Director of Development & Membership

The Position

MCA Denver seeks a dynamic, relationship-driven executive to serve as the next Director of Development and Membership. This individual must excel at building a holistic fund-and friend-raising strategy to accomplish the institution’s goals; leading and mentoring a motivated team; implementing efficient and effective operational processes and procedures based on industry best practices; and partnering closely with senior leadership to support the Mark G. Falcone Director’s vision. Strong candidates will demonstrate a passion for the arts and for the mission of MCA Denver. Candidates must be self-aware and emotionally intelligent, able to build and steward relationships with the donor community of Denver as well as structure a membership program that will serve as a pipeline into higher levels of support.

The Director of Development and Membership serves as a staff member at will of the Museum of Contemporary Art. In that capacity, the Director of Development and Membership is responsible for leading and directing the Museum’s fundraising and membership activities and strategies. The Director of Development and Membership is a member of the MCA’s Senior Leadership team and serves as an ambassador of the Museum, representing its mission and values to existing and prospective donors.

This is a full-time position with benefits. Our headquarters, and this position, are based in downtown Denver.

About You

You have deep expertise in cultivation and relationship building.
- The Director of Development and Membership will be a results-driven and experienced leader in the field of development with a measurable track record of success in securing 5 and 6-figure gifts. This leader will be energized by the prospect of leading the development department and devising and implementing processes and best practices. It is paramount for this candidate to have a broad and deep knowledge of development with a proven track record of securing significant gifts and evidence of exceptional cultivation and stewardship. This leader will grow and enhance the organization’s pipeline through audience-building and membership, to support donor prospecting, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship and relationship management. Through strong written, oral and presentation skills, this leader will be a natural partner to MCA Denver’s internal and external communities and constituencies. A tactical leader, the successful candidate will have a strong data and analysis orientation and a proven ability to use metrics to drive development decisions and achieve strategic objectives. The Director of Development and Membership will oversee the maintenance of donor management tools, employ online fundraising tools, and identify new prospects, trends, and tactics to meet fundraising objectives.
You are a strategic and influential leader.
- With a proven record of converting strategy into effective execution, the Director of Development and Membership will possess the ability to set priorities decisively, delegate responsibilities, assure accountability, and allocate resources to ensure results. This leader will be a detail-oriented, analytical individual who functions well and follows through in a complex environment. This individual will partner with the Mark G. Falcone Director and act as a professional advisor to the Board of Directors on all aspects of development, special events, and in meeting their annual fundraising obligations. The Director of Development and Membership will exhibit intellectual curiosity and creativity, including the ability to listen to and learn from multiple voices, particularly when it applies to MCA Denver’s development goals. They will be driven by a mission of strengthening the capacity and success of the development and membership team through effective delegation and shared responsibility.
You desire to be an action-oriented partner to the Mark G. Falcone Director.
- The Director of Development and Membership will work closely with the Mark G. Falcone Director to advance strategic partnerships and 7-figure leadership gifts. A task-driven leader, this individual will support the Director in creating and executing the organization’s strategy, including assessing strategic initiatives to be in line with the organization’s standards and objectives. This leader will develop a synergy with the Director, helping her to think through decisions; the Director of Development and Membership will call upon the power of the development team to support and staff all efforts.
You have a passion for the mission.
- Successful candidates for this role will demonstrate a passion for and curiosity about the visual arts and a commitment to advancing culture as crucial to the health and vibrancy of civic life. This Director will enthusiastically and compellingly communicate the story of MCA Denver to diverse audiences encompassing young professionals, families, donors and collectors, tourists and locals, new arrivals to Denver and long-time residents, and the full scope of the generous Denver philanthropic community. They will structure and leverage the many paths to engagement that MCA Denver offers, to build and steward support for the institution. As a prominent advocate, they will share the unique case for MCA Denver as an irreplaceable member of the Denver cultural community and a key contributor to the city’s world-class status.

A Day in the Life

Strategic Planning

Works closely with the Mark G. Falcone Director and the Board of Trustees to plan gift strategies.
Plans and leads the Museum’s annual giving strategy and all other development-related initiatives.
Conceives and executes all multi-year capital campaigns.
Collaborate closely with the Chief Operating Officer (COO) to develop and implement comprehensive long-term financial and revenue planning strategies.
Partner with the COO to identify and pursue new revenue streams, ensuring alignment with the museum’s overall financial goals and sustainability.

Fundraising

Works closely with the development and membership team to support a culture of philanthropy at the Museum.
Supervises all phases of planning and execution of fundraising activities and special events to ensure financial and strategic goals are met.
Personally solicits support from a portfolio of major donors within Colorado and nationally, utilizing individualized cultivation and solicitation strategies.
Plans and executes all extraordinary fundraising activities including capital campaign and planned giving opportunities.
Oversees the fundraising database and gift recognition programs.
Oversees and edits publications that support fund raising activities, such as the Annual Report and monthly newsletter.
Supervises the Grant Writer and oversees the grants program and calendar, including all correspondence, proposals, and reports to granting agencies.
Creates and supports moves management plan for the Mark G. Falcone Director’s prospect list, providing strategic counsel for procurement of major gifts to the Museum, and additional related support, follow up, and stewardship activities.

