Chief Development Officer

ABOUT PARK AVENUE ARMORY: Part American palace,
part industrial shed, Park Avenue Armory has become one of New York
City’s premiere arts centers. Its mission is to support
unconventional works in the performing and visual arts that need
non-traditional spaces for their full realization. With its period
rooms by Louis Comfort Tiffany, Stanford White, and Herter Brothers
and its soaring 55,000 square-foot Drill Hall, the Armory enables
artists to create, and audiences to experience epic and adventurous
works that cannot be done elsewhere in New York. Such was its
impact in its first years that The New York Times
declared, “Park Avenue Armory has arrived as the most
important new cultural institution in New York City.” More
recently, The New York Times has noted that: “few
cultural institutions have been as adept at pushing the cultural
FOMO button, triggering that “fear of missing out” that New Yorkers
hate….” To view the Park Avenue Armory Gala 2023: The
Odyssey, please click here.

Building upon its adventurous and wide-ranging programming, the
Armory also offers an arts education program for NYC public-school
students that is an essential part of its mission, offering free
performances and multiple workshops for every production, 14,000+
hours of mentored and rigorous internships and job training and
intense school partnerships.

The Armory has also undertaken an ongoing $215 million
multi-year renovation and restoration designed and overseen by
Pritzker Prize-winning firm Herzog & de Meuron that combines
detailed and sensitive restoration of some of New York’s most
important historic interiors with a dynamic contemporary renovation
to repurpose the building as a center for performing and visual
arts. For more information about this one-of-a-kind venue please
visit armoryonpark.org.

 

THE OPPORTUNITY: The Chief Development Officer
(CDO) is a key member of the senior leadership team. He/she/they
will be a highly organized, proactive development executive with
significant successful fundraising experience, particularly in the
cultural/performing arts. The ideal candidate will bring a proven
track record of donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship at
the principal and major gift level and experience actively managing
a portfolio of high-net-worth individuals. The candidate should
also bring the leadership skills to lead and motivate a team
focused on individual giving, events, corporate and foundation
giving, and government support. The CDO will also lead a
development strategy and program that enhances the existing culture
of philanthropy and greater public awareness of the Armory.

The CDO reports to and works closely with the Adam R. Flatto
Founding President and Executive Producer, Rebecca Robertson, and
also with the Board of Directors and the leadership team. Currently
reporting to the CDO is a team of 11.

The compensation range for the CDO is $400,000-$415,000
commensurate with experience and accomplishments, plus attractive
benefits.

 

FUNDING: The Armory has an FY23 operating
budget of approximately $27 million, and a capital renovation
budget of $66 million, with rental income of approximately $6
million and an endowment with a current market value of
approximately $75 million. In June of 2023, the City of New York
allocated $15.5 million toward the Armory’s $66 million renovation
project, and the campaign is currently in the preliminary “silent
phase”.

 

IDEAL QUALIFICATIONS:

• Deep appreciation and enthusiasm for contemporary and visual
  arts and the mission and culture of the Armory.
• Extensive leadership experience in development strategy for
  not-for-profit institutions, with a decided preference in theater
  and other performing and/or visual arts.
• A successful history of soliciting and closing principal and
  major gifts at the six-figure level and above.
• Experience working with organizational leadership and an
  engaged board.
• Able to cultivate and manage donor relationships at all
  levels.
• Experience launching and leading a capital campaign.
• Willingness to incorporate new modes of fundraising techniques
  and strategies.
• Knowledgeable about the New York City philanthropic, social,
  and business communities.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Able to
  craft persuasive proposals and donor correspondence as well as
  engaging effectively and appropriately in person.
• An entrepreneurial, creative mindset.
• Sound judgment and discretion to maintain the strictest
  confidentiality of donor information.
• Results oriented and self-motivated with a “roll-up sleeves”
  work ethic.
• Demonstrated commitment to the principles of diversity, equity,
  and inclusion and to building and leading a diverse team.
• Working knowledge of Tessitura or similar software.
• Able to attend Armory performances and events on a regular
  basis to cultivate/steward key donors and prospects.
• An undergraduate degree is desirable.

Howe-Lewis International is pleased to assist Park
Avenue Armory with this exciting search. Please click
here to apply online via the Howe-Lewis Talent Portal. You
may also email your resume and letter of interest to
kirk@howe-lewis.com