Job Description

The Associate Director of Patron Programs is responsible for meeting the Whitney Museum’s annual revenue Patron Program targets and operating goals by leading a team responsible for the engagement, cultivation, and stewardship of donors within the Whitney’s Patron Groups (Artist’s Council, Director’s Council, American Fellows, Education Committee, Studio Forum, National Committee), overseeing the Chairman’s Council, and collaborating across the Advancement and Curatorial Teams to support management of five Acquisitions Committees. This role will set strategy and drive revenue across Patron Programs, while playing a critical role in strengthening and expanding the donor pipeline. The Associate Director will sustain Whitney’s high standard of donor cultivation while advancing patrons to increased levels of philanthropic support.  

A senior member of the Advancement team, the Associate Director will manage members of the Individual Giving team and collaborate effectively across Advancement functions. The candidate must be results-driven, successful in closing multi-year gifts, making face-to-face solicitations, and able to work collaboratively with volunteer(s), key Museum leaders, and staff across the institution. We seek a person who is adaptable, extremely organized, a creative thinker, an outstanding writer and communicator, and thrives in a very fast-paced environment. The Associate Director must possess a high-level of emotional intelligence, charisma, energy, and the ability to bring a “can-do” enthusiastic disposition to the role and inspire others to do their best work.  

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a team of four experienced staffers
• Cultivate and maintain a portfolio
• Steward gifts between $25,000 and $50,000  
• Set clear goals and expectations for the Patron Programs team
• In partnership with the Development Operations, identify high-capacity, high-affinity patrons and develop strategies to deepen engagement and advance them within the giving pipeline  
• Oversee the strategic direction and performance of Patron Programs
• Collaborate cross-functionally with colleagues across the Museum (e.g., Curatorial, Education, Programs) to support donor engagement and deliver meaningful, mission-aligned experiences  
• Ensure a high standard of donor stewardship and cultivation across all Patron Programs  
• Identify opportunities to enhance or evolve Patron Programs
• Assist in implementing and/or attending Whitney donor events as needed (some travel required)  
• Oversee Patron Programs calendar  
• Maintain accurate and timely records of all donor interactions
• Utilize prospect research and giving data to inform strategy and portfolio decisions.   
• Monitor and report on personal fundraising activity and progress toward goals

Requirements  
Bachelor’s Degree 

• At least 8-10 years' experience in nonprofit advancement  
• Proven success raising five-figure gifts or greater  
• Strategic planning and budget management experience  
• At least 3 years’ experience in managing a team  
• Comfort managing and stewarding high-net-worth donors    
• Expert written and oral communication skills    
• Experience managing and coaching others toward success    
• Data-driven fundraiser with comfort leveraging Raiser’s Edge or related software    
• Self-starter with the ability to multi-task and prioritize requests    
• Strong organizational skills    
• Commitment to the value of arts in our society   
• Ability to work nights and weekends and travel as needed

Experience and Qualifications

• Exceptional management, leadership, presentation, written, and interpersonal communication skills 
• Ability to work effectively and manage many projects at the same time 
• Knowledge and understanding of the New York funding community; poise to communicate the institution's mission and interests to a broad audience 
• Understanding of cultural fundraising and the NYC donor/philanthropic landscape (a plus) 
• Strong passion for contemporary art and familiarity with the art and cultural world 
• Experience with Raiser's Edge database or similar fundraising software (important) 
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint) 

Compensation & Benefits  

• Fixed compensation of $150,000-160,000 per annum
• Medical, Dental, Vision, 403(B) elections
• Generous PTO benefits
• Commuter benefits - parking and mass transit
• Admission to world-renowned museums across the city and nationally
• Pet insurance and discounted membership for Citibike

If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply. We are dedicated to considering a broad array of candidates. Whether you’re new to arts and culture administration, returning to work after a gap in employment, simply looking to transition, or take the next step in your career path, we will be glad to have you on our radar. Please use your cover letter to tell us about your interest in the arts and culture space and what you hope to bring to this role. 

About the Whitney
The Whitney Museum of American Art, founded in 1930 by the artist and philanthropist Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, houses the foremost collection of American art from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. From her vision arose the Whitney Museum of American Art, which has been championing the most innovative art of the United States for 86 years. The core of the Whitney’s mission is to collect, preserve, interpret, and exhibit American art of our time and serve a wide variety of audiences in celebration of the complexity and diversity of art and culture in the United States. Through this mission and a steadfast commitment to artists themselves, the Whitney has long been a powerful force in support of modern and contemporary art and continues to help define what is innovative and influential in American art today. Its signature exhibition, the Biennial, is the country's leading survey of the most recent developments in American art. 

EEO Statement
The Whitney Museum of American Art is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Museum does not discriminate because of age, sex, religion, race, color, creed, national origin, alienage or citizenship, disability, marital status, pregnancy, partnership status, caregiver status, veteran status, gender (including gender identity), sexual orientation, genetic information, predisposition, or carrier status, arrest or conviction record to the extent required by applicable law, credit history, domestic violence, sexual violence, or stalking victim status, or any other factor prohibited by law.  The Museum hires and promotes individuals solely on the basis of their qualifications for the job to be filled. The Museum encourages all qualified candidates to apply for vacant positions at all levels.

Job Tags

Full time, Work at office, Night shift, Weekend work

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