Membership

Directs and supervises the strategic plan for the Museum’s membership program and supports the Membership and Community Partnerships Manager’s mandate to drive and support the growth of the Museum’s membership programs.
Identifies, cultivates, and stewards members to become major donors to the Museum.
Supervises and ensures the successful completion of membership events including virtual and in-person events.

Fiscal Responsibilities

Works with the Executive Director and COO to analyze financial data, forecast future revenue, and develop actionable plans to achieve revenue targets.
Develops, implements, and manages the Development and Membership department operating budget and allocation of resources.
Creates and presents reports for Development and Membership that provide specific detailed information requested by the Executive Director and the Board.

Team Leadership

Recruits, hires, trains, mentors, and evaluates members of the Development and Membership team including Development Officer, Grant Writer, and a Database Manager.

Executive Team

Present fundraising goals, strategy, and status updates to the Museum’s Board of Trustees.
Serves as a staff liaison to the Board of Trustee’s Development and Membership Committee.
Leads the Museum’s Board Development and Development Committee meetings, preparing timely, accurate, and relevant reports, proposals, presentations, and other fundraising materials for consideration by the Committee.
Serves as a member of the Senior Management Team and contributes to strategic planning and organizational development of the Museum.

Collaboration

Steward existing relationships and cultivate robust and diverse prospect lists.
Acts as ambassador for the Museum, making public appearances and speaking engagements.
Creates content and collaborates with the Communications, Partnerships and Digital Initiatives Team on the design of collateral materials as it relates to development and membership initiatives and events.
Serves on the Museum’s Senior Leadership team.
Leads and manages the Development and Membership Team.

Schedule Availability: Mostly days, with some weekend and evening availability to support fundraising and cultivation events.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a staff member to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made upon request to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Ability to speak, understand, and communicate in English effectively, in person and in writing. Ability to hear adequately in person and by phone, in personal and group settings.
Ability to work with, and process information from, a variety of individuals and media (e.g. computers, projected images, printed materials), and sitting and/or standing up to 8 hours per day.
Mobility necessary to access various offices and a wide variety of meeting and museum settings. Mobility necessary to perform a variety of tasks that involve standing, walking, sitting, stooping, kneeling, bending and twisting, occasionally climbing stairs or using an elevator, possibly reaching chest high and overhead for materials.
Ability to reach for, move and/or lift up to 25 pounds and the use of hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls.

About Us

The Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA Denver) is a nonprofit organization providing an innovative forum for contemporary art that inspires and challenges, creating understanding and dialog about the art of our time. MCA Denver is paving a new path for a 21st century museum that is Both/And: We are both advancing the field of contemporary art and providing a platform for creative expression, in the broadest sense of the term. We present both world-class exhibitions and quirky events, serious lectures and epic parties. We are both sophisticated and unpretentious. We welcome all audiences, celebrate all voices, and share all stories to provide one-of-a-kind experiences for our community.

Our Core Values

We are:

Adventurous – We are risk-takers. We are creative, open, curious, and sometimes weird.

Excellent – We strive to be the best in our field, we have high expectations, we believe in being resilient, creative problem-solvers, and professionals.

Human Centric – We are collaborative. We strive for emotional intelligence, and we value relationships.

Inclusive – We are welcoming to all audiences, voices, and stories. We believe in being authentic and inclusive. We actively seek and engage with diverse perspectives.

MCA Denver is committed in policy, principle, and practice to maintaining an environment that prohibits discriminatory behavior and provides equal opportunity for all persons. MCA Denver affirms its commitment to provide a welcoming and respectful work and educational environment, in which all individuals within the museum community may benefit from each other’s experiences and foster mutual respect and appreciation of divergent views. All employment decisions at MCA Denver are based on business needs, job requirements and individual applicant qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, or belief, ancestry, age, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), family or parental status, or any other status protected by law. MCA Denver will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.

Our History

MCA Denver was founded in 1996 by philanthropist Sue Cannon and a group of committed volunteers and artists who responded to the community’s need for a contemporary art museum in Denver. In 2007, we opened our new, 27,000-square foot, environmentally sustainable facility in the Riverfront neighborhood of LoDo Denver. Our building has five galleries on two floors as well as dedicated education spaces, a gift shop, an innovative art lending library, and a rooftop bar and café. In 2021, MCA Denver opened a satellite location at the Holiday Theater in Denver’s Northside. This 380-seat auditorium is the site of some of the museum’s programming and events.

Visit us at https://mcadenver.org to learn more.

Application Process

This is an exempt, salary position. The salary range is $140,000 to $160,000 commensurate with experience and includes our standard benefits package, including a medical plan, dental plan, basic term life insurance, short term disability, 403b retirement, holiday pay and generous paid time off.
Please submit your interest via our applicant portal here.
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, but priority consideration will be given to those received by June 10, 2024.

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