Bard Graduate Center

Manager of Institutional Giving

Bard Graduate Center (BGC) invites applications for the Manager of Institutional Giving. This is a full-time, on-site position at our campus on West 86th Street in New York City.

Bard Graduate Center is a graduate research institute in New York City dedicated to the study of the cultural history of the material world and committed to the encyclopedic study of things, drawing on methodologies and approaches from art and design history, history of technology, philosophy, anthropology, and archaeology and cultural history. Our students gravitate to careers in museums, academia, the art world, and publishing. Our MA and PhD degree programs, gallery exhibitions, research initiatives, and public programs explore new ways of thinking about decorative arts, design history, and material culture.

The Manager of Institutional Giving is responsible for overseeing Bard Graduate Center’s institutional fundraising endeavors, leveraging your expertise to secure grants and sponsorships from a diverse array of institutional channels, including foundations, corporations, and government entities. The successful candidate’s proficiency in grant writing, meticulous prospect research, and adept program management will be instrumental in furthering our mission to advance exhibitions, research and education in the realms of decorative arts, design history, and material culture. The Manager of Institutional Giving will be driven and seasoned in the arts, culture, and academic funding landscape; partner with faculty and relevant staff to identify funding opportunities from government and institutional prospects; develop proposals; manage contracts and oversee all aspects of stewardship.  

Grant Writing and Management

• Write grant proposals, letters of inquiry, and reports to foundations, corporations and government agencies.
• Collaborate with BGC staff and faculty to gather required support materials including budgets, biographies, statistics, press, and publications among other materials.
• Maintain database (Raiser’s Edge NXT) and archives of grants submitted and received as well as all interim and final reports.

Grant Development and Coordination

• Establish and prioritize grants for institutional needs, special projects, and faculty support.
• Research and identify funding sources for research, publications, academic initiatives, exhibitions, scholarships, and operations.
• Collaborate with faculty and staff to develop potential funding opportunities.
• Coordinate with the Finance Department to create project budgets.
• Provide resources for faculty and staff to submit individual research grant proposals.
• Attend solicitation and stewardship meetings with BGC representatives, conducting necessary briefings beforehand.
• Oversee the grants calendar and timeline of grant needs.

Grant Prospecting

• Research prospective donors, including government sources, foundations, and corporations.
• Gather and analyze donor data for actionable insights.
• Prepare detailed donor profiles and briefings.
• Monitor philanthropic trends and funding opportunities.
• Maintain accurate prospect records in Raiser's Edge-NXT.
• Assist in prospect pipeline management.

Writing Support

• Working closely with the Chief Advancement Officer to draft case statements, proposals, appeals, acknowledgement letters and other written communications that help BGC meet its strategic fundraising goals.
• Work closely with staff throughout the institution to maintain files with updated language for numerous exhibitions and initiatives as well as credit lines.  
• Write annual scholarship reports and other stewardship communications.
• When needed, work closely with contracted grant writers.

Program Management, Oversight and Reporting

• Work closely with the CAO to maintain a portfolio of institutional funders for ongoing cultivation and stewardship.  
• Carefully track the progress of projects funded through restricted grants and endowments ensuring that reporting requirements are met.
• Work closely with BGC staff and faculty to ensure that projects are meeting stated goals.
• Prepare reports and communications to funders.
• Prepare an annual plan that delineates financial as well as strategic goals and appropriate metrics; complete an annual program review of results, determine strengths and challenges of the program, and modify plans accordingly.  
• Prepare monthly progress reports.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5+ years of development experience
• Demonstrated success writing and securing grant proposals for awards in the 5-7 figure range from major national and international foundations
• Exceptional writing, editing, and proofreading skills
• Computer literacy required; excellent online research, database, word-processing and spreadsheet skills required
• Proficiency in identifying institutional funding sources within the realms of the Arts, exhibitions, design, and academic institutions, coupled with fluency in grant research
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills
• Flexible and collaborative

Preferred Qualifications

• Passionate about Decorative Arts, Design History and Material Culture
• Experience working in a research university, academic department or museum
• Comfort with academic research proposal review
• Knowledge and experience in Raiser's Edge-NXT
• Working knowledge of grants.gov and other web-based granting agency technologies, as well as research resources, such as Candid / Foundation Directory
• Commitment to advancing BGC’s goals for diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion

We expect the successful candidate to be stronger in some qualifications listed above than others; we are committed to helping our future colleague expand their skills and hope to learn from their areas of strength.

Salary and Benefits
The salary range for this position is $65,000 - $80,000 + a generous benefits package.

To Apply
Send resume, cover letter, and contact information for three professional references to [email protected].

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
Bard College is an equal opportunity employer and we welcome applications from those who contribute to our diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, mental, or physical disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, familial status, veteran status, or genetic information.
 
Bard is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for all individuals in employment practices, services, programs, and activities.

AA/EOE