About Weeksville Heritage Center

Weeksville Heritage Center (WHC) is a historic site and cultural center in Central Brooklyn that uses education, arts, and a social justice lens to preserve, document and inspire engagement with the history of Weeksville, one of the largest free Black communities in pre-Civil War America, and the Historic Hunterfly Road Houses. Founded in 1838, Weeksville was the second largest of approximately 100 independent African-American communities established before the Civil War.

When a group of community activists rediscovered three remaining original homes 1968, they purchased, rehabilitated, and restored the Hunterfly Road Houses, re-opening their doors as the Weeksville Heritage Center in 1973. In 2014, WHC opened its new Cultural Arts and Education Center and campus, including a visual arts gallery, performance space, resource center, and administrative offices. WHC is now poised for a bright new era, with the resources and vision in place to fully activate our history and expand our education, preservation, and public programming.

Recently announced as New York City's newest Cultural Institutions Group (CIG) member, the first since 1998, WHC is one of New York City’s cultural treasures, dedicated to preserving and celebrating the story of the 19th century African-American community of Weeksville, a nationally significant, exceptionally well-documented and rare extant example of an independent African-American community organized by Black entrepreneurs and land investors to promote economic, social, and political rights.

The Opportunity

The Director of Development is a member of our executive team. The incumbent is responsible for the development and execution of all fundraising, marketing and communications activities for the organization. WHC is at a very important moment in the organization’s trajectory. Weeksville Heritage Center currently focuses on government and institutional giving, while individual and corporate funding are emerging areas and the Director of Development will work closely with the President and CEO and others to increase its funding diversification. A number of new programs are underway and this is an ideal time and position for a candidate who appreciates the opportunity to build a team and help determine the direction of fundraising at Weeksville Heritage Center. The Director of Development will work with the CEO and others to craft a vision of a progressive arts, culture, and historical organization that is focused on engaging the public through programs, education, preservation and collections.

In addition to professional development opportunities available to all employees at Weeksville Heritage Center, the Director of Development will have the opportunity to represent Weeksville Heritage Center within the Bloomsberg Accelerator program where there will be training on the newest technology for development professionals. This is an additional opportunity for professional development for the Director of Development.

Primary Responsibilities

Development Strategy

Create and implement an annual fundraising strategy to support the program, education, collections and preservation and general operating expenses
Maintain and further develop institutional giving strategy for solicitation of major gifts, foundation and government grants
Lead and support the planning and coordination of President and CEO fundraising efforts including active engagement of the Board of Trustees and individual donors.
Along with Development Manager maintain and track all existing institutional, corporate and individual donor relationships
Identify, cultivate, increase and renew grants and contributions from institutional partners
Plan, organize, and supervise special events for solicitation and cultivation purposes, including the institution annual spring fundraiser Gala, regular fundraisers, year-round donor engagement and cultivation events
Supervise comprehensive updates, tracking, and maintenance of the fundraising database, including membership lists, records, and fundraising calendar
Coordinate, edit, and approve all proposals, correspondence, and appeal letters to all funding sources
Identify new and current sources of funding for the capital campaign
Oversee government funding and support from the local, agency, state, federal, and international level
Work with development staff to write or edit reports to funders on all funded projects
Work closely with Marketing Manager to enhance development initiatives and fundraising campaigns
Project annual revenue and develop, secure, and track income streams through earned income, and rentals
Provide strategy and tactical support for corporate giving
Maintain and continue to build corporate membership program, advising and steering internal staffing needs, prospecting, outreach, and relationship building with targeted corporate partners

Administration & Supervision

Supervise, mentor and advise the development staff
Along with Development Manager manage grant and funding portal submissions
Identify the scope of work and delegate responsibilities and guidance to department staff
Oversee outside consultants engaged for development, government affairs and institutional giving
Supervise research on prospects for all potential funding sources, including government, foundations, corporations, and individuals.
Attend interdepartmental meetings of senior staff and hold regular department meetings
Strategize and determine department goals, set timelines, and track progress with WHC’s performance management process
Review staff performance in collaboration with the President and CEO; deliver constructive feedback in an appropriate and fair manner; collect staff input and feedback
Actively participate in management meetings and encourage dialogue, attend events and industry gatherings, support colleagues by attending organization’s programmatic events

Board Management

Build strong relationships with Board of Trustees and supporters
Provide support for WHC’s Nominating & Governance and Development Committees, including:
Running board committee meetings (drafting agendas and materials, providing action items);
Compiling quarterly Development reports for Board meetings; and
Attending full Board meetings on an as needed basis

Budget & Finance

Consult with the President and CEO and the Finance Consultant on the annual budget and assist in the preparation of all project budgets
Monitor and update monthly, quarterly, and annual projections based on revenue
Present fundraising updates and projections to the Board of Trustees

Data Management

Manage key data sources/tools, including but not limited to:
WHC’s Customer Relationship Management system (Kindful);
DevPro (development projections tracker); and
Transaction Reports

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Nonprofit Management, Business Administration, Communications/ Public Relations, a related field, and/or its work experience equivalent
Minimum five years of experience in development, including prior leadership experience in a non-profit organization; familiarity with arts and culture organizations preferred
Experience in successfully raising minimum of $1M in fundraising efforts
Demonstrated knowledge of local, state and national fundraising community and related opportunities
Experience with Microsoft Suite, Google Workspace, and CRM (preferably Kindful and/or SALSA)
Demonstrates initiative, resourcefulness, and a creative approach to problem-solving
Superior writing, editing and communication skills
Well-organized with strong attention to detail
Alignment with the mission of Weeksville Heritage Center

Salary Range and Benefits

Salary is $100,000 - $120,000 per year based on experience. Weeksville Heritage Center offers a benefits package that is competitive with the market, including medical, dental, and vision insurance; a retirement plan that employees can contribute to after the eligibility period, and paid vacation, paid sick leave, and personal days with the option for a hybrid work schedule.

How to Apply

Submit a resume and cover letter to: inquiries@weeksvillesociety.org. Please include “Director of Development” in the subject line. Only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. Thank you for your interest in the position.

Weeksville Heritage Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All candidates for employment are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, physical disability, veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state or local law.

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Director of Development

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