Description
CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER | Eastman Museum Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA
About the Eastman Museum
The George Eastman Museum, founded in 1947, is the world’s oldest museum of photography and one of the largest film archives in the United States. Its internationally renowned collection spans photography, cinema, and technology, including more than 400,000 photographs, 30,000 films, and 20,000 technology objects, as well as the complete set of masters for the moving image artworks of William Kentridge and Bill Viola. The museum is located on the former estate of George Eastman—the entrepreneur and philanthropist who pioneered popular photography and motion picture film—in Rochester, New York.
As part of its long-term strategic plan, the museum is establishing Eastman Museum Los Angeles, a new museum for exhibitions, public programming, and youth education programs that explore the art, science, and social impact of photography and moving images.
Los Angeles—one of the world’s leading centers of cinema, photography, contemporary art, and visual culture—currently lacks a museum dedicated exclusively to photography and the moving image. Eastman LA will fill that gap by presenting simultaneous exhibitions across multiple galleries in one facility, including:
- Main exhibitions—thematic, topical, historical, or about a single artist or group of artists
- Project Gallery exhibitions of recent works by single artists, with an emphasis on LA artists
- Exceptional exhibitions on the history of photography and photographic technology
- A permanent exhibition on the progress of moving image technology since its invention
- Installations of contemporary moving image artworks
- Collaborative projects with local organizations showcasing creative work by young people
The museum will host frequent public lectures and discussions by artists, curators, and scholars. We will collaborate with schools and youth organizations to promote visual and media literacy, creativity, and STEM learning. We will also partner on projects with local cultural and academic institutions.
A transformative opportunity now exists for Eastman Museum Los Angeles to acquire a permanent facility, which would be a new cultural landmark dedicated to photography and the moving image.
Capital Campaign
To support the acquisition, renovation, and launch of Eastman LA’s venue, the museum is initiating a major capital campaign to fund:
- Acquisition of a 22,000-square-foot art gallery that would be ideal as our museum venue
- Limited renovations, primarily lighting and humidity control upgrades, to meet museum standards
- Funding to cover at least three years of operating expenses
To enable this transformational plan, Eastman LA has launched a campaign to raise at least $30 million.
The capital campaign will engage collectors, philanthropists, foundations, corporations, and industry leaders across Los Angeles and beyond.
About the Position
The Chief Development Officer will play a key role in developing the fundraising strategy for the Eastman Museum Los Angeles initiative and will lead its execution, with support from the Director-CEO of the George Eastman Museum and Eastman LA and the Associate Director of Eastman LA. Working closely with these leaders of the Eastman LA, the Chief Development Officer cultivate major philanthropic support for the project. The role will include identifying, soliciting, and stewarding highcapacity prospective donors in the Los Angeles region, nationwide, and internationally. Areas of focus will include philanthropists and stakeholders within photography, film, visual arts, media and entertainment, and technology.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Capital Campaign
- Collaborate in the development and refinement of the capital campaign strategy
- Focus on prospective lead donors ($10 million+) and other prospective donors of $1 million+
- Prepare proposals and presentations for individuals and foundations
- Partner with leadership and the to-be-formed Advisory Council to set priorities and goals
Major Gifts
- Manage a portfolio of approximately 75–100 prospects
- Identify, cultivate, and steward major donors
- Coordinate solicitations involving museum leadership, trustees, and Advisory Council members
Volunteer Engagement
- Participate in identifying and recruiting members of the Advisory Council
- Work with and deputize the Advisory Council to identify prospects
Campaign Infrastructure
- Oversee campaign planning, prospect tracking, and donor pipelines
- Organize cultivation events and donor recognition opportunities
Requirements
Experience
- 8–10 years of fundraising experience at museums or other cultural or educational institutions
- 5 or more years of fundraising for nonprofit institutions in Los Angeles
- Demonstrated success in securing major gifts and grants ($1 million+)
- Experience as a leader of, or key participant in, a capital campaign
- Strong understanding of the Los Angeles philanthropic and cultural landscape
- Experience working with high-net–worth individuals and collectors
- Experience in fundraising from diverse funding sources—individuals, foundations, corporations
- Excellent communication and proposal-writing skills
- Collaborative approach and ability to work with senior leadership
- Passion for photography, film, art, and cultural institutions
- Experience with Raisers’ Edge or fundraising databases and donor management systems
