ABOUT THE WALTERS ART MUSEUM

The Walters Art Museum is among America’s most distinctive museums, forging connections between people and art from cultures around the world and spanning seven millennia. Located in Baltimore’s Mount Vernon neighborhood, the Walters is free for all. The museum’s campus includes five historic buildings and 36,000 art objects. The Walters Art Museum has a COVID-19 Vaccination Policy that requires all employees to be fully vaccinated per the CDC’s definition of full vaccination.

Today, the Walters serves Baltimore and Maryland by embracing its role as educators and storytellers, using the collection as a vehicle of knowledge and cultural expression to support learning, dialogue, and community engagement. The museum is committed to public education, offering essential programs that help people to connect art to their lives. The Walters’ Visitor Promise aligns staff and volunteers across the museum to preserve and share the works in our care for future generations, partner with communities, and create welcoming, accessible experiences for visitors. The museum offers challenging and creative work opportunities by promoting collaboration, teamwork, and a culture that celebrates the diversity and inclusion of all. In December 2020, the museum finalized a set of multiyear diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion (DEAI) goals in alignment with the museum’s Strategic Plan and grounded in the following commitments: expand the histories the museum examines and shares; partner with our communities; and center equity, inclusion, and accountability in our culture and decision-making.

Overview of Role

The Manager of Special Events and Sponsorships is a key member of the Development Department and will oversee strategy, planning, and implementation of the Walters’ fundraising events. This position will also engage with donors and serve as a representative of the Walters Art Museum to steward and solicit individual and corporate sponsorships in order to generate revenue growth for short- and long-term initiatives of the museum.

Under the direction of the Senior Director of Development, the manager will develop and implement an annual fundraising event plan that supports key initiatives and mission of the Walters. This includes the coordination and distribution of communications for special events, and stewardship of donors, sponsors, vendors, and partners associated with fundraising events. The manager supervises the Assistant Manager of Special Events and has oversight of all special events for the Development Department.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Oversee the strategy, planning, and implementation of fundraising events for the Development department.

• Plan and execute three major fundraising events annually for the museum with a goal to generate at least $600,000 in gross revenue.
• Collaborate with the Senior Director of Development to develop appropriate fundraising budgets and revenue projections for operational support.
• Develop and implement an annual work plan with measurable objectives and courses of action.
• Develop relevant sponsorship benefits that support Development’s strategic goals.
• Collaborate with Marketing & Communications to produce invitations and other designed pieces, and ensure visibility and promotion of ticked fundraisers.
• Prepare, track, and manage revenue and expense budgets.
• Use internal systems such as Altru and EMS to effectively and accurately track event related data.
• All other duties as assigned.

Stewardship of individual and corporate sponsors.

• Develop a cohesive stewardship plan for individual and corporate donors and prospects who attend and sponsor events.
• Manage reports and sponsorship fulfillment for individual and corporate donors.
• Work closely with the Manager of Grants and Foundations to identify and cultivate corporate prospects.
• Generate letters and sponsorship materials to solicit support for events and special projects.
• All other duties as assigned.

Manage planning, design and execution of donor events.

• Manage the Assistant Manager of Special Events.
• Oversee all aspects of events including oversight of professional caterers, vendors, related contracts, and set ups to ensure museum policies and procedures are enforced.
• Provide oversight of all event logistics.
• Work cross-departmentally with other teams to strategize and execute events, including but not limited to Visitor Experience, Marketing & Communications, Security, Maintenance, Conservation, and the Executive Director’s office.
• All other duties as assigned.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

• Three to five years of demonstrated successful experience producing and coordinating special events.
• Undergraduate degree in the arts is preferred.
• Knowledge of sponsorships and fundraising, with demonstrated talent for cultivating and stewarding a portfolio of donors preferred.
• Familiarity with event vendors, production and planning techniques.
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative, use intuition, and be innovative.
• Demonstrated ability to partner with diverse groups.
• Requires flexibility and ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Computer proficiency in Word and Excel required, including knowledge of computer-based development management tools such as Altru.
• Demonstrated organizational, analytical, and planning skills.
• Demonstrated experience working effectively with board-level volunteers, donors, and prospects.

Schedule: Standard workweek is Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Event weeks are subject to different hours, as needed. Must have flexibility to work weekends and evenings and to travel locally.

Starting Annual Salary: $60,000-$70,000

The Walters Art Museum provides an excellent comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, prescription, vision, subsidized transportation and parking, museum membership, short-term disability, long-term disability, life insurance, FSA (flexible spending account), 457b retirement, and free professional financial management counseling.

All employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States. The museum does not sponsor work visas.