Vice President of Institutional Advancement

Powerhouse Arts•New York, NY

6h•Onsite

About The Position

Powerhouse Arts (PHA) is a not-for-profit organization committed to creative expression, located in a purpose-built facility in Brooklyn. PHA brings together art and fabrication professionals and educators to co-create and share artistic practices. The organization offers fabrication programs in ceramics, print, and public art, alongside membership studios and spaces for education, events, and public engagement. The Vice President of Institutional Advancement will be responsible for devising, managing, and administering a multi-channel development strategy to support PHA’s annual operating needs and future capital plans. This executive role, reporting to the President, requires broad strategic vision and strong leadership to ensure PHA's long-term financial stability. The ideal candidate will have a strong track record in strategic fundraising for non-profits in the arts, operating at an executive level, and supporting diverse stakeholders. A key aspect of this role is creating and driving short-term and long-term strategic development plans in partnership with the President, Senior Management Team, and the PHA board. The successful candidate should possess extensive connections to other arts organizations, individual donors, corporate sponsors, foundations, and government agencies.

Requirements

15+ years of experience in non-profit development, with successive growth in leadership roles over that period
Record of accomplishment in having successfully raised funding for other non-profits (USD 100 million+ over the course of career) through the cultivation and solicitation of individuals, corporate sponsors, foundations, and agencies
Genuine interest in contemporary fine art and PHA’s mission
Awareness of fundraising strategies, principles, and opportunities in art and cultural non-profits
Extensive knowledge of the shifting landscape of fundraising for art and cultural non-profits
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Eﬀective leader, with solid experience in managing and motivating executives (i.e., peers) and team members
Highly well-organized and able to plan strategically, set priorities, and focus on details while not losing sight of the big picture
A commitment to creativity and problem-solving, with the flexibility to welcome change and challenges inherent in a dynamic environment
Personable and relishes taking an active, public role in the cultivation of donors as a PHA front-facing executive; low ego but positive energy

Responsibilities

Develop and execute a comprehensive, strategic fundraising plan to support PHA’s annual operating and capital needs, both immediate and long-term
Execute a comprehensive fundraising plan, once such a plan is approved by PHA’s Senior Management Team (with input from PHA’s Board), translating strategy into fundable priorities
Lead and direct the implementation of PHA’s fundraising eﬀorts to build relationships with individual donors, corporate sponsors, foundations, and government agencies
Serve on PHA’s Senior Management team to set and execute mission-based goals
Collaborate with internal stakeholders, including Shop Directors (across fabrication and membership), Curatorial, Learning & Engagement, and Marketing, to understand the full spectrum of PHA’s programmatic goals and initiatives, and help to set strategy for specific program-related fundraising efforts
Champion thoughtful change management to ensure that development strategies are devised and implemented with alignment to PHA’s mission
Oversee, manage, and mentor a three-person Development team, and assess future hiring needs
Help to define clear fundraising goals by setting specific fundraising KPIs for the Development team, and work to ensure that such goals are achieved
Devise an action plan with specific targets for the President and other members of the Senior Management team, providing strategic and consistent support to have all parties act as Development ambassadors, including facilitating introductions and coordinating meetings with prospective supporters, preparing briefing materials, and sharing follow-up strategies
Offer guidance on how best to approach, engage, and manage prospective and current supporters, including the refinement of fundraising and marketing materials
Create a systematic method of donor moves management and oversee the Development team in moving potential funders up the patron ladder
Lead the process of articulating major gift goals, building relationships with new and longstanding donors to solicit major gifts
Lead the process of identifying corporate sponsors for innovative sponsorship opportunities and cultivating relationships with new sponsors
Lead the process of identifying foundations and agencies for strategic partnership opportunities, providing oversight over the building of relationships with such funders
Identify and implement innovative opportunities for fundraising, including, without limitation, Donor-Advised Funds and non-cash assets (including crypto)
Supervise the development of donor cultivation and sponsorship opportunities (including, without limitation, for the Annual Celebration Dinner and other programmatic opportunities)
Oversee the research, writing, and preparation of all foundation, corporate, and government grant proposals/sponsorships, and oversee grant administration and reporting
Oversee the formation and maintenance of necessary development reports and records
Prepare and manage the development team's annual budget
Oversee the planning and execution of a future capital campaign to roll out in FY 2031 or 2032
Motivate and strengthen PHA’s Board in its development role and actively partner with the Board as they spread awareness about PHA through their networks
Serve as the staff liaison to the Board on development topics, including implementation of cultivation and solicitation strategies
Help to identify, cultivate, recruit, and onboard new Board members