Development Director

Princeton Public Library

Development Director

 ORGANIZATIONAL ROLE

Leads the library’s fundraising efforts to secure capital, endowment, annual, planned, and special purpose gifts, and to identify grants and other sources of funding to supplement municipal funding dedicated to the library.  Recommends strategies to attain the annual and long-range fundraising goals that attract private contributions to the library.  Cultivates, solicits, recognizes and provides stewardship for current and prospective donors; and works collaboratively with library stakeholders to advance the overall development effort.  

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provides strategic leadership for the planning, implementation, evaluation, and administration of all fundraising activities.
• Plans and facilitates major fundraising initiatives in conjunction with the Executive Director, Library Board of Trustees, Library Friends and Foundation, volunteers, and other members of the senior library staff.  
• Establishes targets for fundraising campaigns, identifies prospective donors and develops strategies for securing gifts.
• Works collaboratively with the Friends and Foundation and its committees on fundraising initiatives including major campaigns, the annual benefit and special events.
• Identifies grants to support library programs, special initiatives, recognition awards, capital needs and library materials.  Prepares funding proposals for government, corporate, public and private foundation support by working with staff, grant writers and others.

• Increases the library’s visibility and positions the library as an organization worthy of support. Implements innovative practices and uses new technologies to improve operations.  

• Works with the Executive Director and other senior staff to prepare applications and/or letters of support for library and individual recognition awards.

• Provides leadership and direction to the Development department, which includes establishing departmental and individual goals that support the library’s strategic initiatives, guiding employee performance, communicating expectations, and providing the resources necessary for success.
• Provides day-to-day supervision of the Development staff and operations, including creating work schedules, monitoring the library’s donor database/files and gift records and ensuring that financial targets are achieved.
• Serves as a member of the library senior management team, contributing positively to strategic and organizational planning, and setting a positive example of collaboration and collegiality for all staff. 

• Plans donor events, identify prospects and secure new gifts for the library. Attends public events to advance the library’s fundraising efforts.
• Prepares financial reports for the Library Trustees and the Friends and Foundation Board.
• Serves as the staff liaison to the Princeton Public Library Friends and Foundation Board of Directors and its committees, and coordinates the work of the Friends and Foundation and its Development and Investment Committees. Works with the Executive Director and Foundation President on development issues.
• Prepares budgets and all related reporting for the development office in such a manner that the position and budgetary responsibilities are fulfilled and consistent with the library’s strategic plan.
• Actively promotes awareness and utilization of the library so that development efforts are favorably considered when the community is asked for support. Collaborates well with library staff and stakeholders.
• Works closely with the Communications Director and other library staff to develop promotional materials that highlight the library, including an annual report to the community, updates about the capital and endowment campaigns and library displays.
• Participates in professional organizations, conferences, webinars, workshops, and continuing education opportunities to stay abreast of library, information and technology trends.

• Prepares monthly, annual and other reports as needed.
• Conducts all matters with the highest ethical standards.
• Performs other duties as assigned. 

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree required and demonstrated experience with fundraising and development activities for a non-profit organization. 

• Demonstrated ability to lead fundraising campaigns of at least $2M.
• Demonstrated ability to manage, identify, cultivate and solicit gifts of $25,000+; grow and nurture a donor/prospect portfolio of $500,000 - $1 M; and work effectively with various constituencies, including supervising volunteers.
• Demonstrated understanding of fundraising and development strategies.
• Knowledge of current trends and issues in public libraries as well as public relations and marketing.
• Well-developed writing and interpersonal skills to conduct effective outreach to the community and to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, library customers, professional colleagues, the general public and local governing officials.
• Adept at analyzing library service needs and developing creative ideas to effectively secure funding to meet community needs and demands.
• Technology literacy, including MS office, and email marketing software. Must be willing to learn Donor Perfect.
• Strong organizational abilities including collaborating, problem solving, planning, delegating and task facilitation. Adept at making quick, sound decisions and exercising independent judgment.
• Adept at project and time management and at thinking methodically and paying attention to detail.
• Effective and capable public speaker.
• Passion for public libraries. 

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

• New Jersey residency required by the “New Jersey First Act”, N.J.S.A. 52:14-7 (L. 2011, Chapter 70).  If you do not reside in New Jersey, you have one year after the date you take your employment to relocate your residence to New Jersey.  If you do not do so, you are subject to removal from your position. 
• Able to work with or without reasonable accommodation in a shared work area, to stand and move around for three or more hours at a time. 
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends.
• Bilingual Spanish language skills would be helpful.

Library Values

• Learning and teaching
• Clarity and transparency
• Kindness and an assumption of good faith
• Humility and teamwork
• Creativity and collaboration
• Optimism and accountability 

Library Culture

• We exceed our community members’ expectations. The exemplary customer service that we provide for our members and guests is what sets us apart from other libraries.
• We value diversity, equity and inclusion. The library is stronger when we bring varied perspectives to the work of serving a growing and increasingly diverse community.
• We innovate. The library’s staff, boards and stakeholders are bold and creative. We think about new ways to improve our community every day.
• We educate and enrich. We curate extraordinary collections and research tools, constantly develop our level of expertise and offer classes, lectures and events that complement these resources and services.
• We listen. We want to hear from everyone about how well we are doing in meeting their needs and how we can do better; we analyze evidence and question our assumptions and we commit ourselves fully to making thoughtful changes.
• We collaborate. We are eager to learn and love to lead. We consult with and support colleagues at other libraries and community partners in order to ensure our ability to implement the ideas that best meet our community members’ needs.
• We steward. The library is a beautiful, welcoming, versatile building and collection, a world class resource that is owned by our community, funded through public-private partnership and entrusted to the management of a dedicated and talented library staff.

To apply,  follow this LINK.