Development Director

About the role

The Development Director will personally lead and execute all aspects of fundraising for the organization. This is a working position: the Development Director is the primary implementer of all development activities and is expected to carry out the day-to-day work of building and sustaining a contributed revenue program that meets or exceeds the organization’s annual fundraising goals.

Responsibilities

• Annual Fund & Individual Giving:

  • Personally develop and execute an annual fundraising plan and calendar to raise at least $1.58 million in contributed and benefit revenue across all sources.
  • Manage and actively grow a portfolio of individual donors at all levels, from annual fund donors to major gift prospects ($10,000+).
  • Conduct ongoing prospect research, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship—handling all donor-facing communications and meetings directly.
  • Write and produce all donor appeals, renewal letters, acknowledgment letters, and personalized stewardship communications.
  • Prepare and present regular progress reports to the Executive Director and Board of Directors.

• Foundation & Government Grants:

  • Research, identify, and qualify new foundation and government grant opportunities aligned with the organization’s programs and priorities.
  • Write, compile, and submit all grant proposals, letters of inquiry, and interim and final reports.
  • Maintain a comprehensive grants calendar and ensure all reporting deadlines are met.
  • Cultivate and maintain relationships with program officers at current and prospective funders.

• Events & Special Initiatives:

  • Plan and execute the organization’s signature annual benefit events:
  • Winter: Poets Table benefit dinner
  • Spring: Poetry Walk Across the Brooklyn Bridge
  • Fall: Poetry Cruise
  • Manage all logistics, vendor relationships, sponsor outreach, donor invitations, event communications, and follow-up for each event.
  • Identify and pursue additional cultivation and stewardship event opportunities as appropriate.

• Endowment Campaign:

  • Develop a comprehensive plan for a ten-year, $10 million endowment campaign, including feasibility assessment, case for support, campaign timeline, and prospect pipeline.
  • Lead implementation of the endowment campaign, personally managing major gift solicitations and building relationships with prospective endowment donors.
  • Work closely with the Executive Director and Board to identify and engage campaign leadership and volunteer support.

• Communications & Content:

  • Write and produce the organization’s annual report, donor newsletters, and e-appeals in coordination with Access Services staff.
  • Contribute to print, digital, and social media content as it relates to fundraising, donor recognition, and organizational visibility.
  • Maintain consistent donor messaging that reflects and advances the organization’s voice and mission.

• Data Management & CRM:

  • Lead the selection, procurement, and implementation of a new CRM platform, including data migration from the existing system.
  • Maintain accurate and up-to-date donor records, gift processing, and reporting within the CRM.
  • Generate regular fundraising reports and dashboards to track progress against goals.

• Organizational Collaboration:

  • Work closely with Poets House leadership to understand and address organizational goals and operational needs.
  • Participate in organizational planning and staff meetings as a senior member of the Poets House team.
  • Coordinate as needed with a part-time development administrative assistant and Poets House operations staff to support administrative functions; note that all substantive development work remains the direct responsibility of the Director.
  • Work with the Board of Directors’ Development Committee to engage board members in fundraising activities.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Education:

  • Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree in nonprofit management, arts administration, or a related field preferred.

• Experience:

  • Minimum seven (7) years of progressively responsible, hands-on fundraising experience at a literary (preferred) or arts nonprofit organization, with demonstrated success in an individual contributor capacity.
  • Proven track record of personally meeting or exceeding fundraising goals and securing major gifts from individuals.
  • Experience writing and winning competitive government and foundation grants.
  • Demonstrated experience planning and executing fundraising and cultivation events.
  • Experience managing or leading a CRM implementation or migration is a plus.
  • Familiarity with endowment or capital campaign planning strongly preferred.

• Skills & Competencies:

  • Passion for poetry, literature, and the mission of expanding access to the arts.
  • Exceptional writing, editing, and proofreading skills; ability to produce polished, compelling donor communications and grant proposals independently.
  • Strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills; comfortable building relationships with donors, foundation officers, and community partners.
  • Self-directed and highly organized, with the ability to manage multiple deadlines and projects simultaneously without relying on a support team.
  • Solid command of database and spreadsheet tools; proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Outlook), Airtable, and at least one nonprofit CRM platform (e.g., Salesforce Nonprofit, Bloomerang, Little Green Light, or equivalent).
  • Familiarity with online fundraising platforms, email marketing tools, and digital prospect research resources.
  • Sound understanding of nonprofit financial structures, budgeting, and fundraising best practices.

Compensation & Benefits

This is a full-time, salaried position. The salary range is $95,000–$130,000 per year, commensurate with experience. Poets House offers a benefits package that includes:

• Employer-subsidized health insurance
• Generous paid time off, including vacation, comp time, and flex holidays
• Retail savings opportunities
• A collegial, mission-driven work environment with a deep commitment to poetry and community

About Poets House

Poets House is a national poetry library and literary center located in lower Manhattan, New York City. Founded in 1986 by poet Stanley Kunitz and arts administrator Elizabeth Kray, Poets House welcomes everyone into the living tradition of poetry. At its heart is an open-access reading room with expansive Hudson River views and a 100,000-volume poetry collection—the largest publicly accessible poetry library in the United States. Throughout the year, Poets House presents a vibrant program series of readings, conversations, workshops, and community events that celebrate poets and connect new audiences to poetry. With a current annual operating budget of approximately $1.7 million, approximately 80% of which is contributed revenue, Poets House depends on the generosity of individual donors, foundations, corporations, and government funders to fulfill its mission.