Director of Development

Organization Description

The Loxahatchee River Historical Society, founded in 1972, operates the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse & Museum and preserves, interprets, and shares over 5,000 years of diverse maritime and military history, original Indigenous cultures, and rare natural habitats of the Jupiter Inlet area.  As a managing partner with the federal government, the Society strives to protect and enhance the unique and significant heritage site where over 100,000 annual visitors are offered a variety of authentic experiences developed for all ages and abilities.

Located on the Jupiter Inlet, the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse & Museum provides exhibits, tours, programming, outreach, and special events at the beautiful waterfront site, while preserving and maintaining the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse and other historic structures and interpreted pathways. The 1860 Lighthouse and surrounding area is on the National Register of Historic Places and is one of only three lighthouses in the country designated and protected by the US Congress as an Outstanding Natural Area and part of the National Conservation Lands.

Position Summary

The Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse & Museum has an immediate opening for the position of Director of Development. This full time, exempt position is responsible for managing all aspects of our philanthropic activities. The fundraising professional will lead and expand individual and corporate membership, donor, and sponsorship programs and will manage the donor database and supervise an assistant. The position will also include grant writing and fundraising cultivation events. Planning is underway to launch a major campaign implementing an expanded vision of the waterfront Lighthouse heritage site and the visitor experience. The Director of Development will serve as lead staff member in coordinating this historic initiative with the board, the CEO, and campaign counsel.

Essential Duties

• Responsibility for the broad fundraising priorities and strategies
• Maintaining a robust annual calendar to support operational funding needs for interpretation, education, historic preservation, and public programming
• Donor research and engagement to identify and cultivate new and increased gifts
• Management of donor database and day-to-day development operations, including annual appeal, gift processing and acknowledgements, appointment setting, donor and member communications
• Coordination of annual membership renewal and expansion within campaign strategy context
• Development and management of sponsorship levels, agreements, and benefit packages
• Management of corporate, foundation, and government grants
• Coordination of comprehensive campaign efforts for the board with our campaign counsel
• Management of corporate, foundation, and government grants
• Serve as a point of contact and effective partner for the board
• Develop and manage an annual fundraising budget
• Coordination of fundraising and cultivation events
• Represent the organization in the community in pursuit of fundraising goals
• Other duties as assigned

Knowledge, Skills, and Personal Qualifications

• Knowledge of maintaining donor, member, and other funding records using fundraising software, especially Blackbaud Altru
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills
• Knowledge of funding sources for cultural organizations; experience and knowledge of local opportunities a plus
• Must be comfortable soliciting large philanthropic gifts
• Demonstrate knowledge of development best practices for cultural organizations and good judgment in matters of communication, confidentiality, policy, and procedure
• Enthusiasm for expanding the opportunities and mission of the Lighthouse legacy

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree
• CFRE preferred
• Minimum of five years’ successful experience in a development or fundraising role for a cultural facility or nonprofit

The above job description and qualifications are not all-inclusive.

Benefits

This is a fulltime, exempt position with paid vacation, personal leave, and holidays. Employer pays fifty percent of BCBS health insurance. Salary range is $80,000 – $100,000.

Application Process

Please send a cover letter and resume with references by email to jobs@jupiterlighthouse.org with your name in the subject window. No phone calls please.

If a candidate is selected, a background check will be conducted prior to hiring.

The Loxahatchee River Historical Society is an Equal Opportunity Employer.