Director of Development - Careers At Sundance Institute
POSITION OVERVIEW
The Director of Development leads the Institute's Development team, responsible for raising $20 million annually from individual, foundation, and government donors. Working closely with key leaders and the Director of Utah Community Outreach and Government Relations, this role will establish a new development strategy for the Institute. The Director will focus on introducing the organization to new donor communities globally and building a robust pipeline to expand the donor base. Acting as a strategic partner to the Chief Revenue Officer (CRO), the Director will mentor the Development team, fostering collaboration, inclusion, and success.
This full-time remote position requires occasional extended hours, including evenings and weekends during key periods of the year. Travel to other Institute locations, events, and meetings will also be required as needed. Preference will be given to applicants within the greater New York City area.
Top priorities include but are not limited to?
• Overseeing all fundraising efforts across Individual Giving, Foundation Giving, and Government Giving, ensuring the team achieves its $25M annual revenue goal.
• Leading, mentoring, and developing the Development team, providing leadership, inspiration, and accountability to ensure strategic alignment and support individual team members in achieving their annual revenue goals.
• Fostering an inclusive and equitable team culture where all employees thrive.
• Streamlining processes, promoting shared understanding of business practices, and fostering collaboration across Advancement areas (Individual Giving, Foundations & Government, Corporate Giving, and Events) with input from the Manager of Advancement Operations.
• Facilitating and ensuring clear communication of Development events, progress, and strategy.
• Collaborating with the Director of Partnerships to develop the Development team's annual fiscal plan.
• Building a pipeline for major gifts of $50,000 and above, implementing strategies to deepen relationships with existing donors and systematically identify and cultivate new prospects.
• Collaborating with Leadership to identify and recruit new board members on a national level.
• With the support of the Assistant Director of Individual Giving and the Manager of Advancement Operations, ensuring the effectiveness of all systems and processes, including data capture, gift acceptance, and processing.
You have the following direct or transferable qualifications and skills:
• 10 years in fundraising or related field, with a proven track record in leading and managing successful fundraising initiatives.
• Demonstrated success in cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding gifts of $100,000 or more.
• Strong leadership abilities, with proven experience recruiting, developing, and managing high-performing teams.
• Expertise in creating and executing strategies that inspire donors across all giving levels.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to articulate a compelling vision that resonates with diverse stakeholders.
• A deep commitment to Sundance Institute's mission and values, and a passion for fostering a culture of collaboration, curiosity, and creativity.
You will be successful in this role if you..
• Achieve Revenue Targets: Achieve or exceed the $25 million annual fundraising goal across Individual, Foundation, and Government Fundraising.
• Contribute to the Organization's 5-year Plan: Drive at least 4% year-over-year growth toward the 20% overall revenue growth target.
• Strategic Donor Development: Identify and secure at least 10 new major gifts of $50,000 or more annually from high-potential donors, while maintaining and growing relationships with existing donors.
• Expand Donor Pipeline: Develop a pipeline of at least 50 qualified donor prospects by the end of each fiscal year.
• Team Retention and Engagement:
• Achieve a high team retention rate annually by fostering an inclusive and supportive work environment.
• Conduct quarterly 1:1 check-ins with all team members to assess individual progress toward goals and provide actionable feedback.
• Demonstrate and promote collaboration by facilitating bi-weekly team meetings focused on shared problem-solving and celebrating successes.
• Contribute positively to team morale, measured through feedback reviews.
• Skill Development: Deliver at least two professional development workshops or training opportunities for the team annually.
• Process and Operational Improvements: Implement and document at least three improvements to Advancement processes annually to streamline gift acceptance, data management, and reporting practices, with measurable increases in efficiency.
• Collaboration and Integration with Partnerships:
• Collaborate with the Director of Partnerships to create and implement an integrated fiscal plan, with quarterly progress reviews to ensure alignment across Advancement leadership.
• Host monthly strategy sessions to evaluate shared responsibilities and opportunities for cross-team efficiencies.
• Cross-Department Collaboration: Facilitate monthly meetings with key stakeholders across departments to align development strategies with organizational goals.
• Communications and Feedback:
• Provide consistent, transparent communication by delivering monthly progress updates to the Chief Revenue Officer and broader leadership team.
• Demonstrate timely, clear, and diplomatic communication by responding to internal and external inquiries within 48 hours.
In addition to an annual salary of $200,000.00 to $230,000.00*, this position is eligible for our comprehensive benefits package, highlights include:
• Health, vision, and dental insurance
• 25 paid Institute holidays plus accrued vacation time
• Paid sick, family, and medical leave
• Employee Wellness initiatives
• 401(k) with automatic 3% employer contribution after one year of employment
• Sundance Film Festival passes and benefits (varies each year)
*Final rate of pay is determined based on the applicant's geographic location, relevant experience and skills, and internal equity among similar positions within our organization. Reference: ECNJOBID-104-239-43-206 in the application
