Open Positions

Color photograph of a oxidized steel nameplate on a stone wall; the sign reads American Academy in Rome

Overview

The American Academy in Rome is the oldest overseas center for research and study in the arts and humanities. Each year, the Academy awards the Rome Prize to a select group of artists and scholars who are invited to live and work in a dynamic international community in the heart of Rome. To support the work of these Fellows, the Academy also hosts programming in Rome, New York, and around the United States.

AAR is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Advancement Manager, Individual Giving

JOB SUMMARY:

The American Academy in Rome is a leading overseas center for independent studies and advanced research in the arts and humanities. A privately funded institution, the Academy relies on the generous support of individuals, foundations, and corporations to support innovative artists, writers, and scholars in generating new ideas together in a dynamic international community.

The Advancement Manager is responsible for planning, coordinating, and implementing cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities for the scope of the individual giving program. The Advancement Manager pro-actively manages their own pool of individual donors and prospects as well as the donor pipeline process for Institutional Leadership. In this role, the Manager works to determine the giving capacity of donor prospects and strategically cultivate and solicit higher levels of giving from current donors. A critical member of a close-knit team, this position contributes significantly to the successful execution of annual appeal cycles with accuracy and timeliness.

Working harmoniously and intercontinentally while reaching fundraising goals is imperative to this role, which operates in close step with every member of the Academy’s small but collaborative fundraising team. The American Academy in Rome invites 360-degree thinkers seeking an opportunity to build their portfolio and grow in an exciting environment to apply.

SUPERVISION:

The Advancement Manager, Individual Giving, reports to the Associate Director of Development.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Execute annual fundraising appeal strategies overseen by the Associate Director of Development: set goals for each appeal; draft appeal letters for approval; send solicitations on time; identify donors eligible for gift renewals; set metric goal targets for individual donors to increase giving levels annually and complete solicitations.
  • Directly manage the process of individual fundraising across the institution, working under the guidance of the Associate Director of Development to conduct thorough and wholistic prospect research, cultivate and solicit new members, develop fundraising materials, draft proposals and correspondence including but not limited to renewal letters.
  • Ensure fulfillment of pledges and benefits; maintain donor records; contribute to marketing strategies, prepare and produce donor stewardship reports and gift recognition communications
  • Manage Senior Leadership donor pipelines by creating timelines and meeting memos, coordinating next steps, maintaining database records, and producing pipeline reports.
  • Support Development Leadership with departmental budgeting and reforecasting.
  • Collaborate with the Rome-based Development staff to manage the Friends of the Academy and Friends of the Library donor groups where needed. Research, identify, cultivate, and solicit new members; develop fundraising materials; draft proposals and correspondence to members, including renewal letters; ensure fulfillment of pledges and benefits; maintain donor records; contribute to marketing strategies.
  • Collaborate with the Rome-based staff to coordinate VIP visits to AAR and subsequent follow-up.
  • Collaborate with the larger Development team to produce enriching cultivation and stewardship engagements for Friends and donors in the U.S. and in Rome.
  • Support the Associate Director of Development with planned giving initiatives to increase membership to the McKim & Morgan Society, including contributing to annual cultivation and stewardship events.
  • Support the Associate Director of Development with the development and implementation of gift solicitation calendars to engage philanthropy from individuals including Academy alumni.
  • Contribute to the implementation and maximal use of Salesforce, the Academy’s newly adopted Customer Relationship Management (CRM) donor database system.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function at an exceedingly high level. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

  • Bachelor’s degree in a related field, Master’s degree preferred.
  • Minimum five (5) years of direct fundraising experience.
  • Background in working with cultural or arts organizations is a significant advantage.
  • Outstanding oral and interpersonal communication skills with ability to interact professionally and work productively with a wide range of constituents.
  • Passion for the mission and programs of the American Academy in Rome.
  • Flexible mindset and ability to collaborate effectively in a dynamic and maturing fundraising environment.
  • Discretion and commitment to maintaining confidentiality.
  • Proven success in fundraising and sponsorship solicitation, with experience in donor cultivation and stewardship.
  • Proven strength in effectively prioritizing and managing time, taking initiative, communicating potential needs, and juggling multiple projects with strong attention to detail.
  • Familiarity and strong aptitude working in donor management systems such as Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce, Classy and similar platforms.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
  • Meticulous with details – data and words.
  • Confidence speaking with and presenting to donors virtually and in-person.
  • Adherence to timelines and deadlines to meet fiscal goals.
  • Proven experience working with financial reports and records.
  • Strong background and interest in collaborating across departments.
  • Ability and willingness to work evenings and to travel.
  • Success working independently under direction.

BENEFITS

  • Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • Life and Disability Insurance: Employer-paid life insurance, as well as long-term and short-term disability coverage
  • Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA): Pre-tax options for healthcare and dependent care expenses
  • Telemedicine Services: Convenient access to virtual care
  • Retirement Plan: A 403(b) retirement plan fully funded by the employer
  • Paid Time Off: Generous paid time off, including vacation, holidays, and sick leave
  • Additional Voluntary Benefits: A variety of optional benefits to meet individual needs
  • Attendance: We value a healthy work-life balance and currently offer a work schedule of four days in-office and one day of remote work.

