Director of Development, Lyman Allyn Art Museum

The Lyman Allyn Art Museum in New London, CT invites experienced candidates to apply for the fulltime (32 hours per week) position of Director of Development. Established in 1932 through the bequest of Harriet Upson Allyn, daughter of seafaring whaler and merchant, Lyman Allyn, the Museum occupies a 32,000 square foot, granite Neo-Classical building on a wooded parcel of land abutting the Connecticut College campus. Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and known for its strong collection of American works, the Lyman Allyn hosts permanent and special exhibitions featuring artists of Connecticut, New England and beyond. The Museum’s major permanent exhibition, Louis Comfort Tiffany in New London presents about 100 works of this famous artist, whose family hailed from Connecticut and frequently worked in New London. More than 25,000 people visit the Museum each year and admission is free for all New London residents. An active educational program attracts adult learners and enables more than 4,000 school children annually to make and experience art. The Director of Development will join a dedicated staff of 14 that operates at a highly professional level, curating the collection and bringing art to the visiting public. The Museum’s trustees are supportive and engaged in the institution’s mission, working with a recently revised five-year strategic plan for the Museum’s growth and expansion. Lyman Allyn’s Development program raised more than 700K in FY2024 through grants and individual gifts. A work plan is in place to increase major and planned giving programs, donor recognition activities and to build the Museum’s annual giving base. Reporting to the Museum Director, the Director of Development will:

• Work directly with the Director, Board Chair and Trustee Development Committee to engage and recognize donors, focusing on Leadership Gifts for the Museum
• Oversee and to an appropriate degree participate with an excellent team of co-workers responsible for other Development functions such as:
  • Expanding the major donor prospect list through research and donor engagement activities
  • Managing a calendar of Development activities throughout the year including annual appeals, donor involvement and recognition events, and mailings and electronic appeals
  • Communicating the Museum’s mission and goals by authoring annual appeals, special campaign materials, gift proposals, and other communications with donors
  • Strategically improving usage of Raiser’s Edge fundraising database
  • Assisting with implementation of major Museum events such as the Spring gala and exhibition openings