POSITION SPECIFICATION
Director of Development
The Hill Monastic Manuscript Library (HMML)
Saint John's Abbey and University
Collegeville, Minnesota
The Situation
"It only takes a minute to destroy history's greatest ideas. Fire, flood, theft, war. And suddenly, the priceless manuscripts that were written centuries before are gone. In Austria during the Second World War, refugees dismantled library treasurers, using the wooden covers as fuel for cooking fires, and casting the manuscripts inside away."
HMML is committed to preserving and researching the contents of handwritten books, studying the cultures which produced them, and making these books and studies available to scholars and the general public. The Library intends to continue its work in preservation. HMML also wants to emphasize the Library as a research center for scholars, and to introduce public programming and gallery type displays. The Library offers 13 research grants each year.
The HMML budget is about $950,000. Five years ago it was $450,000.
The former HMML director of development has been promoted to executive director of development and university relations for the university.
The HMML Web has additional information (www.csbsju.edu/hmml). http://www.csbsju.edu/hmml
Attractions
- Work as a partner with the director.
- The director is vitally interested in what the director of development does.
- The director is interested in being the lead in human contact. (The director is a fund-raising oriented individual.)
- The director of development will have access to the HMML staff in researching projects. The director of development is housed with the library staff and the director, as opposed to being in the Central Development Office.
- The director of development will work in all areas of development (annual fund, cultivation, etc. with minimal bureaucracy. The director of development will go to some University Institutional Advancement meetings. Will have access to University Institutional Advancement computer backup.
- Work with very creative Board members.
- Work with a truly one of a kind organization in the USA, and as many development opportunities as one could handle.
Critical Issues
Be a one person shop. Need to get off to a fast start on foundation research. The Annual Fund is in good shape. Last year the Annual Fund goal was $78,000. HMML raised $100,000 from its Annual Fund last year. The goal for this year is $85,000. HMML receives significant support from a small group. The base of support needs to be broadened.
The Position
Reports To:
Director, Hill Monastic Manuscript Library, in parallel with four chairpeople/directors, responsible for collection (books, microfilm and electronic storage); public programming; administration; and sales and service (museum sales shop), respectively.
Basic Function:
Under the supervision of the director of the Hill Monastic Manuscript Library, the director of development is responsible for planning and directing development and fundraising activities for the Hill Monastic Manuscript Library. Act as and speak for HMML director in absence of director. The director of development will also be a member of the Saint John's University Institutional Advancement and Development staff.
Major Responsibilities:
1. Work in conjunction with the director of HMML to design, implement, and manage a comprehensive fundraising program for HMML, including annual giving, major and endowment giving, deferred giving, corporate and foundation relations and grant writing.
2. Coordinate the annual giving program, including developing a yearly plan and schedule, writing letters of solicitation and acknowledgment, and coordinating mailings.
3.Research corporate, foundation and government prospects; work with director and staff of HMML to develop proposals, and take prime role in writing proposals and reports to grantees. Coordinate grant-making activity with the director of corporate/foundation relations at Saint John's University.
4. Work with the Board of Overseers of HMML in promoting the goals and objectives of the Library, and have prime responsibility for coordinating the efforts of the Development and Marketing Committees of the Board of Overseers.
5. Coordinate the development initiatives of HMML with the executive director of development and university relations and the Office of Institutional Advancement at Saint John's University. Participate in regularly scheduled Development and Institutional Advancement staff meetings. Work in cooperation with the Office of Communications and Marketing at Saint John's University
6.Assist with planning and production of publications, special events and public relations. Will have primary responsibility for production of the annual report.
7.Work in conjunction with the director of HMML as spokesperson, and represent the Library to the media in the absence of the director.
Qualifications
The Ideal Person Should Have:
- A willingness to maintain a high level of competence. Discreet judgement and confidentiality are expected at all times.
- Bachelor's degree, required.
- Excellent oral and writing communication skills, including grant-writing experience. Should be able to gather accurate input from other people.
- A minimum of three years experience in development or related field.
- Good organizational experience, and be able to shift gears quickly from, for instance, Annual Fund to planned giving.
- Annual Fund and major gift research experience. There is no alumni body and no large mailing list.
- Experience with donor cultivation.
- Good social skills. Be able to relate to people of talent and means.
The Ideal Person Should Be:
- Able to:
- Interact with the community of the Order of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University as an integral part of the staff and faculty.
- Know and get along with the HMML Board.
- Project a positive image of service for HMML.
- Acquire an understanding of the character and mission of the Order of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University.
- Work collegially.
- Work with the HMML director as a partner.
- Live and work within 30 minutes of Collegeville, which is adjacent to St. Cloud, MN., a 100,000 person community. St. Cloud is located 45-50 minutes northwest of Minneapolis.
- Creative and self-motivated, with the necessity to be a self-starter and work effectively without supervision.
- Interested in and appreciate books and libraries.
R
OBERT SELLERY ASSOCIATES, LTD.
1155 CONNECTICUT AVENUE, N.W. WASHINGTON, D.C. 20036 202.331.0090
sellery@cais.com
