Senior Director, Institutional Advancement
The August Wilson African American Cultural Center (AWAACC) seeks a dynamic and experienced Senior Director of Institutional Advancement to grow and diversify the Center’s contributed revenue by focusing on the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of individual donors, with a focus on major gifts and special initiatives. As part of the implementation of its new strategic plan, the Center is embarking on a comprehensive effort from fall 2025 through fall 2027 to raise $2.5M from individual donors (including memberships/annual fund, major gifts, planned giving, one-time transformative investments in special projects, etc.). The Senior Director will play a pivotal role in this endeavor, providing leadership in developing and implementing the key strategies.
Reporting to the Vice President for Institutional Advancement, the Senior Director will work closely with the President & CEO and AWAACC’s Board of Directors. This full-time position requires a candidate with exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, a deep knowledge of Pittsburgh’s philanthropic ecosystem, and genuine enthusiasm for AWAACC’s mission.
The Senior Director will serve as an ambassador for AWAACC locally and nationally, representing the Center at public functions and events. In this role, the Senior Director will build and maintain relationships, contributing directly to AWAACC’s visibility and financial success.
Responsibilities
- Support the President & CEO and Vice President, Institutional Advancement in executing year-round individual donor cultivation and stewardship.
- Contribute to the development and implementation of AWAACC’s annual institutional advancement plan, supporting overall strategy, goals, and objectives.
- Design and execute strategies to advance fundraising for the AWAACC’s 15th Anniversary “Fuel the Future” fundraising drive, toward the Center’s goal of raising $1.5M by June 2026.
- Lead the expansion of the newly established Major Gifts program, assisting with identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding prospects and donors. Lead efforts to close five and six-figure commitments from individuals.
- Identify opportunities for improvement within the individual giving program and recommend best practices (e.g., encouraging giving through Donor Advised Funds, streamlining the stock donation process).
- Leverage prospect research (with support from the Senior Manager, Donor Engagement and Development Operations), with a focus on identifying high-net-worth prospects.
- Manage a personal portfolio of major gift donors and assist the President & CEO and VP in managing their portfolios, as needed.
- Support the establishment and growth of a formal Planned Giving program.
- Collaborate with the President & CEO and Vice President in identifying Board prospects and supporting Nominations & Onboarding processes.
- Serve as the staff lead for the Board Development Committee.
- Engage and coach AWAACC Board members, staff, and volunteers in prospect and donor cultivation and stewardship.
- Collaborate with internal program and subject-matter experts to maximize fundraising success.
- Represent AWAACC at local and national events, effectively communicating the Center’s impact.
- Collaborate with the VP to set contributed revenue goals for budgeting purposes. Monitor and report on progress toward these goals.
- Utilize research, analysis, trends, technology, communication resources, personal contacts, volunteers, and staff to build strong relationships with individual donors.
- Advise on partnership opportunities as requested.
- Collaborate on other priority projects as needed, at the request of the President & CEO and Vice President.
Qualifications / Skills
- At least 8 years of successful fundraising experience, preferably with significant experience in an arts and culture nonprofit.
- Proven success in cultivating and soliciting major gifts (five and six-figure range).
- Data-oriented with demonstrated success in using data to plan and execute fundraising strategies.
- Ability to work collaboratively with staff, Board, and volunteers.
- Strong relationship-building skills.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Ability to approach challenges constructively and find effective solutions.
- Experience with a CRM / donor database; Tessitura experience preferred but not required.
- Proficiency in MS Office applications including Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams.
- Regular availability for evening and weekend AWAACC events.
- Ability to travel 3-4x annually.
Additional Information
This is a salaried exempt full-time position offering robust employee benefits. The standard work week is a minimum of 35-40 hours, with evening and weekend hours required as needed for events. The salary range for this position is $92,000-$107,000.
To Apply
Please send your resume and cover letter as a single PDF to abrandes@awaacc.org.
The August Wilson African America Cultural Center is an equal opportunity employer and actively works to ensure fair treatment of our employees and constituents across culture, socioeconomic status, race, marital or family situation, gender, age, ethnicity, religious beliefs, physical ability, veteran status, or sexual orientation.
About The August Wilson African American Cultural Center
The August Wilson African American Cultural Center (AWAACC) is one of the largest Black multi-disciplinary arts centers in the United States. Situated at the gateway to Pittsburgh, PA’s downtown Cultural District, we are committed to offering the majority of our programs for free, welcoming a diverse array of visitors each year, from Pittsburgh and across the country.
We are a gathering place, a performance venue, a museum, and an educational resource for our community.
Our mission is to own and operate a home for the arts, storytelling, learning, and exchange around the African American experience and the rich culture of the African diaspora. We are guided by the enduring truths and essential values evident in the work of August Wilson.
What We Do
Our programs include visual art, live performance (theater, dance, and music), film, literary series, culinary events, education, and community engagement.
Guided by August Wilson’s legacy of storytelling, we are a space for learning, expression, discovery, respite, and joy in arts and culture. The Center’s artistic programming provides opportunities for reflection, affirmation, and empowerment, especially for Black and Brown communities in Pittsburgh and beyond. Our cultural impact extends beyond our four walls, across genres, to be accessible for all.
Our Impact
- We reach 100,000 people annually.
- We employ more than 400 artists each year, 90% are people of color.
- We present approximately 130 events annually, including curated programs for families, youth, young professionals, seniors, and the general public.
- Our permanent exhibition August Wilson: The Writer’s Landscape is free and open to the public year-round.
- People travel from all over the world to attend our Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival.
- In 2021 we were recognized as a “Pittsburgh Cultural Treasure” by the Ford Foundation’s America’s Cultural Treasures Initiative.