To apply, please visit https://american-academy-in-rome.gnahiring.com/job/942011/advancement-manager-individual-giving. Salary: $65,000–$70,000 annually.

Advancement Coordinator

JOB SUMMARY:

The American Academy in Rome is a leading overseas center for independent studies and advanced research in the arts and humanities. A privately funded institution, the Academy relies on the generous support of individuals, foundations, and corporations to support innovative artists, writers, and scholars generating new ideas together in a dynamic international community.

The Advancement Coordinator is the first point of contact for all gifts. Under the direction of the Associate Director of Development, the Advancement Coordinator is responsible for gift processing, including data input and reporting output in Raiser’s Edge and Salesforce; drafting and mailing acknowledgement letters and donor communications; assisting with the production of annual fundraising appeals; implementing the automation of Development processes where applicable; and assisting with occasional prospect research and events support.

An important member of the Academy’s small but collaborative fundraising team, the successful applicant will demonstrate an ability to work harmoniously and intercontinentally. The American Academy in Rome invites 360-degree thinkers seeking an opportunity to gain hard Development skills and grow in a stimulating environment to apply.

SUPERVISION:

The Advancement Coordinator reports to the Associate Director of Development.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Database Management (50%)

  • Serve as Development Department’s Raiser’s Edge and Salesforce “super user” to support the staff team as a problem-solver, and as liaison to Blackbaud/Raiser’s Edge (vendor). Appropriate training will be provided to achieve “super user” competency.
  • Enter pledges, gifts, and payments into Raiser’s Edge and Salesforce donor databases accurately and in a timely manner.
  • Enter, update, and maintain AAR data: gifts, biographical information, contact information, attributes, relationships, Fellows & Residents alumni records.
  • Run data queries and reports; run gift and financial analysis reports; export data to create documents, spreadsheets, timelines, and mailing lists; manage Raiser’s Edge user access.
  • Implement data-driven procedures and AI / automation tools where appropriate.

Gift Acknowledgements and Donor Communications (30%)

  • Draft gift acknowledgment letters, including writing, generating, and proofing letters and tax receipts, and updating and creating new templates as appropriate.
  • Manage pledge reminder procedures, including running regular reports to determine outstanding pledges, creating, and sending pledge reminders as needed, and reconciling pledges with the Finance Department.
  • Coordinate development mailings, including compiling mailing lists, creating mail merges, working with third party vendors, tracking responses, and managing logistics.
  • Perform other annual appeal and mailing duties as needed and assigned, such as the annual holiday card and targeted fundraising appeals including planned giving appeals.

Development Administration (20%)

  • Manage schedule for Development Department meetings and collect agenda items for discussion ahead of time.
  • Routinely create and maintain donor lists to best support larger Development team.
  • Coordinate with the Finance Department on gift processing procedures, reconciling contributions, managing, and creating fund codes, and producing and analyzing reports, to maintain consistency of information across platforms and departments.
  • Fulfill other administrative duties as assigned, such as reconciling credit card statements, assembling budgets, booking travel, and maintaining Development Department office supplies inventory.
  • Perform other duties as needed and assigned.
  • Maintain paper and digital donor files.
  • Occasionally assist with Academy events and programs, including galas and other donor events.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function at an exceedingly high level. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

  • Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
  • Minimum three (3) years of professional development experience, preferably in an academic or cultural institution.
  • Background in working with cultural or arts organizations is a significant advantage.
  • Proficiency in Raiser’s Edge and/or Salesforce, including experience running queries, exports, and reports with an interest in expanding these skills.
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills, combined with demonstrated interpersonal skills and professional demeanor.
  • Excellent organizational ability, analytical and problem-solving skills, accuracy, and attention to detail, along with demonstrated interest in learning and improving skills.
  • Strength in effectively managing time and taking initiative, and proven ability to work collaboratively on a small team with concurrent projects and deadlines.
  • Excellent judgment and discretion in handling confidential and sensitive information.
  • High level of proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (including Word, Excel, Teams, and PowerPoint), and Adobe Acrobat.
  • Availability to work occasional evenings and weekends to staff events and programs.

BENEFITS

  • Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • Life and Disability Insurance: Employer-paid life insurance, as well as long-term and short-term disability coverage
  • Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA): Pre-tax options for healthcare and dependent care expenses
  • Telemedicine Services: Convenient access to virtual care
  • Retirement Plan: A 403(b) retirement plan fully funded by the employer
  • Paid Time Off: Generous paid time off, including vacation, holidays, and sick leave
  • Additional Voluntary Benefits: A variety of optional benefits to meet individual needs
  • Attendance: We value a healthy work-life balance and currently offer a work schedule of four days in-office and one day of remote work.

To apply, please visit https://american-academy-in-rome.gnahiring.com/job/941843/advancement-coordinator. Salary: $55,000–$60,000 annually.