Director of Advancement

Job Purpose

The Director of Advancement leads the Museum’s fundraising strategy, cultivating meaningful relationships with individual donors, patrons, foundations, corporate sponsors, and public funding bodies. The role is critical to building a sustainable and visible foundation for the Museum’s long-term impact and growth. The jobholder is responsible for planning and executing fundraising campaigns that align with the Museum’s mission and long-term goals. The successful candidate will bring global best practice in advancement while tailoring approaches to the unique opportunities presented by Saudi Arabia’s philanthropic, institutional, and corporate context. With strong diplomatic and communication skills, the Director of Advancement will work closely with leadership and curatorial teams to articulate compelling cases for support and ensure the highest standards of stewardship, ethics, and transparency in all fundraising activities.

Roles and Responsibilities

Strategy and Planning:

• Develop and implement strategic fundraising initiatives aligned with museum goals.
• Design integrated engagement programs in collaboration with museum departments.

Budget Management:

• Ensure financial accountability and track ROI for advancement initiatives.

Policies, Processes, and Procedures:

• Implement donor stewardship best practices.
• Ensure effective maintenance of data integrity in donor management systems and ensure compliance with fundraising ethics.

Functional Accountabilities:

• Develop and implement strategic fundraising initiatives to support museum goals and enhance financial sustainability.
• Collaborate with curatorial, education, and marketing teams to develop integrated programs that promote the museum’s mission and attract diverse audiences.
• Foster relationships with current and prospective donors, ensuring consistent communication and personalized engagement strategies.
• Manage the planning and execution of fundraising events to enhance donor engagement and promote a culture of philanthropy within the community.
• Ensure correct analysis and reporting of fundraising strategies and outcomes, using data to inform and adjust future initiatives.
• Cultivate partnerships with local organizations, businesses, and community leaders to broaden the museum’s outreach and visibility.
• Oversee the museum’s donor stewardship program to ensure
• ongoing engagement and recognition of donor contributions.
• Ensure the creation of compelling narratives and written materials for proposals, donor solicitations, and marketing outreach to communicate the museum’s impact effectively.
• Implement best practices in donor engagement and retention, continuously seeking opportunities for improvement and growth.
• Serve as an ambassador for the museum at public events, engaging with stakeholders to further promote its mission and offerings.

Stakeholder Management:

• Build and sustain relationships with donors, partners, and community leaders.
• Serve as the museum’s representative at public events and community forums.

People Management:

• Live by MoWC values, ethical standards, and governance.
• Manage and support team members in performing their tasks in line with established policies and procedures.
• Guide, mentor, and develop the Advancement team to ensure continuous growth and achievement of functional objectives.
• Set clear performance goals, provide regular feedback, and support professional development through coaching and formal evaluations.
• Delegate authority appropriately to empower team members and encourage accountability.
• Contribute to workforce planning, recruitment, and performance management while promoting employee engagement and motivation.
• Foster a high-performance, inclusive, and collaborative work culture aligned with the museum’s values.
• Promote innovation and contribute to a positive, inspiring, and diverse workplace.
• Maintain high personal standards and ensure excellence across the section.

Job Qualifications and Requirements

Knowledge and Experience:

• 8 years’ experience in museum advancement, fundraising, or nonprofit development roles.
• Familiarity with securing major donations and planning high-impact campaigns.
• Deep understanding of nonprofit and cultural institution fundraising dynamics.
• Experience with international donor databases and CRM systems.

Education and Certifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in related field
• Master’s degree in museum studies, Nonprofit Management, or Cultural Administration is preferred.

Personal capabilities and qualifications:

• Advanced knowledge of best practices in fundraising, including donor engagement and stewardship methodologies.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build rapport and trust with diverse groups of high-net-worth individuals, corporate leaders, donors, collectors, managers of foundations, and colleagues.
• Excellent written communication skills, with a focus on crafting persuasive narratives and compelling proposals.
• Strategic thinking capabilities to develop innovative solutions and long-term advancement strategies.
• Proficiency in data analysis, metrics tracking, and performance evaluation to drive fundraising effectiveness.
• Ability to manage and motivate teams through effective leadership and collaboration.
• High adaptability and resilience in a dynamic work environment, with a focus on continuous learning and development.
• Familiarity with digital fundraising platforms and techniques, including social media strategies to enhance engagement.
• Competence in project management methodologies to ensure timely execution of advanced initiatives.
• Strong ethical standards and a commitment to transparency and accountability in all advancement practices.
• Ideally fluent in Arabic