Director, Arts & Culture

DIRECTOR, ARTS & CULTURE

The Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo is seeking to hire a Director, Arts and Culture.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Director of Arts and Culture (DAC), an employee of the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, will lead the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation Arts and Culture Initiative at the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo including efforts to build and strengthen the sector with a focus on increasing access and inclusion.

In mid-December 2021, the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation (RCWJRF) announced a $100 million commitment to transform the financial strength and long-term viability of the Western New York’s art and cultural community through the establishment of an endowment that will support the sector now and forever. RCWJRF will contribute nearly $60 million over 10 years to establish an endowment at the Community Foundation. To ensure the program has immediate impact, RCWJRF will also provide $3.75 million a year for the first nine years, or $33.75 million. This investment will: (1) create permanent operational funding stream for 13 of the region’s largest arts and cultural institutions that play a critical role as economic drivers; (2) fund primarily small to mid-size arts and cultural organizations; and (3) provide permanent capacity at the Community Foundation to manage and operate the endowment and grant program, which includes efforts to advance inclusion and access. The geographic reach includes the eight counties of Western New York (Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans, Wyoming) plus Monroe County.

The DAC will: (1) serve as the link between the Community Foundation and key stakeholders as well as the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan; (2) maintain strong knowledge of relevant community issues; (3) develop and maintain strong relationships in the arts and cultural ecosystem including with regional arts councils, arts advocacy alliances and peer funders. In addition to leading the Ralph Wilson Arts and Culture Initiative grants and sector building work, the DAC will also participate in other aligned arts grant programs at the Community Foundation including Fund for the Arts.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Manage grant processes including marketing, technical assistance, evaluation, and reporting for RCWJRF Arts and Culture Initiative funds
• Develop, formalize, and maintain a strong arts and cultural network involving diverse community stakeholders, arts and culture professionals, peer funders, and elected officials, when appropriate. In particular, to build and strengthen relationships with relevant organizations serving historically underrepresented communities as well as arts councils, arts advocacy organizations and other groups designed to support the arts and cultural community in the nine counties
• Identify aligned opportunities for sector building with a focus on access and inclusion.
• Seek and secure additional funding to support arts access and inclusion efforts with a focus on national funders

OTHER JOB DUTIES:

• Work with Communications team to develop and deliver key messages that reflect the Community Foundation and the RCWJRF brand and brand promises
• Manage relevant contracts and budgets
• Identify and implement annual evaluation
• All other duties, as assigned

MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES:

• None

TRAVEL

• Generally, travel is primarily within the nine counties and occasionally to Southeast Michigan.
• Some domestic travel may be required for job training and/or professional development.

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE/EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Demonstrated domain expertise and ability to lead strategy development and collaboration
• Minimum 10 years of progressively more responsible experience in philanthropy or arts and cultural field
• Proven program development and project management experience, prioritizing multiple projects within tight deadlines
• Extensive knowledge of the nonprofit sector and experience in leading and facilitating community coalitions
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with persons of diverse backgrounds and organizations throughout the Western New York community
• Experience in communicating in a persuasive, credible manner, in person, in digital settings, and in writing and presentations
• Strong analytical, evaluative, and managerial skills
• Computer proficiency in all Microsoft components
• Technology skills and the ability to apply software knowledge
• Demonstrate consistent quality
• Commitment to the team effort of the Community Foundation

Salary Range: $84,000 - $88,000 Annually

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION:

For more than a century, the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo has enhanced and encouraged long-term philanthropy in the Western New York community. A 501 (c)(3) organization, the Community Foundation’s mission is: Connecting people, ideas and resources to improve lives in Western New York. Established in 1919, the Community Foundation has made the most of the generosity of individuals, families, foundations and organizations who entrust charitable assets to the Community Foundation’s care. Learn more at .

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Community foundations are designed to grow and evolve as our community’s needs change, and new positions are regularly created as a result. As the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo continues to grow, we’re looking for talented people who want to use their abilities to make a lasting difference. If that is you, then please send a cover letter explaining your interest in this position and what you would bring to the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo.

Application Deadline: Friday November 20th

We thank all candidates for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. The Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. As such, the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo is committed to providing a work environment that is free of all forms of unlawful harassment, discrimination and retaliation.