Director of Foundation and Government Support

We Are Committed to an Inclusive Workplace
At the Philadelphia Museum of Art, we actively seek to employ a diverse group of people who embody our organizational values. We welcome and encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply, especially those from marginalized and underrepresented groups in the museum field, who are inspired by our shared purpose and enjoy working collaboratively with others.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship or immigration status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other protected status. 

How You Will Contribute

The Director of Foundation and Government Support provides sound management and leadership to the Philadelphia Museum of Art's fundraising programs related to foundation and government funding. Reporting to the Director of Development, the Director will collaborate with senior level staff across the museum in developing and executing a long-range strategy to build the museum's profile with the goal of generating increased support from foundations and public sources.

Overseeing a team of professionals, the Director of Foundation and Government Support serves as a part of the Development Department's senior leadership team. The Director plans, organizes, and implements a strategy to maximize awards from local, regional, and national foundations and government sources to support the operations, programs, and exhibitions of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The Director supervises and leads the F&GR team in collaborating with museum curatorial and program leaders, key administrators, and volunteers to gather pertinent proposal content and to develop appropriate cultivation and solicitation strategies. The F&GR program raises between $4-8 million annually, through targeted foundation and government funding.

Specifically, you will:

• As part of long-range strategy and in collaboration with the Director of Development and museum leadership identify prospects, develop action plans and timetable for solicitations, and lead ongoing cultivation and stewardship activities.
• Oversee the foundation and government fundraising programs, including maintaining a personal portfolio of active high level relationships in each; serve as the lead for most high level institutional targets and maintain a rigorous schedule of contacts with representatives in order to inform them about the museum to generate further interest; actively engage in establishing long-term partnerships and strengthening existing relationships within the foundation and public sector, as well as other key constituencies, resulting in funding for the immediate and long-term goals of the museum.
• Oversee the Development department’s management of restricted support fundraising across all constituent groups, including Individuals, Corporate, F&GR, and organizations. Work with the Director of Development and senior leadership to identify and refine fundraising priorities for restricted operating support.
• Coordinate the development of annual fundraising goals for special exhibitions and program areas and collaborate with Development Operations and the Research team on tracking and reporting systems.
• Orchestrate the museum's foundation and public agency solicitation efforts. Assist museum administrative and curatorial leadership and Development colleagues in the preparation of proposals and in implementing solicitation strategies and approaches. Promote solicitation strategies that are tailored to individual programs, exhibits, and initiatives. Identify key team members involved in solicitation and the strategies for solicitation that will enhance the likelihood of success.
• Create and manage a proposal process from concept summary to final document with minimal need for supervision and editing. Ensure that proposals are accurate, timely, and consistent with museum policy and the objectives of their targeted audience.
• Cultivate and maintain productive relationships with foundation executives and program officers and, in the case of family foundations, collaborate on all aspects of relationship management with the Deputy Director of Development, Individual Giving.
• Supervise an effective program of stewardship, recognition, and reporting for corporate and foundation gifts.
• Provide leadership and direction to the F&GR staff: in partnership with HR, develop and motivate staff to ensure a high degree of proficiency, professionalism, and quality performance; supervise the recruitment, management, development, and retention of staff, ensuring the effective utilization of personnel, establishing appropriate levels of accountability, and evaluating performance. Develop a strong sense of teamwork and communication and establish an environment of mentorship and support.
• Prepare reports for Development and museum leadership on the status of foundation and public agency gift prospects and the overall activity of support for the unit; ensure that all external reporting for funding sources is submitted in a timely and accurate fashion.
• Participate actively in museum programs and events to enhance collaborative relationships and to integrate foundation interests into museum programs, exhibits, and other innovative activities; orchestrate the diverse possibilities of institutional support by aligning funding opportunities with activities in a variety of departments within the museum.
• Direct the F&GR moves management program to annually optimize the number of proposals submitted; collaborate with the Research team to advance efforts on the prospect management process.
• Institute innovative approaches to gain support in an increasingly competitive environment for funding on the foundation and public agency landscape.
• Manage the F&GR department’s policies and procedures to ensure effective business operations. Oversee a department budget, consisting primarily of travel, publications, and entertainment.
• Build and develop effective working relationships between the Development department and other departments across the museum; work collaboratively with members of other departments by serving on cross-functional initiatives and teams; support broader organizational efforts through the services and capabilities of the F&GR team.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Your background and experience include:

• Several years of progressive fundraising experience working with foundations and public funding entities.
• Experience working in a fast-paced, results-oriented environment and demonstrated flexibility in meeting shifting demands and priorities.
• Demonstrated outcomes in solicitation of grants and stewardship of grant programs.
• Experience writing complex, multi-faceted grant applications.
• A track record of, or aptitude for, achieving financial goals is essential.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, presentation, and organizational skills, as well as strong writing abilities.
• A high degree of creativity, energy, and initiative is essential.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs and familiarity with Raiser’s Edge and Adobe Acrobat.
• Bachelor’s degree or relevant equivalent experience required; advanced degree is desirable.

Position and Compensation Details

• The minimum salary for this position is $110,000.
• This position is full-time, exempt, working 35 hours per week.
• This position requires occasional evening and weekend availability based on the event schedule
• This position reports to the Director of Development.
• Physical requirements:
• Able to remain stationary for extended periods of time, to utilize computers and other office equipment required of this job, to perform physically administrative duties in a typical interior office environment, gallery, or exhibit space, and to access most public and staff areas of the museum campus
• Able to move items up to 10 pounds
• COVID-19 vaccination required.
• Background check required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

Institutional Requirements

• Upholds the professional standards of the field, always acts in a manner that is consistent with the best interests of the museum, and protects and enhances its reputation and standing within the community of museums.
• Adheres to the museum’s code of ethics and Employee Handbook and avoids any real or perceived conflicts of interest.
• Shows respect for co-workers and visitors and an understanding of and appreciation for the diversity of the museum’s staff, volunteers, and audiences.
• Maintains confidentiality.
• Adheres to all museum protocols, procedures, rules, and policies.

Application Timeline

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We encourage candidates to apply early as the position will close once we have a robust applicant pool or a candidate has been selected.

What We Offer

Our employees are at the center of the museum. As an employee, you will have access to numerous museum perks including, but not limited to:

• Free general admission to the museum for you and your immediate family
• Discounted guest tickets for admission
• Discounts on gift memberships
• Special staff tours and presentations from our curatorial and conservation teams
• Discounts at the museum restaurant, museum cafés, and museum retail and online stores

We offer a comprehensive benefits package for employees* including:

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits
• Fully paid short-term disability insurance, long-term disability insurance, and life insurance
• Health savings or flexible spending account program
• Retirement savings program with museum match
• Paid vacation, personal days, sick days, and holidays
• *Eligibility for certain benefits is based on a variety of factors including the employee’s regular schedule and tenure.