Cheekwood
Assistant Director, Corporate and Foundation Giving (Full-Time)
Cheekwood, Nashville, Tennessee, United States, 37247
Assistant Director, Corporate & Foundation Giving (Full-Time)
Join Cheekwood, a nationally recognized botanical garden, arboretum, and art museum, to help expand our corporate and foundation giving program.
Cheekwood is distinguished as one of the leading country place era estates in the nation. Formerly the home of Mabel and Leslie Cheek, the 1930s estate sits on 55 acres of gardens and 30,000-square‑foot mansion, now serving the public as a botanical garden, arboretum and art museum with furnished period rooms and galleries devoted to American art from the 18th to mid‑20th centuries. The property includes 13 distinct gardens, including the Blevins Japanese Garden and the Bracken Foundation Children’s Garden, and a 1.5‑mile woodland trail featuring outdoor monumental sculpture. Cheekwood hosts seasonal festivals such as Cheekwood in Bloom, Summertime at Cheekwood, Cheekwood Harvest and Holiday Lights. It has a $17 M budget, more than 200 full‑time and part‑time staff, and welcomes over 380,000 visitors and 17,000 member families each year.
Position Overview The Assistant Director, Corporate & Foundation Giving reports to the Director of Development, Major & Leadership Gifts and manages the institution’s corporate and foundation giving program. They are a detail‑oriented, highly organized, results‑driven development professional with excellent writing skills, adept at managing multiple projects on time and possessing demonstrated expertise in fundraising.
Essential Responsibilities
Serve as a critical member of the development team, collaborating with the Chief Development Officer, President/CEO, and Director of Development Major Gifts.
Establish strategic goals and objectives for Cheekwood’s Foundation program in alignment with campaign revenue targets.
Lead new and existing grant revenue and foundation relationships, researching, creating, and managing a portfolio of strategic foundation partnerships.
Provide stewardship to all funders, including oversight of on‑site visits, tours, and presentations.
Build foundation relationship pipelines, conducting prospecting activities and research to deliver a thoroughly researched pipeline of annual and campaign prospects, designing cultivation strategies, and facilitating accurate monthly prioritization and financial reforecasting.
Collaborate with the Grants Manager to write, edit, and submit grant proposals to new and existing foundation and corporate sources.
Meet financial and performance goals set with the Chief Development Officer, including developing and tracking revenue projections.
Ensure program evaluation metrics and reporting processes are in place for grant reports.
Communications & Grant Coordination
Maintain a clear understanding of Cheekwood’s programs and fundraising opportunities, keeping the team updated on projects and initiatives requiring funding.
Collaborate with the Grants Manager in preparing high‑quality grant proposals, communications, award submissions, and stewardship reporting.
Ensure grant compliance with all stipulations and regulations, interpreting and providing necessary donor information.
Maintain full and timely records of foundation and corporate activity, including proposals and reports.
Provide regular grant reports to the Chief Development Officer and President/CEO.
Requirements
Bachelor’s degree in communications, English, or related field.
5+ years of successful portfolio management and frontline solicitation experience.
Experience developing and progressing corporate and foundation relationships, researching and qualifying prospects.
Strong knowledge of philanthropic motivations and current trends in gift giving, with budgeting and forecasting ability.
Exceptional relationship‑building, interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills.
Excellent grant‑writing skills with a proven record of obtaining five‑ or six‑figure grants.
Diplomacy, discretion, and persuasiveness, confident with senior‑level audiences.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Outlook, Excel and donor databases; knowledge of fundraising systems a plus.
Ability to craft clear, concise communications for diverse audiences and articulate the case for support.
Proactive problem‑solver with creativity and initiative.
Thrives in a rapidly changing environment and can work independently.
Strong multitasking, prioritization, and initiative skills.
