The Fundraising & Development Manager at the Art Barn School of Art is a leadership role responsible for driving all fundraising efforts to support the organization's mission of fostering creativity and providing quality art education to the community. The Manager will focus on developing and executing a comprehensive fundraising strategy, cultivating partnerships, and building and maintaining strong donor relationships to secure the financial resources necessary for the sustainability and growth of Art Barn's programs and initiatives. Additionally, the Manager will contribute to Art Barn's marketing and brand-building efforts by collaborating on brand strategy, ensuring consistent messaging, and supporting the development of promotional materials that enhance donor engagement and organizational visibility.

Key Responsibilities:

Fundraising & Development(90%)

● Fundraising Strategy & Execution: Design and implement a multi-channel fundraising

strategy that includes major gifts, annual giving, corporate sponsorships, foundation

grants, and special events to achieve revenue targets and support Art Barn’s mission and

strategic priorities.

● Donor Cultivation & Relationship Management: Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward

individual donors, corporate partners, and foundations. Develop and execute tailored

engagement plans to deepen relationships, increase donor retention, and maximize

financial contributions.

● Major Gifts & Planned Giving: Build and manage a portfolio of major gift prospects, with a

focus on securing significant donations and planned gifts to support long-term financial

health. Develop donor-centered proposals and personalized strategies for donor

cultivation and solicitation.

● Grant Research & Writing: Identify grant opportunities from local, state, and national

sources that align with Art Barn’s mission and programming. Write compelling grant

proposals, manage submission timelines, and ensure accurate grant reporting and

compliance.

● Event Fundraising & Coordination: Lead the development, planning, and execution of

fundraising events, including galas, donor receptions, and community events, to engage

supporters, increase brand visibility, and drive revenue. Develop sponsorship packages and

secure in-kind and financial event support.

● Corporate & Community Partnerships: Establish and cultivate relationships with

businesses, arts organizations, and community leaders to enhance partnerships that

support Art Barn’s financial and programmatic needs, exploring opportunities for

sponsorship, in-kind donations, and collaborative programming.

● Donor Database Management & Reporting: Utilize donor management systems to track

fundraising activity, donor interactions, and revenue streams. Analyze and report on

fundraising progress, trends, and opportunities to inform strategy adjustments and goal

setting.

● Board & Volunteer Engagement: Work closely with the board of directors, fundraising

committees, and volunteers to leverage their networks for donor cultivation, event

support and advancing Art Barn’s fundraising goals.

Marketing & Brand Collaboration (10%)

● Brand Strategy & Messaging Consistency: Collaborate with the Marketing Manager to

align fundraising efforts with brand strategy, ensuring that messaging is consistent across

donor communications, marketing materials, and promotional efforts.

● Storytelling & Donor-Focused Content Development: Support the creation of

donor-focused content that highlights Art Barn’s mission, impact, and programs. Work

with marketing to develop compelling stories for newsletters, annual reports, social media,

and donor appeals to enhance engagement.

● Support Promotional Material Development: Contribute to the development of

marketing materials, such as donor brochures, event invitations, and social media content,

that effectively communicate Art Barn’s value and build donor engagement.

Qualifications

● Proven track record in nonprofit fundraising, development, or donor relations, with

demonstrated success in achieving revenue goals and building lasting donor relationships.

● Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to engage, inspire, and build meaningful

connections with donors, partners, and community members.

● Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with experience in grant writing,

donor proposals, and fundraising appeals.

● Ability to plan, organize, and execute fundraising events and campaigns that achieve

revenue and engagement objectives.

● Proficiency in using donor management software (e.g., DonorPerfect, Salesforce, or similar

CRM systems) to track and analyze donor data, generate reports, and manage fundraising

activities.

● Collaborative mindset, with the ability to work cross-functionally with marketing and

programming teams to align strategies and enhance donor engagement.

● Passion for the arts and commitment to the mission of the Art Barn School of Art.