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Art and Wellness Enterprises · 9 hours ago

Senior Director of Development

Bentonville, AR

Full-time

Onsite

Director/Executive

10+ years exp

Art and Wellness Enterprises (AWE) is a professional services organization supporting non-profits founded by Alice Walton. The Senior Director of Development leads the design and execution of a comprehensive fundraising and development strategy for Alice L. Walton School of Medicine and Heartland Whole Health Institute, overseeing all aspects of fundraising and ensuring a high-quality experience for donors.

Executive Office

Responsibilities

Develop and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy aligned with each organization’s goals and mission

Collaborate with senior leadership to understand current and future funding priorities, proactively identifying gaps and building donor pipelines

Provide fundraising strategies and implement tactical plans that increase philanthropic revenue and strengthen donor engagement

Implement innovative cultivation and stewardship initiatives to attract and retain diverse supporters across multiple sectors (e.g., healthcare, arts, medical education, cultural institutions, philanthropy)

Develop and execute high-level fundraising initiatives, including major gifts, capital campaigns, and institutional partnerships to achieve annual goals

Accountable for achieving annual fundraising revenue targets, with demonstrated success securing six- and seven- figure gifts to advance organizational priorities

Establish and oversee systems for donor portfolios and stewardship pipelines to ensure sustainable, organization-wide philanthropic support and impact

Personally manage a select portfolio of major donors, leading cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship to secure transformational gifts

Design and implement a strategic alumni giving program that promotes ongoing engagement and sustained support

Lead the development and execution of scholarship fundraising initiatives

Develop strategies for annual giving, planned giving, and endowment growth to ensure long-term sustainability of philanthropic support

Serve as subject matter expert for philanthropy for AWSOM and HWHI, applying current best practices in non-profit fundraising and development, while representing these institutions as part of AWE’s shared services model

Build strong relationships with donors, board members, executives, community partners, and stakeholders to align on fundraising goals and priorities

Partner with program leadership to ensure philanthropic support is integrated with organizational mission and strategic initiatives

Partner with senior leadership on campaign planning, case development, and donor engagement strategies

Manage external consultants, fundraising counsel, and third-party partners, representing AWE with professionalism and integrity

Drive special projects to enhance AWE’s fundraising capabilities, including new giving initiatives, donor recognition programs, and technology optimization

Serve as a visible ambassador for AWE and its affiliates, representing the mission through public speaking, events, community partnerships, professional associations, and philanthropic networks to expand visibility and attract support

Oversee development operations, ensuring efficient utilization of donor management systems, process standardization, and user adoption

Ensure a high degree of data integrity, confidentiality, and efficiency in managing donor and member records, proposals, recognition programs, reporting, project management, and related processes

Drive process improvements to streamline fundraising efforts, enhance donor and stakeholder experiences, and increase overall development and advancement results

Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local fundraising regulations, as well as internal policies and best practices

Oversee grant development and compliance processes, including proposal preparation, reporting, and alignment with funder requirements

Develop and deliver high-level fundraising reports to senior leadership and stakeholders, incorporating key metrics (dollars raised, donor retention, pipeline growth, campaign progress)

Use analytics to assess fundraising effectiveness, donor trends, and philanthropic demographics, providing data-driven recommendations to inform strategic decisions

Monitor and analyze development KPIs against industry benchmarks, using insights to continuously improve performance

Perform other duties and special assignments as needed to support organizational priorities and strategic goals

Qualification

Fundraising strategyMajor gift campaignsDonor management systemsNonprofit managementCFRE certificationMicrosoft OfficeSalesforce proficiencyLeadership skillsCommunication skillsNegotiation skillsCritical thinking

Required

Bachelor's degree in communications, nonprofit management, business administration, or related field; Master's degree preferred

Professional certifications such as CFRE or equivalent certification preferred

10+ years of progressive experience leading enterprise-level fundraising and development initiatives, including major gift campaigns, capital campaigns, corporate/foundation partnerships, and building and scaling new development programs across complex organizations with a proven track record of delivering measurable results

Demonstrated success designing and managing large-scale, multi-entity fundraising strategies across multiple organizations. Experience in startups, healthcare, medical education, museum/cultural institutions, philanthropy, or similarly complex environments is strongly preferred

Deep knowledge of fundraising strategies, donor pipelines, and stewardship methodologies, with a strong understanding of compliance and ethical standards in philanthropy (AFP ethical standards, IRS charitable giving regulations, etc.)

Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, with advanced Excel and PowerPoint skills for reporting and executive presentations

Strong familiarity with donor management and CRM systems; prior experience with Salesforce or similar platforms is strongly preferred

Exceptional analytical and quantitative skills with the ability to leverage fundraising metrics (e.g., donor retention, lifetime value, campaign ROI) to inform strategic decisions

Demonstrated ability to influence, mentor, and collaborate across teams while fostering a performance-driven and partnership-oriented culture

Outstanding communication (verbal, written, presentation) and interpersonal skills, with proven ability to influence senior leaders, board members, donors, and cross-functional stakeholders

Excellent decision-making and critical thinking skills with the agility to adapt in a fast-paced, innovative environment where change is constant

Proven ability to manage competing priorities in high-pressure environments, orchestrate multiple activities, and coordinate across diverse teams for optimal efficiency

Strong negotiation and conflict resolution skills, with sound judgment and the ability to navigate sensitive situations with professionalism

High level of integrity and discretion in handling confidential and organizational information

Preferred

Master's degree preferred

Professional certifications such as CFRE or equivalent certification preferred

Experience in startups, healthcare, medical education, museum/cultural institutions, philanthropy, or similarly complex environments is strongly preferred

Prior experience with Salesforce or similar platforms is strongly preferred