Development Director

About the Lakes Area Music Festival

The Lakes Area Music Festival is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established during the summer of 2009 in the Brainerd Lakes Area of central Minnesota. Engaging 250 guest musicians from around the country to collaborate on chamber music, symphony orchestra and opera performances, this respected organization stages a month-long concert season every summer. LAMF includes an extensive calendar of educational, social engagement, and outreach programs and hosts more than 80 events per year. With accessibility as a core value, all events are presented without pay-as-you-wish ticketing to ensure financial access to all.

In addition to a volunteer board of directors, the festival employs year-round Executive and Artistic Directors, a Youth Education Director, an eight-person seasonal production staff, and a part-time Finance Assistant. For complete information about the organization, visit

Position Description

Lakes Area Music Festival (LAMF) seeks a qualified fundraising leader to build on more 16 years of positive momentum and take LAMF to the next level raising funds to support its $1.3M budget.

Now in its 16th year in the beautiful Gichi-ziibi Center for the Arts in Brainerd, Minnesota, LAMF’s mission has compelled communities, patrons, and donors to support the incredible quality music and educational programs that deeply impact the Brainerd Lakes Area and beyond.

The Development Director is a critical component of LAMF’s continued growth and excellence and will be hired as a full-time position with benefits, reporting to and working closely with the Executive Director and Development Committee. This position should be viewed as a growth opportunity, with salary increase and management potential possible after demonstrated fundraising success.

Duties and Responsibilities

Leadership

● Ensure constituents across the organization understand the importance of fundraising at all levels, articulate fundraising best practices, and provide the resources and tools necessary for fundraising success

● Oversee eTapestry systems and processes for gift management, data entry, stewardship, and reporting

● Serve as staff liaison for the Development Committee, working with the chair to create agendas, guide volunteers in development work, create committee goals and provide quarterly reports on progress

● Collaborate with Executive and Artistic Directors and other staff to integrate fundraising and marketing communications

● Represent LAMF in the local community and remotely

● Oversee summer Development and Communications Intern

Fundraising

● Engage with donors and prospects at all levels, including new and existing donors, board members, community leaders, and patrons

● Create a multi-channel plan, write, and manage production of three annual appeals: fiscal year end, calendar year end, and spring appeals

● Manage a leadership annual giving program to encourage support from $1,000+ donors

● Maintain a major gifts portfolio utilizing the donor cultivation cycle, regularly tracking progress within the eTapestry database

● In partnership with the Executive Director, manage and write grant applications and funder reports, and identify new foundation funding opportunities

● Manage and oversee the execution of fundraising events including the annual Summer Solstice fundraiser and the Musicians’ Gala, house parties, and new concepts

● Secure event and season sponsorships

● In partnership with the Executive Director, ensure 100% board participation in the annual fund and fundraising events

● Create major gift opportunities around special initiatives

● Manage planned giving program, including marketing planned giving opportunities and building a planned giving prospect portfolio

● Oversee the donor communication and marketing calendar and, in partnership with the Executive Director, provide insights for organization-wide communication and marketing strategies

Qualifications

● 3-5 years of demonstrated success raising funds, securing sponsorships and generating revenue, preferably in non-profit organizations

● A proven track record for identifying, cultivating, soliciting and closing gifts at all levels and from all sources

● Broad knowledge of the principles of fundraising

● Knowledge and experience with the Greater Minnesota and Twin-Cities philanthropy landscape

● Successful experience building metrics-based goals

● Self-motivated, ambitious, goal-oriented

● Evidence of creativity and innovation in developing fundraising strategies and programs for donor cultivation and stewardship

● Extremely well-organized multi-tasker who can balance working both independently and collaboratively

● Excellent writing and communication skills with an ability to convey messages clearly and concisely

● Passion for the mission of Lakes Area Music Festival, with a knowledge of the Arts. Specific knowledge around classical music is highly valued.

● Demonstrated ability to implement various fundraising strategies simultaneously and successfully

● Ability to write persuasively for a variety of audiences

● Demonstrated networking and relationship-building skills

● Effective time-management/prioritization and problem-solving skills

● Ability and willingness to travel

● Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends

● Experience with data management in a fundraising CRM; specific knowledge and experience with Blackbaud eTapestry or other systems is highly valued

Position type

Full-time salaried with benefits, including generous PTO

Location

The Development Director must be flexible and adaptable, balancing time between the beautiful Brainerd Lakes Area and the Twin Cities, often working remotely to achieve fundraising goals.

Salary Range

$65,000-$75,000

To Apply

Please send your resume and a cover letter with your qualifications to Scott Lykins at

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