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Vermont Folklife Center Employment Opportunities

Development Director

Position: Development Director
Organization: Vermont Folklife Center
Location: Middlebury, Vermont
Date posted: 05/21/2008
Application deadline: 08/31/2008
Reports to: Executive Director

The Vermont Folklife Center (VFC) seeks a highly qualified, enthusiastic individual to serve as its Development Director. The ideal candidate will work collaboratively with our professional staff and Board of Trustees to increase philanthropic support for the organization. The successful candidate will have excellent people skills, be self-motivated, have demonstrated experience with all aspects of annual membership and special project campaigns, and be able to facilitate donor cultivation and solicitation activities. S/he must be technologically savvy and competent in all aspects of database management.

About the Vermont Folklife Center

Founded in 1984, the Vermont Folklife Center’s mission is to document and preserve the voices and traditions of Vermont and its communities. Headquartered in its new offices in downtown Middlebury, the VFC’s new interactive multimedia exhibit, educational classroom, and digital recording studio are state-of-the-art facilities. Our new climate-controlled archive houses over 4000 interviews collected from Vermonters. Our expanded gift shop features a unique shopping experience with exciting items from Vermont and beyond. For over two decades, the VFC has pioneered the use of the oral interview to strengthen communities and build cross-cultural understanding. The VFC’s key programs include our “Discovering Community,” a week-long intensive summer workshop for educators and community leaders; the “Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program,” which strengthens multi-cultural communities; “Youth Radio Vermont,” a program that teaches students the use of digital media as a tool to explore community; and our new Vision & Voice Documentary Workspace, a multi-faceted education site that features the work of both established and novice documentarians in an innovative gallery setting.

Job Description Summary

The ideal candidate will be personable, organized, and able to set and meet goals and deadlines. The Development Director ’s integral role includes supporting the Executive Director, the Board of Trustees and the Folklife Center staff in their philanthropy-related outreach and cultivation activities. A firm belief in the value of a multi-cultural community is needed as well as an appreciation for the preservation of cultural heritage. The Development Director is a full-time position and will, in part:

• Develop and implement fundraising strategies to engage members, major donors, and corporations and foundations
• Coordinate direct mail appeals.
• Research corporate and foundation funding opportunities and prepare proposals.
• Plan and implement donor cultivation and stewardship events.
• Manage donor database
• Acknowledge donors’ gifts in a timely and accurate fashion.
• Work collaboratively with other staff to advance the mission of the Folklife Center

Experience

Requirements include a Bachelor's degree with a minimum of three years' related work experience in nonprofit Development or the equivalent. Excellent writing skills and experience with data entry and database reporting are essential. Experience working in FileMaker Pro preferred. Experience with producing direct mail appeals and foundation proposals needed.

If you are excited about being a part of the Vermont Folklife Center team and have the experience and qualifications needed, please submit a resume and cover letter: Vermont Folklife Center, Attn: Hiring Committee, 88 Main Street, Middlebury, VT 05753. Fax 802-388-1844. Email: bhooker@vermontfolklifecenter.org. No phone calls please.

Salary is commensurate with experience. A comprehensive benefits package is offered as well as a congenial working environment. The Vermont Folklife Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability or veteran status.