Delaware Art Museum | Director of Advancement

 
Delaware Art Museum 
Director of Advancement 
Wilmington, DE 
 
About Delaware Art Museum 
For over 100 years, the Delaware Art Museum has served as a primary arts and cultural institution in Delaware. It is alive with experiences, discoveries, and activities to connect people with art and with each other.  
Created in 1912 to honor the renowned illustrator and Wilmington native, Howard Pyle, the Museum’s collection has grown to over 13,000 works of art in our building and sculpture garden. Also recognized for British Pre-Raphaelite art, the Museum is home to the most comprehensive Pre-Raphaelite collection on display outside the United Kingdom, and a growing collection of significant contemporary art. 
Drawing on its national leadership among mid-sized regional art museums and leadership position in the statewide arts community, the Delaware Art Museum will dramatically expand its impact to serve more people through a dual lens of art and experience over the next 3 - 5 years. As the Museum works to continually strengthen its organizational capacity and sustainability for the long term, its strategic activity will be built around a commitment to learning, engagement, and its visitors’ experience with art. 
Position Summary 
The Director of Advancement provides vision and strategic leadership for the Museum’s fundraising initiatives in support of advancing DelArt’s mission. The Director will also be responsible for overseeing the launch of a future comprehensive campaign. Working closely with the Executive Director, Board of Trustees, and staff, the Advancement team executes strategies to increase support from individuals, corporations, foundations, and government entities and plays a key role in identifying, cultivating, and soliciting major donors for current and planned gifts. 
 
The Advancement team includes the following positions: Advancement Officer, Grants Manager, Membership Coordinator, Database Manager, and Database Assistant. 
  
The Museum’s Marketing team, under separate supervision, will work closely with the Advancement team to expand, diversify, and deepen constituent engagement and to help convert visitors and event/studio class attendees to members and donors. 
  
In addition, the Director will serve on DelArt’s Leadership team and advise on key institutional decisions across the Museum. 
  
Key Responsibilities 
Development 
Responsible for meeting the goals of the Fund Development Plan, setting high-level strategy and metrics to achieve fundraising success across the institution, through close collaboration with the Executive Director and Trustees. The Plan, now in year three, exceeded its goals in the first two years. Working closely with the Advancement Officer, continue to grow Annual Fund to reach five-year Fund Development target. 
  
In addition to maintaining their own portfolio of donors and prospects, the Director will work with the Executive Director to define and support their portfolio of top donors and prospects. Oversee Advancement Officer, who also maintains a portfolio.  
 
Lead planning for a comprehensive campaign with an early 2026 launch. Collaborate with staff and Trustees to assess and address fundraising needs, including unrestricted Annual Fund gifts, project-specific restricted gifts, legacy gifts, and strategies to move donors into higher giving categories. 
  
Work with the Leadership team on a variety of Museum-wide projects. With the Executive Director, identify and recruit members to serve on the Board of Trustees and volunteer committees to help advance the Fund Development Plan.  
  
With support from the Advancement Officer, manage various functions including three fundraisers per year, Director’s Circle receptions, and cultivation and stewardship events. 
  
Supervise the Grants Manager, assisting with grant strategy, prioritization, guidance for meetings with donors, and feedback on grant narratives. Assess opportunities and needs for further growth in grant income. Support Grants Manger in soliciting corporate sponsorships for a variety of Museum programs and exhibitions. 
 
Collaborate with the Membership Coordinator on membership acquisition and retention strategies, including an annual membership campaign, to cultivate members into donors. 
 
Communications & Marketing 
Collaborate with the Marketing Manager on the creation and execution of communication strategies, materials, and programs to expand, diversify, and deepen constituent engagement and to help convert visitors and event/studio class attendees to members and donors. This includes:  
  
Institutional messaging across all communications using marketing plans and strategies. 
  
Design and execution of online and printed communications for fundraising and membership appeals, events, and the comprehensive campaign. 
 
Craft development communications to cultivate prospects and steward current donors. 
  
Ensure marketing strategy supports the Advancement team’s efforts to grow the membership and donor bases.  
  
Special Skills and Qualifications 

• 6 years or more relevant experience. 
• Bachelor's degree; advanced degree or relevant certifications preferred. 
• Proven track record of success in reaching and exceeding fundraising goals. 
• Demonstrated excellence in project management, organization, delegation, and prioritization skills. 
• Experience recruiting, mentoring, and retaining staff. 
• Excellent written and verbal skills. 
• Personal authenticity and the ability to develop relationships of trust and respect with staff and members of the DelArt community. 
• An interest in the visual and creative arts. 
• Embraces DelArt’s vision and mission. 
• Experience fundraising in Delaware, and a familiarity with the state’s institutional funders, including corporations and foundations. 
• A collegial attitude and sense of humor.  

Compensation 
Compensation for the Director of Advancement includes a competitive base salary commensurate with experience and an excellent package of employee benefits. 
  
To Apply 
The Delaware Art Museum has retained the services of ThinkingAhead Executive Search. Interested applicants should send a resume and statement of interest to Jonathan McIntosh at [email protected]. 
  
Contact Information: 
Jonathan McIntosh  
Partner, ThinkingAhead Executive Search  
T: 615-391-2650 
E: [email protected]