Description

Job Description: Director of Development

Reports to: Board Chair

Status: Full-time exempt

Salary Range: $110,000 - $125,000

About the Organization: The Huntington African American Museum (HAfAmM), was founded in 2022 by a group of community leaders, educators, and activists with deeply established roots in the Town of Huntington, Long Island. Our mission is to provide a forum for those interested in African-American history and culture to explore and celebrate the contributions of African Americans’ lifestyle, culture, art and traditions through education, exhibits and programs with an emphasis on Huntington’s African American history.

HAfAmM operates as a “museum without walls,” presenting events, traveling and pop-up exhibits, and continuing the excavation and archiving of historic materials. We have ambitious goals to raise funds to construct a $50 million new museum building that will be a permanent home for our vision to bring the wider community together around our programs and exhibits.

The Museum, once built, will be New York State’s first full-scale African American history museum.

Key Responsibilities:

Fundraising & Donor Cultivation

• Identify, research, and qualify prospective major donors (individuals, families, and businesses)
• Build and manage a portfolio of 75–100 major gift prospects with capacity to give $10,000+
• Develop tailored cultivation strategies and solicit major gifts in alignment with the museum’s mission and campaign priorities
• Collaborate with Board, staff and volunteers to conduct meetings with major gift prospects
• Stewardship & Relationship Management
• Develop recognition opportunities and personalized engagement for key supporters
• Ensure consistent communication with donors, including progress updates on museum development

Fundraising Development Planning

• Contribute to the creation and implementation of a comprehensive fundraising strategy
• Collaborate with staff and Board Development Committee on capital campaign planning and special fundraising initiatives
• Track and report on fundraising metrics and donor pipeline progress

Community & External Engagement

• Represent HAfAmM at community events, networking gatherings, and donor-focused programs
• Build partnerships with local businesses, civic leaders, and organizations to broaden donor engagement

Administration & Reporting

• Oversee the maintainance of accurate donor records and notes in the CRM/database
• Prepare regular reports on donor activity and campaign progress for leadership and the Board
• Manage acknowledgement processes, ensuring timely and personalized donor communications
• Manage the work of your administrative support team and any consultants

Requirements

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in fundraising, with a track record of securing major gifts ($10,000+)
• Strong relationship-building skills with the ability to engage diverse stakeholders
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Knowledge of donor cultivation cycles and fundraising best practices
• Familiarity with CRM systems and prospect research tools
• Passion for African American history, art, and culture
• Experience in museums or cultural institutions a plus