Director of Development

Director of Development Muhammad Ali Center Louisville, KY Job Details Full-time $75,000 - $85,000 a year 20 hours ago Benefits Health savings account Health insurance Dental insurance Paid time off Parental leave Employee assistance program Vision insurance Employee discount Flexible schedule Life insurance Retirement plan Qualifications CRM software Nonprofit management Writing grant proposals Non-profit experience Major gifts Grant writing Databases Database administration Database management Bachelor's degree Data management Donor relations Fundraising Budgeting CRM system proficiency Productivity software Donor and alumni database management Full Job Description

ABOUT THE MUHAMMAD ALI CENTER

The Muhammad Ali Center was created to honor the life of The Greatest and Louisville's most prominent global citizen. We exist to mobilize his legacy to foster respect, inspire generations of changemakers, and advance social justice. We, like Muhammad Ali, are here to create a world in which hope is realized, and all people can reach their Greatness. Though most well-known as a multicultural center with an award-winning museum, the Muhammad Ali Center is so much more than that. Over the past decade, the Center has developed impactful programming reaching people of all cultures, nationalities, ages, and geographic areas. From the Ali Center's inception, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion have been central to our core values. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, and our employees are people with different strengths, experiences, and backgrounds who share a passion for social and racial justice. Diversity includes not only race and gender identity but also age, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, religion, and many other parts of one's identity. We believe that all our employees' points of view are critical to our success and that inclusion is everyone's responsibility.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

This role reports to the CEO and will be responsible for the supervision of the Development Manager, a contracted grant writer and/or other designees as assigned

Position Summary:

The Director of Development at the Muhammad Ali Center is the senior fundraising leader responsible for building and improving the museum's development infrastructure and operations. This includes personally managing and growing major donor relationships, while also creating a system for reengaging past donors. This is a hands-on role for an experienced fundraiser who can create systems, improve processes, establish discipline, and execute a major gifts strategy in a small-team environment.

Key Responsibilities:

Fundraising & Donor Relations Lead all fundraising strategies and annual development planning for the museum. Develop and implement strategies for corporate, family, and individual memberships to increase donor engagement and revenue. Personally manage a portfolio of major donors and prospects, including cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and renewals. Develop gift strategies, case statements, proposals, and donor briefing materials. Coordinate with the CEO, Board of Directors, Development Committee, and key volunteers on donor strategy and solicitation. Plan and execute targeted fundraising campaigns and appeals, including timelines, goals, messaging, and performance tracking. Research and identify potential donors, sponsors, and grant opportunities to expand funding sources. Manage and execute grant writing and reporting, ensuring alignment with funder priorities and grant compliance. Track and analyze fundraising performance metrics to assess campaign effectiveness and inform strategic decision-making. Database & Donor Management Oversee and maintain the organization's CRM database, ensuring accurate and up-to-date donor records. Build and refine development systems, including donor pipelines, moves management, gift processing, acknowledgments, reporting, calendars, and donor record practices. Create accountability across development activities and ensure accurate reporting on goals, pipeline, and results. Generate donor and grant reports, providing insights to drive data-informed fundraising strategies. Ensure compliance with fundraising regulations, donor privacy laws, and best financial practices. Collaboration & Strategic Initiatives Work cross-functionally with education/program, finance, communications, and leadership teams to align fundraising priorities with institutional needs. Work closely with marketing and communications teams to develop fundraising and donor engagement materials and campaign collateral, ensuring compelling and mission-aligned materials for donor outreach. Support event planning for fundraising initiatives, donor cultivation events, and membership drives. Partner with the finance team to align revenue goals, monitor budgets, and track fundraising progress. Represent the Muhammad Ali Center at events, community meetings, and donor engagements.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor's degree required. Minimum of five (5) years of professional nonprofit fundraising experience, with a strong track record in major gifts. Proven experience in building and improving development systems and workflows, managing donor databases (CRM), grant writing, and membership programs. Ability to work both strategically and operationally in a small organization. Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to craft compelling donor messaging. High level of professionalism, strategic thinking, and fundraising acumen. Proficiency in Microsoft Office, fundraising CRM software, and database management.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Experience supervising staff and coordinating board engagement. Experience with annual giving, grants, donor prospect research, corporate sponsorships, special events, and stewardship strategies. Familiarity with museums, arts and cultural organizations, or other mission-driven institutions.

GENERAL SUCCESS FACTORS

Self-starter with a positive energy, detail-oriented approach, and ability to work independently. Demonstrates good judgment, ethical decision-making, and confidentiality in donor relations.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

This role operates within a multi-level facility and requires the ability to navigate the space and assist with exhibit and display setup as needed. The Muhammad Ali Center is ADA compliant and provides reasonable accommodations in accordance with applicable laws.

Pay:

$75,000.00 - $85,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Dental insurance Employee assistance program Employee discount Flexible schedule Health insurance Health savings account Life insurance Paid time off Parental leave Retirement plan Vision insurance

Experience:

Fundraising:

5 years (Required) Nonprofit management: 5 years (Required) CRM software: 5 years (Required)

Location:

Louisville, KY 40202 (Required) Ability to

Commute:

Louisville, KY 40202 (Required) Ability to

Relocate:

Louisville, KY 40202: Relocate before starting work (Required) Willingness to travel: 25% (Required)

Work Location:

In person