Director of Advancement

O, Miami Director of Advancement somebody put a seed in the groundand I grew cause the sun is shiningon me —Jada, 3rd graderThe Director of Advancement is a new leadership role at O, Miami, created to help sustain, strengthen, and invigorate the organization's mission-oriented work in our next chapter.Working closely with O, Miami's Co-Executive Directors and Board, the Director of Advancement will build the relationships, systems, and strategies that support the organization's long-term financial sustainability and continued growth. This person will be both a thoughtful fundraiser and an enthusiastic ambassador for O, Miami, someone who is energized by meeting people, committed to thorough follow through, and eager to help others see themselves as partners in the organization's vision for Miami.The role encompasses philanthropic development, institutional partnerships, public-sector relationships, membership, and advancement strategy. A significant part of the work will be building and deepening relationships across Miami-Dade's civic and cultural landscape, including with local elected officials, municipalities, the Department of Cultural Affairs, and Mayors’ Offices. The Director will listen closely to community and government priorities, understand emerging opportunities for investment and expansion, and identify meaningful ways for O, Miami's work to serve shared goals.This is a role for a relationship-builder and creative thinker who can move comfortably between: a foundation meeting, a conversation with a city official, a donor cultivation event, a grant proposal deadline, and a strategic planning session. Strong follow-through is essential: this person will be someone who turns conversations into relationships, relationships into opportunities, and opportunities into meaningful support for the work.Most importantly, the Director of Advancement will help O, Miami imagine and build the future of an organization that believes poetry can be a powerful tool for connection, belonging, education, and civic life.Core ResponsibilitiesFundraising & Advancement StrategyDevelop and execute a comprehensive, multi-year advancement strategy that increases and diversifies O, Miami's contributed revenue that align with O, Miami's strategic priorities.Establish annual fundraising goals, priorities, and pipelines in partnership with the Co-Executive Directors and Board.Cultivate and solicit foundation, corporate, government, and individual support, with particular attention to major gifts and long-term institutional relationships.Donor & Institutional RelationshipsManage a network of foundation, corporate, individual, and institutional partners, with an emphasis on thoughtful cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and renewal.Build meaningful relationships with high-capacity individuals and prospective donors who share an interest in poetry, education, arts and culture, civic life, and Miami.Direct the membership, engagement, and fulfillment strategy for O, Miami's Dade Poet Society.Oversee donor recognition, stewardship activities, appeals, proposals, and other fundraising communications.Partner with the communications team to ensure fundraising and membership messaging is clear, compelling, consistent, and aligned with O, Miami's voice.Civic & Public-Sector PartnershipsEstablish and deepen relationships with local elected officials, municipalities, the Mayors’ Offices, Department of Cultural Affairs, and other public-sector leaders and agencies across Miami-Dade County.Advocate for the role of poetry, arts education, and creative civic engagement in strengthening communities and public life.Develop relationships that can lead to new partnerships, public funding opportunities, program expansion, and innovative collaborations.Serve as a thoughtful ambassador for O, Miami within Miami-Dade's civic and cultural ecosystem.Grants & Institutional FundingOversee the foundation, corporate, and government funding pipeline in partnership with the Grants Manager.Ensure timely submission of grant applications, reports, renewals, and all funder deliverables.Review and strengthen proposals, letters of inquiry, reports, budgets, and other institutional fundraising materials.Steward existing funders and identify opportunities to deepen relationships and increase support.Executive & Board PartnershipWork closely with the Co-Executive Directors to advance organizational fundraising and partnership priorities.Collaborate with the Board and its relevant committees to engage board members as ambassadors, connectors, cultivators, and advocates.Prepare fundraising reports, pipeline updates, prospect research, and progress reports for executive leadership and the Board.Support organizational strategy and planning by bringing an external perspective on funding trends, partnership opportunities, and the broader philanthropic and civic landscape.Advancement OperationsSupervise and support the Grants Manager and other advancement-related staff or contractors as the department grows.Oversee donor database management and ensure accurate, timely documentation of donor relationships, prospects, solicitations, and stewardship activities.Maintain strong systems and practices within Bloomerang, QGive, Airtable, Dropbox, and other advancement tools.Track prospects, follow-up, solicitations, renewals, and relationship touchpoints in CRM on a weekly basis.Manage the development department budget and contribute to organizational budgeting, forecasting, and reporting. Support annual audit activities and other organizational reporting requirements as needed.Qualifications & Competencies5+ years of fundraising, development, advancement, or related experience.Demonstrated experience with individual giving, major gifts, foundation funding, and/or institutional partnerships.Experience developing and managing donor and prospect relationships from cultivation through solicitation and stewardship.Foundation grant-writing and institutional fundraising experience.Experience working with corporate and/or government partners strongly preferred.Existing relationships and familiarity with South Florida elected officials and government, civic institutions, and/or cultural ecosystems is a plus.Strong written and oral communication skills.Strong organizational skills and demonstrated ability to manage multiple relationships, deadlines, and priorities.Experience with donor databases and CRM systems; familiarity with Bloomerang and Airtable is a plus.Comfort working independently while collaborating closely with a small, tight knit creative and entrepreneurial team.A genuine interest in poetry, literature, arts and culture, education, and the civic life of South Florida.Compensation & BenefitsSalary $75,000- $85,000 O, Miami offers a hybrid work schedule, paid vacation, sick and personal leave, paid holidays, and other benefits. This is a fulltime position requiring that candidates currently live within South Florida, or who can commit to permanently relocating within 2 months of securing the position. Equal OpportunityO, Miami is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive staff. Qualified candidates of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply. O, Miami does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of religion, race, creed, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender expression, or any other characteristic protected by law.