Benefits
Health insurance with an HRA
Dental, vision, and life insurance (100% paid by Cheekwood)
Long‑term disability insurance (100% paid by Cheekwood)
Voluntary life insurance and short‑term disability insurance
403(b) and Roth 403(b) with generous employer match
Employee assistance program
Paid time off and 11 paid holidays
Aflac products offered
Relief to submit resume and cover letter
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Cheekwood is distinguished as one of the leading country place era estates in the nation. Formerly the home of Mabel and Leslie Cheek, the 1930s estate sits on 55 acres of gardens and 30,000-square‑foot mansion, now serving the public as a botanical garden, arboretum and art museum with furnished period rooms and galleries devoted to American art from the 18th to mid‑20th centuries. The property includes 13 distinct gardens, including the Blevins Japanese Garden and the Bracken Foundation Children’s Garden, and a 1.5‑mile woodland trail featuring outdoor monumental sculpture. Cheekwood hosts seasonal festivals such as Cheekwood in Bloom, Summertime at Cheekwood, Cheekwood Harvest and Holiday Lights. It has a $17 M budget, more than 200 full‑time and part‑time staff, and welcomes over 380,000 visitors and 17,000 member families each year.
Position Overview The Assistant Director, Corporate & Foundation Giving reports to the Director of Development, Major & Leadership Gifts and manages the institution’s corporate and foundation giving program. They are a detail‑oriented, highly organized, results‑driven development professional with excellent writing skills, adept at managing multiple projects on time and possessing demonstrated expertise in fundraising.
Essential Responsibilities
Serve as a critical member of the development team, collaborating with the Chief Development Officer, President/CEO, and Director of Development Major Gifts.
Establish strategic goals and objectives for Cheekwood’s Foundation program in alignment with campaign revenue targets.
Lead new and existing grant revenue and foundation relationships, researching, creating, and managing a portfolio of strategic foundation partnerships.
Provide stewardship to all funders, including oversight of on‑site visits, tours, and presentations.
Build foundation relationship pipelines, conducting prospecting activities and research to deliver a thoroughly researched pipeline of annual and campaign prospects, designing cultivation strategies, and facilitating accurate monthly prioritization and financial reforecasting.
Collaborate with the Grants Manager to write, edit, and submit grant proposals to new and existing foundation and corporate sources.
Meet financial and performance goals set with the Chief Development Officer, including developing and tracking revenue projections.
Ensure program evaluation metrics and reporting processes are in place for grant reports.
Communications & Grant Coordination
Maintain a clear understanding of Cheekwood’s programs and fundraising opportunities, keeping the team updated on projects and initiatives requiring funding.
Collaborate with the Grants Manager in preparing high‑quality grant proposals, communications, award submissions, and stewardship reporting.
Ensure grant compliance with all stipulations and regulations, interpreting and providing necessary donor information.
Maintain full and timely records of foundation and corporate activity, including proposals and reports.
Provide regular grant reports to the Chief Development Officer and President/CEO.
Requirements
Bachelor’s degree in communications, English, or related field.
5+ years of successful portfolio management and frontline solicitation experience.
Experience developing and progressing corporate and foundation relationships, researching and qualifying prospects.
Strong knowledge of philanthropic motivations and current trends in gift giving, with budgeting and forecasting ability.
Exceptional relationship‑building, interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills.
Excellent grant‑writing skills with a proven record of obtaining five‑ or six‑figure grants.
Diplomacy, discretion, and persuasiveness, confident with senior‑level audiences.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Outlook, Excel and donor databases; knowledge of fundraising systems a plus.
Ability to craft clear, concise communications for diverse audiences and articulate the case for support.
Proactive problem‑solver with creativity and initiative.
Thrives in a rapidly changing environment and can work independently.
Strong multitasking, prioritization, and initiative skills.
Benefits
Health insurance with an HRA
Dental, vision, and life insurance (100% paid by Cheekwood)
Long‑term disability insurance (100% paid by Cheekwood)
Voluntary life insurance and short‑term disability insurance
403(b) and Roth 403(b) with generous employer match
Employee assistance program
Paid time off and 11 paid holidays
Aflac products offered
Relief to submit resume and cover letter
#J-18808-Ljbffr