Description

Position Title: Director of Institutional Advancement
Department: Advancement
Salary:  $90,000 - $100,000
Status: Full-Time, Exempt
Reports To: Executive Director
Direct Reports: Business and Membership Manager, Development and Marketing Assistant 

 About the Racine Art Museum

The Racine Art Museum Association’s (RAMA’s) two-campus organization consists of the Racine Art Museum (RAM) and the Charles A. Wustum Museum of Fine Arts (Wustum). Located on the shores of Lake Michigan, RAM opened in May 2003 and expanded the work of the 85-year-old Wustum. It has become a popular destination for the 11 million residents of the Chicago-Milwaukee corridor and visitors from across the US and beyond. RAMA operates both locations, using Wustum as its visual education center and the downtown campus, RAM, as home to its internationally recognized exhibitions of contemporary crafts. RAM holds the largest collection of contemporary craft art (ceramics, wood, glass, fiber, metal, and art jewelry) in the United States. RAMA’s programs enhance rather than duplicate those offered by larger museums to the north and south. RAMA has been considered a leader in providing high quality arts education to people of all ages since the 1940s. Today, Wustum houses one of the largest studio arts education programs of any museum in Wisconsin. The museums are accredited by the American Association of Museums, Washington, DC—only 3% of US museums have this distinction.

 RAMA is seeking a candidate that is enthusiastic, team oriented, and proactive with the ability to work creatively and independently to join our dedicated and collaborative team.

General Summary of Position

The Director of Institutional Advancement (DIA) is the museum’s senior leader responsible for growing all contributed revenue in support of RAM’s mission, strategic priorities, and long-term sustainability. Reporting to the Executive Director and serving on the senior leadership team, the DIA plans, leads, and executes a comprehensive advancement program, including major and principal gifts, annual giving, membership, institutional giving (foundation, corporate, government), planned giving, special events, stewardship, and capital and endowment campaigns. 

Working closely with the Executive Director, Board, and departmental leaders, the DIA cultivates a robust philanthropic pipeline, translates institutional priorities into compelling cases for support, and aligns advancement strategies with cross-departmental initiatives that strengthen organizational capacity and financial resilience. The DIA also serves as a frontline major gift fundraiser, supporting planning and execution for capital and endowment campaigns while advancing the museum’s operating budget in alignment with multi-year strategic goals.

Principal Responsibilities

Advancement Leadership

•        Lead the implementation of long-term advancement strategies that grow and diversify contributed revenue while ensuring alignment with the museum’s strategic priorities.
•        Establish clear goals, metrics, and accountability systems for all areas of contributed revenue; regularly assess progress and adjust strategies to meet evolving institutional needs.
•        Serve as a strategic advisor to the Executive Director and Board on philanthropic trends, campaign readiness, and long-term funding opportunities.
•        Oversee the Advancement department’s annual operating budget and ensure sound financial planning, forecasting, and reporting.
•        Partner with the Executive Director and senior leadership to ensure advancement priorities are coordinated with broader institutional initiatives that support sustainable growth.

Major Gifts and Donor Engagement

•        Support and partner with the Executive Director in the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of top-tier donors through prospect research, strategy development, briefing materials, and coordinated engagement plans. 
•        Personally manage a portfolio of major and principal gift donors and prospects, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding gifts at significant levels.
•        Build and sustain long-term, trust-based relationships with donors, collectors, foundations, and other stakeholders.
•        Ensure high-quality stewardship, recognition, and engagement practices that deepen donor loyalty and encourage long-term investment.

Capital, Endowment, and Comprehensive Campaigns   

•        Lead planning, preparation, and execution of capital, endowment, and comprehensive campaigns.
•        Partner with the Executive Director and Board to develop campaign strategy, timelines, governance structures, and solicitation plans.
•        Coordinate campaign-related prospect research, donor cultivation, proposal development, and tracking.
•        Work closely with campaign counsel, when engaged, to ensure best practices and campaign success.

