Director of Annual Giving and Membership - Central Advancement - Cranbrook Educational Community

Posted on 8/27/25

Founded by Detroit philanthropists George and Ellen Booth in 1904, Cranbrook Educational Community is one of the world’s leading centers of education, science, and art. Comprised of a graduate Academy of Art, contemporary Art Museum, Center for Collections and Research, House and Gardens, Institute of Science, and more than 1,600 students attending our Pre-K through 12 independent college preparatory Schools, Cranbrook welcomes thousands of visitors and students to its campus each year. Critics have called Cranbrook “the most enchanted and enchanting setting in America” and in 1989 it was designated a National Historic Landmark. The campus is located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, about 20 miles north of downtown Detroit. For more, please visit our website: www.cranbrook.edu.

This position oversees the coordinated efforts and success of the annual giving and membership programs that generate recurring operating support through philanthropic gifts for the Cranbrook Educational Community (CEC) and the Cranbrook Academy of Art, Cranbrook Art Museum, Cranbrook Institute of Science, Center for Collections & Research, Horizons-Upward Bound, and House & Gardens (“Program Areas”). This role excludes responsibilities related to Cranbrook Schools and the Cranbrook Schools Fund. The Director of Annual Giving and Membership works closely with Program Areas to achieve shared and program-specific goals.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Annual Giving: Lead the planning, execution, and evaluation of the CEC’s coordinated annual giving program to increase unrestricted funds and grow the donor base across its Program Areas and overall operations.

• Program Management: Develop, implement, and monitor strategies to cultivate, solicit, and steward repeatable, unrestricted gifts through direct mail, digital campaigns, personal solicitations, and other methods.
• Coordination of Annual Giving Campaigns: Manage the creation, preparation, and distribution of annual giving print and email pieces. Oversee the review process to maintain consistency and alignment with overall fundraising messaging.
• Leadership Annual Giving: Partner with Advancement colleagues to manage leadership annual giving prospects and donors, ensuring solicitation and stewardship efforts align with Program Area financial goals.
• Stewardship Oversight: Work with colleagues to refine and execute stewardship plans for unrestricted support across Program Areas.
• Project Management: Establish a project management system for annual giving activities.
• Performance Analysis: Provide actionable reports to track program success and recommend adjustments based on established performance metrics.
• Data Preparation: Prepare and organize donor data for Program Area solicitations.
• Vendor Management: Collaborate with external vendors, such as designers, print houses, and mail houses, to execute annual giving programs. Oversee contracts and payments and serve as the primary point of contact for solicitation projects.

Membership: Lead the planning, execution, and evaluation of membership programs for the CEC, Museum, and Institute, including individual and corporate components, acquisition, renewals, retention, stewardship, and analysis to meet budget and performance goals.

• Membership Campaigns: Develop acquisition campaigns to attract new and lapsed members, working closely with the Communications team on newsletters and other outreach.
• Member Experience: Develop and implement strategies to encourage renewals, upgrades, and conversions of members into outright donors while supporting member-focused events in collaboration with Program Area visitor services and educational team staff.
• Data Management: Oversee membership configuration in the RENXT database, ensuring data accuracy, consistency, and adherence to best practices.
• Reporting: Produce and analyze membership reports on gift levels, stewardship, trends, and projections, ensuring alignment with financial goals and tax regulations.
• Community Collaboration: Manage programs such as Museums for All, Explore Cranbrook, CRANE family memberships, and Cranbrook Staff and Retiree memberships, ensuring effective stewardship and communication of member benefits.
• Coordination: Align membership timelines, events and programming, and benefits across the CEC and the Program Areas.
• Strategic Planning: Develop and maintain annual operating plans aligned with current strategic priorities and initiatives for all membership programs across the CEC.
• Vendor Management: Collaborate with external vendors, such as designers, print houses, and mail houses, to execute membership programs. Oversee contracts and payments and serve as the primary point of contact for membership projects.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Minimum of seven years of experience successfully managing non-profit direct mail and membership programs.
• Proven track record of engaging and motivating members.
• Outstanding analytical, creative, and strategic thinking skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, exceptional interpersonal skills, strong organizational skills, and attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, collaborate, and build consensus.
• Computer proficiency is necessary, including a demonstrated ability to creatively and effectively work remotely, and meet all demands of the position using virtual platforms when necessary.
• Experience using Raiser’s Edge NXT software preferred.
• Knowledge of ethics related to philanthropy, appropriate relationships with donors and the donor bill of rights; and standard office practices and procedures.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain sensitive and confidential information.
• Requires a valid Michigan driver’s license with satisfactory driving record.

Compensation: $85k+ based on experience

Cranbrook offers competitive compensation and benefits that include medical, dental, life insurance, long-term and short-term disability, and retirement programs with employer contribution. We also offer generous paid time off, 11 paid holidays and 3 floating holidays, employee discounts, and a unique environment in an educational setting that values collaboration.

For consideration, please submit a resume and cover letter to: Director of Annual Giving and Membership | Cranbrook Employment Opportunities