Nell Parker lives with her family in a rambling 200-year-old farmhouse in rural Maine. She loves to engage with the surrounding landscape through growing her own food, celebrating the wheel of the year, and closely observing the surrounding world in the process of art-making. Her work has been shown in galleries throughout Maine and Oregon.

Director of Development

The Wendell Gilley Museum in Southwest Harbor, Maine is seeking a full-time Director of Development to support annual and project-based fundraising in a busy, year-round museum on the “quiet side” of Mount Desert Island (MDI), Maine that has the goal of bringing people closer to nature through art.

Founded in 1979, the Museum’s mission is to inspire artistic creativity and engagement with the natural world on Mount Desert Island and Downeast Maine for current and future generations through education, exhibitions, and programs, while honoring the legacy of noted bird carver Wendell Gilley.

The Development Director will oversee the organization’s fundraising, cultivation, and development, managing new and developing relationships with current and future donors. Duties include planning fundraising events, interacting with donors past and present to encourage ongoing contributions, and seeking out opportunities for financial support through grants and sponsorships.

This is a largely in-person position with some ability to work remotely from time to time. There is an expectation of attendance at many after-hours events, primarily but not exclusively on MDI with potential donors.  While the Gilley Museum remains open year-round, the bulk of donor interactions and events take place during the summer months.

Duties include:

• Develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising plan to meet the organization’s annual and project-based revenue goals.
• Identify and cultivate major gift prospects, as well as corporate and foundation donors.
• Plan and execute special events as part of a team that engage donors and raise funds for the organization.
• Collaborate with the Communications team to develop and execute effective donor communications and marketing materials.
• Work closely with the Board of Directors and Executive Director to develop fundraising strategies and goals.
• Lead fundraising committee of the Board providing organization, accountability, training, and inspiration.
• Oversee tracking of events, donors and acknowledgments with the Museum’s Little Green Light database.
• Monitor and analyze fundraising data to evaluate performance and adjust strategies as needed.

Preferred qualifications include:

• Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, business administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, with a proven track record of success in major gifts, corporate and foundation giving, and special events.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to write compelling donor communications and marketing materials.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with colleagues, board members, and volunteers.
• Experience with fundraising software and donor databases including Little Green Light
• A deep commitment to the mission and values of our organization.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Excel, Google business suite)

This position reports directly to the Director of the Wendell Gilley Museum and joins a team of four full-time staff and eleven part-time/seasonal staff. Be part of our collaborative, community-focused workplace committed to connecting people, nature and art. Salary range is $55,000 - $60,000 commensurate with experience, plus benefits.

Equal Opportunity Employer. Apply with cover letter and resume to: director@wendellgilleymuseum.org, with Director of Development in the subject line. Please direct inquiries to the same email address.

Students will be guided by local artist Erika Rosso, step by step, to create their own nature-inspired Winter Scene in watercolor.

Sip on wine, tea or seltzer as part of this adults-only class, which is suitable for artists of all levels who are at least 21 years old. All materials and beverages provided.

The Wendell Gilley Museum is gearing up for the annual Community Open House & Art Show featuring carvings, drawings, paintings, linocuts and more that were created as part of a visit, class, or workshop with the Museum – everyone from grade-schoolers to grandparents.

And we welcome everyone through our doors that day for free to check out the Museum and enjoy all the art, along with some light refreshments.

Submit something you created at the Gilley for this year's show, set for Sunday, Dec. 15, from 1-4pm. Please drop off your art by Friday, Dec. 8, and be sure to leave us your name, the name of the piece, and its medium when you come in. Ask for Melinda Rice-Schoon, Jane Holland, or Sean Charette when you bring your art to the museum. Then join us on Dec. 15 to mingle with the other artists and enjoy the art.

If you have questions, email Melinda Rice-Schoon at mel@wendellgilleymuseum.org.