engagement experiences and fundraising events, applicants must be available to work additional hours during evenings or weekends, and at peak periods of the year.

This position is available immediately. If you are interested, please follow the link to Interfolio below:

Vice President, Fundraising - ID:139230

Salary

$180,000 - $225,000 a year

California Institute of the Arts shall abide by the requirements of 41 CFR §§ 60-1.4(a), 60-300.5(a) and 60-741.5(a). These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities, and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Moreover, these regulations require that covered prime contractors and subcontractors take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.

CalArts has a multidisciplinary approach to its studies of the arts through six schools: Art, Critical Studies, Dance, Film/Video, Music and Theater. CalArts encourages students to explore and recognize the complexity of the many aspects of the arts. It is supported by a distinguished faculty of practicing artists and provides its Bachelor and Master of Fine Arts students with the hands-on training and exposure necessary for an artist's growth. CalArts was founded in 1961 and opened in 1969 as the first institution of higher learning in the United States specifically for students interested in the pursuit of degrees in all areas of visual and performing arts.