Institutional Giving, Sponsorships, and Grants

•        Oversee a robust institutional giving program, including foundation, corporate, and government support, including sponsorships and strategic partnerships.
•        Guide prospect identification, proposal development, and relationship management with institutional funders and corporate partners, ensuring alignment with museum priorities and engagement opportunities.
•        Identify, value, package, and activate sponsorship and underwriting opportunities aligned with exhibitions, programs, events, and institutional priorities.
•        Develop and implement strategies to cultivate, solicit, and steward sponsorships and partnerships that enhance both financial support and organizational visibility.
•        Manage the grants portfolio and calendar in partnership with contract grant support, ensuring aligned, timely submissions and reporting.
•        Ensure timely reporting, compliance, and stewardship for all partnership-funded initiatives, maintaining strong, long-term relationships with institutional and corporate stakeholders.

Annual Giving, Membership, and Events

•        Provide strategic oversight of annual giving and membership programs, with a focus on donor acquisition, retention, upgrades, and pipeline development for major gifts.
•        Ensure that special events and donor engagement activities align with fundraising goals, institutional capacity, and return-on-investment expectations. 
•        Develop and implement fundraising event strategies and plans, ensuring seamless execution and adherence to budget.
•        Collaborate across departments to integrate advancement initiatives with exhibitions, programs, and community engagement efforts in ways that reinforce institutional priorities and donor impact.

Advancement Operations and Communications

•        Ensure effective use of CRM and advancement systems to support prospect management, segmentation, analysis, and reporting.
•        Work with the marketing team to oversee the development of compelling fundraising materials, proposals, and donor communications that reflect the museum’s mission and brand.
•        Establish and maintain best practices for advancement operations, data integrity, and internal workflows.

Board and Volunteer Engagement

•        Partner with the Executive Director and Board leadership to engage Board members and key volunteers in fundraising, donor cultivation, and advocacy.
•        Serve as staff liaison to Board committees related to advancement and fundraising, as appropriate.
•        Provide training, tools, and support to help Board members and volunteers succeed as philanthropic ambassadors.

Team Leadership and Collaboration

•        Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing advancement team, fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and accountable culture.
•        Set clear expectations and performance goals; support professional development and growth.
•        Collaborate closely with senior leadership and department heads to align funding priorities and institutional messaging, and long-term sustainability goals.

Note:  The job description above is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this position. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of the exclusive standards, responsibilities, duties or skills required.  Incumbents will follow any other instructions, and perform other related duties, as may be required.

 Other Duties as Assigned: This job posting is not designed to cover or contain comprehensive listings of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. 

 Benefits:

Benefits include two weeks (10 days) paid vacation, group term life and disability insurance, eleven paid holidays, five personal/sick days, and compensatory time off immediately following the first full day of employment. Group health insurance, with employer paying 85% of the premium, is available following the first full month of employment. A retirement plan is available on the first enrollment date (January 1 or July 1) following 12 months of employment with a generous employer match/contribution. Employee discounts are available on studio art class fees and on purchases in the Museum Store. 

 Equal Opportunity

RAMA complies with all Federal and State anti-discrimination statutes and does not discriminate for any reasons outlined in Federal or State law. This policy will be in effect in all hiring situations for full-time as well as part-time employees, temporary part-time employees, educational instructors, interns, and for the volunteers who enhance staff functions.

 Mail or email cover letter and resume to:

Robb Woulfe, Executive Director
Racine Art Museum and Charles A. Wustum Museum of Fine Arts
PO Box 187
441 Main Street
Racine, WI 53403
Rwoulfe@ramart.org
 
No Phone Calls, Please

Requirements

Qualifications

•        Bachelor's degree required; CFRE certification or advanced degree preferred.
•        Minimum of 7–10 years of progressive experience in nonprofit fundraising or advancement, with increasing responsibility; experience in a museum, cultural organization, or community-focused nonprofit strongly preferred.
•        Demonstrated success in major gifts fundraising, including solicitation and closing of six- and seven-figure individual and institutional gifts
•        Experience participating in or supporting capital, endowment, or comprehensive campaigns, including planning, prospect development, and donor engagement.
•        Strong relationship-building skills and comfort working within a regional philanthropic community, with the ability to identify and engage new donor prospects.
•        Prior experience supervising staff or vendors and contributing to team-based fundraising goals; commitment to inclusive leadership and professional development.
•        Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate institutional priorities into clear, compelling cases for support.
•        Working knowledge of CRM and fundraising systems and comfort using data to inform strategy, track progress, and improve performance.
•        Strong organizational skills, sound judgment, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.
•        Ability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends as needed, and to serve as a visible and credible ambassador for the museum.