Development Manager - Full Time

The Santa Barbara Museum of Art is one of the finest museums on the West Coast and is celebrated for the superb quality of its permanent collection. Its mission is to integrate art into the lives of people through internationally recognized exhibitions and special programs, as well as the thoughtful presentation of its permanent collection.

Role

The Development Manager will play an integral role on the development team, managing a portfolio of donors and prospects, helping to provide strategic and annual development planning, and contributing to overall development team goals totaling $4.2M in FY26. This position will grow and develop a pipeline of philanthropic support by articulating SBMA’s goals, mission, and programs to prospective and current donors in a compelling and strategic manner. The Development Manager is responsible for building, managing, and actively cultivating and soliciting a diversified development portfolio of foundations, corporations, and individuals (~$1k-$5k), helping to ensure revenue goals are met for various fundraising areas. The Development Manager is a full-time position that reports directly to the Director of Institutional Advancement (DIA).

Position Description

• Responsible for grant writing and management of grant program
  • Maintain grants calendar to ensure timely submission of letters of inquiry, proposal deadlines, gift acknowledgments, reports, and other stewardship activities
  • Research potential foundation opportunities
  • Maintain up-to-date records of grant applications in the organization’s database
  • Ensure compliance of all funder guidelines in grant submission and reporting
  • Cultivate productive working relationships with SBMA colleagues including Curatorial, Education, and Finance, from the proposal stage through to program implementation, reporting, and renewals. Including identifying areas of need, opportunities for program expansion, and gathering data and metrics necessary for written materials.
• Lead development communications and content management in close collaboration with marketing/communications director to create compelling fundraising materials and ensure consistent voice, style, and messaging. Examples of development content include:
  • Letters and other communications to donors (annual giving/solicitations/thank yous/reports, whether hard copy or electronic)
  • White papers on program, mission, vision and values
  • Written reports and/or presentation decks to Board and staff
  • Event invitation content and event remarks for leadership
  • Newsletter articles, brochures, proposals/funding opportunity decks, etc.
• Oversee the creation of a policy/process manual related to development operations and guiding principles that support an efficient, but thoughtful culture of philanthropy at SBMA
• Manage relationships and create cultivation/solicitation/stewardship strategies for a portfolio of individual donors/prospects at the $1k - $5k level to support annual fundraising goals
• Collaborate with DIA as well as other members of the development team to research, identify, and prioritize potential funding opportunities that support the implementation of the Museum’s fundraising strategy, especially around unrestricted donations and grant funding
• Maintain records in Raisers Edge NXT and other shared systems, focusing on gift opportunities, contact reports, and key supporting documentation
• Contribute to strategy and planning meetings
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent)
• Lead development communications and content management in close collaboration with marketing/communications director to create compelling fundraising materials and ensure consistent voice, style, and messaging. Examples of development content include:
• 3 – 5 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, funder relationship management, grant writing, and/or a related field
• Understanding of philanthropy as it relates to the non-profit organization and broad knowledge of fundamental disciplines of resource development
• Highly articulate with exceptional interpersonal, writing, and editing skills
• Ability to convey a high degree of commitment and passion for the mission of SBMA, ultimately motivating support for its programs
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Display a positive attitude and demonstrate presence, self-confidence, and good listening skills
• Strong project management and problem-solving skills
• Self-driven learner with the ability to prioritize, follow through, meet deadlines, and complete assigned tasks
• Ability to adapt to different work styles and behaviors
• Willingness to work occasional night and weekend events
• Proficiency in Office365, Outlook, video conferencing software, and CRM databases

Structure and Compensation

• The position reports to the Director of Institutional Advancement.
• Schedule: Full Time, regular status, 40 hours per week, some evenings, weekend or holidays may be scheduled.
• Ability to adjust schedule to flex hours to support evening or weekend events. May be asked to escort Museum Travel Tours (travel pay rate applies).
• Compensation: $80,000.00 to $85,000.00 commensurate with experience.
• Full Time Status provides competitive and comprehensive benefits offerings including eligibility for medical, dental, vision, pre-tax savings, long term disability, life insurance plans, and more. Accrued vacation up to 15 days in first two years of service, 64 hours of paid sick leave reissued annually, and 13 paid holidays (14 on Federal election years). 403b eligibility with a Museum match up to 5% of your earnings after a year of service, SB BikeSpot membership, and working in beautiful downtown Santa Barbara.
• Successful background check is required.

Please submit your cover letter, résumé, and SBMA Application with contact information for three professional references.

The Santa Barbara Museum of Art is an Equal Opportunity Employer and committed to diversity. The Santa Barbara Museum of Art is recognized for its comprehensive art collection, diverse exhibits, and a broad array of events and community activities.