Job Opportunities

BHS is currently hiring for two positions.

Director of Development

Director of Development

The Brooklyn Historical Society (BHS) seeks a proactive and collaborative Director of Development responsible for every aspect of BHS’s Development Department, with the goal of achieving an annual fundraising target of $2.5 million per year. The Director will be responsible for donor identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. He/she will manage a small development staff and have direct oversight of all fundraising activities. The Director will lead, coordinate, and implement BHS’s efforts to build lasting relationships with significant funding sources, including individual, foundation, corporation, and government. He/she will work in close collaboration with the President, Trustees, and program staff throughout the institution.

The Organization:
Founded in 1863, BHS is a nationally recognized urban history center, comprised of a museum; scholarly research library; and educational center dedicated to preserving and encouraging the study of Brooklyn's extraordinary 400-year history.  The mission of the Brooklyn Historical Society (BHS) is to connect the past to the present and make the vibrant history of Brooklyn tangible, relevant, and meaningful for today’s diverse communities, and for generations to come.  

Responsibilities:
The successful candidate will report directly to BHS’s President and work closely with an active and engaged Board of Trustees to lead all fundraising, public relations and marketing/communications efforts. The Director of Development will be responsible for meeting the income requirements of BHS’s operating budget, and will be responsible for establishing and implementing a comprehensive development plan. The Director of Development also oversees all fundraising events, “Friends” group activities, and an aggressive space rental program.

In addition, The Brooklyn Historical Society is preparing for its 150th Anniversary for which a fundraising campaign will be launched. The Director of Development will play a lead role in developing and implementing the upcoming campaign.
Essential duties include:

• Develop a long-term fundraising plan for the organization, working closely with BHS leadership and program staff;
• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward individual donors for BHS to increase existing support and expand the base of support;
• Identify and cultivate relationships with Foundations, Corporations, and Governments and successfully raise funds from these sources;
• Oversee Development staff of 3, plus government relations consultants, pro-bono marketing consultants and others.
• Oversee BHS’s communications efforts to develop strategies to maximize press coverage,
• Oversee membership program, implementing general strategy for engagement via annual appeals, and e-blast communications, and steward donors solicited through email and social media;
• Manage BHS’s newly formed Circle of Friends donor group, in collaboration with BHS leadership, including its meetings, events, and trips to other cultural sites;
• Plan and implement 2+ major fundraising events annually;
• Write and edit proposals, reports, letters, brochures, and other communications in collaboration with leadership/program staff;
• Set and meet annual income goals in collaboration with BHS President, Trustees, and Director of Finance.

Qualifications:
The ideal candidate will have a proven ability to creatively build and expand a donor constituency and a track record of securing philanthropic support from donors not previously affiliated with the organization. He/or she will possess a successful track record of building and maintaining a prospect portfolio, and will bring significant experience in the identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major gifts. The Director of Development will have excellent  interpersonal communication skills and the demonstrated ability to motivate staff, and support the work of various Trustee Committees.

The Director of Development will have the ability to create and articulate compelling cases for support, and generate excitement for the mission and programs of BHS.

• 5+ years of demonstrated success in Development as a direct fundraiser, with increasing levels of responsibility and comfort soliciting five- and six-figure gifts;
• Demonstrated ability to work across donor funding sources (individual, foundation, corporation, government);
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple direct reports and work with senior management, program staff, and trustees in executing donor strategies at a nonprofit;
• Demonstrated experience creating and implementing a major fundraising campaign;
• Outstanding interpersonal skills, verbal skills, written skills, and judgment – with the ability to navigate sensitive discussions with comfort and confidence;
• Initiative and independence combined with the ability to work as part of a team;
• Knowledge of Brooklyn and New York City funding scene is important;
• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited university in a relevant field;
• Knowledge of American history is strongly preferred;
• Knowledge of Raiser's Edge a plus; and
• Experience working with a museum, library, or other non-profit organization preferred.

Compensation:
Salary: Competitive and based on experience. Salary Requirements should be specified in cover letter. Position includes full health benefits and paid vacation.

How to Apply:
Please send a cover letter, resume and references to: Office of the President, Brooklyn Historical Society, 128 Pierrepont Street, Brooklyn, NY  11201, or to apply@brooklynhistory.org. Subject line of the email should read: Development Director Application [your last name]. Applications will be reviewed immediately.  No phone calls please.

Posted January 19, 2012

Brooklyn Historical Society is

an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.

The Brooklyn Historical Society is dedicated to a policy of non-discrimination in employment on any basis including race, color, age, sex, religion, national origin, the presence of any mental, physical, or sensory disability, sexual orientation, or any other basis prohibited by federal or state law

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