Associate Director of Advancement, YCBA
Working at Yale means contributing to a better tomorrow. Whether you are a current resident of our New Haven-based community, eligible for opportunities through the New Haven Hiring Initiative, or a newcomer, interested in exploring all that Yale has to offer, your talents and contributions are welcome. Discover your opportunities at Yale!
Overview
The Yale Center for British Art seeks an experienced and collaborative Associate Director of Advancement to implement its philanthropic strategy and oversee its advancement team and initiatives. Reporting to the Paul Mellon Director with a dotted line to the Deputy Director, the Associate Director of Advancement actively contributes to advancing institutional fundraising priorities. The position joins the YCBA and its new Director at a pivotal time of growth and opportunity, following the museum’s successful reopening in spring 2025 and ahead of its 50th anniversary in 2027. The position will be responsible for overseeing a substantial increase to the museum’s contributed support of its expanding program. As the supervisor for all development activities, the Associate Director of Advancement will work closely with the Director and Deputy Director to oversee, support, and implement the fulfilment of major gifts (unrestricted and restricted), donor and member stewardship, alumni engagement, foundation and government grants, corporate partnerships, special events, and patron travel. Through these efforts, the position advances the museum’s exhibitions, public and academic programs, student and professional development, and community impact. The Associate Director of Advancement will oversee a small team and collaborate with museum leadership, the communications team, and staff across the museum. The position works in close partnership with Yale’s Central Development Office to coordinate strategy, donor and prospect management, and fundraising execution, while representing YCBA’s mission-specific priorities.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Implement a comprehensive annual and multi-year fundraising and donor/sponsor engagement plan, in partnership with the Director and Deputy Director, to advance the YCBA’s institutional priorities and long-term vision.
2. Operationalize, share, track, and report on ambitious and measurable fundraising and engagement goals.
3. Oversee major and annual giving efforts, including identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of individual, foundation, and corporate prospects and donors.
4. Oversee and track an active portfolio of prospects and donors, including Friends of British Art, and partner with the Director on key solicitations.
5. Design and oversee a robust calendar of events at the YCBA, across the USA, and in London and the UK, to raise awareness, grow the support pipeline, engage donors, develop partnerships, and generate support for the museum.
6. Build and expand alumni engagement, with a focus on activating the Student Guides program.
7. Develop and run a patron travel program as a pathway to sustained philanthropic support.
8. Grow and leverage the free membership program to strength engagement and fundraising outcomes.
9. Expand institutional giving, including foundation support and corporate partnerships.
10. Support Director and curators to cultivate and secure gifts of art.
11. Lead and oversee the operations of the Advancement Department, including constituent relationship tracking, gift processing, and donor recognition, ensuring data integrity and actionable reporting.
12. Provide tactical leadership to the Advancement team, fostering a collaborative and high performing work environment.
13. Manage the annual departmental budget.
Required Skills and Abilities:
1. Deep understanding of museum philanthropy principles, best practices, and current trends.
2. Knowledge of the art world, with an appreciation for British historical, modern and contemporary art and the museum's specific collection.
3. Experience managing staff.
4. Excellent writing, communication, and interpersonal skills.
5. Adept with CRM systems.
Preferred Education and Experience:
Bachelor's degree & 6-10 years progressively responsible fundraising experience in an art museum context. Experience developing & executing a comprehensive individual & institutional fundraising plan that aligns with strategic priorities. Proven track record in donor cultivation, solicitation, & stewardship, with success in securing 6+ figure gifts & managing significant annual giving programs.
Principal Responsibilities
1. Promotes and integrates programs for alumni that support the university’s strategic plan and goals of Development and Alumni Relations. 2. Manages and implements the various programs; makes sure all programs are developed in collaboration with University colleagues and ensures support divisional and cross-divisional goals. 3. Develops marketing and communications strategies aimed at alumni, staying abreast of various medias and evolving technologies to create a high level of engagement with alumni; works with the rest of the Alumni Relations staff to implement programs. 4. Collaborates and manages metrics showing outcomes of programs; develops and oversees budgets for programming events, marketing services, etc. and appropriately allocates resources to support programs. 5. Integrates individual cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for donors. 6. Prepares gift proposals, solicitation letters and other development-related materials. 7. Advises donors on gift planning strategies to maximize institutional gift benefits and when appropriate, works closely with the primary liaison for the Office of Gift Planning. 8. Provides oversight to ensure all work plan goals are met; assists with strategy and complicated gift work. 9. Schedules and arranges on-site and off-site meetings, luncheons, visits, etc. of institutional leaders with major donors and prospects. 10. Identifies foundation and corporate funding opportunities specific to priority project needs and assists with proposals and stewardship. 11. May perform other duties as assigned. Required Education and Experience Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field and a minimum of four years of related experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.Job Posting Date
06/08/2026Job Category
ManagerBargaining Unit
NONCompensation Grade
Administration & OperationsCompensation Grade Profile
Manager; Program Leader (26)Salary Range
$92,000.00 - $146,750.00Time Type
Full timeDuration Type
StaffWork Model
On-siteBackground Check Requirements
All candidates for employment will be subject to pre-employment background screening for this position, which may include motor vehicle, DOT certification, drug testing and credit checks based on the position description and job requirements. All offers are contingent upon the successful completion of the background check. For additional information on the background check requirements and process visit "Learn about background checks" under the Applicant Support Resources section of Careers on the It's Your Yale website.
Health Requirements
Certain positions have associated health requirements based on specific job responsibilities. These may include vaccinations, tests, or examinations, as required by law, regulation, or university policy.
Posting Disclaimer
Salary offers are determined by a candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education in relation to the position requirements, along with the role’s grade profile and current internal and external market conditions.
The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the essential functions that will be required of the position and should not be construed as a declaration of specific duties and responsibilities of the position. Employees will be assigned specific job-related duties through their hiring department.
The University is committed to basing judgments concerning the admission, education, and employment of individuals upon their qualifications and abilities and seeks to attract to its faculty, staff, and student body qualified persons from a broad range of backgrounds and perspectives. In accordance with this policy and as delineated by federal and Connecticut law, Yale does not discriminate in admissions, educational programs, or employment against any individual on account of that individual’s sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, disability, status as a special disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam era or other covered veteran.
Inquiries concerning Yale's Policy Against Discrimination and Harassment may be referred to the Office of Institutional Equity and Accessibility (OIEA).
Note
Yale University is a tobacco-free campus.