Associate Director of Membership & Individual Giving

Job Description

Job Description

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR of MEMBERSHIP & INDIVIDUAL GIVING

Full-Time | On-site

Canyon seeks a full-time Associate Director of Membership & Individual Giving to support the Chief Advancement Officer in launching Canyon's membership programs and individual giving opportunities, and support all fundraising activities for the organization.

About Canyon

Canyon is a new contemporary art center dedicated to exhibiting video, sound, and performance, opening on the Lower East Side of Manhattan in fall 2026. Spanning approximately 40,000 square feet, the venue encompasses exhibition galleries, a 120-seat performance space, an 800-person event hall, a restaurant, bar, mezzanine café, and theater. Canyon presents two major exhibitions per year alongside a year-round program of live events, performances, screenings, and community programming.

Position Summary

The Associate Director of Membership & Individual Giving, is responsible for developing, implementing, and overseeing the launch and growth of Canyon's membership programs and individual giving opportunities. The Associate Director of Membership & Individual Giving, reports to the Chief Advancement Officer (CAO) and is an integral part of the organization, working closely with the executive team, Visitor Services, and Communications. Opening in the fall of 2026 in the Lower East Side, Canyon expects to welcome hundreds of new members, donors, and thousands of visitors each year.

This position will play a key role on the founding advancement team and the launch of fundraising strategies. They will oversee the launch of Canyon's membership program and individual giving opportunities, and support the CAO in coordinating and producing all development special events, including the annual gala, member events and exhibition openings, and cultivation and partner events.

Key Responsibilities

Membership & Individual Giving

• Actualize, implement, launch and manage Canyon's membership program and related events, benefits, and stewardship programs
• Work closely with the Chief Advancement Officer to develop and execute strategies for annual appeals, membership campaigns, and individual giving programs
• Identify, cultivate and solicit new members and donors, focusing on general membership
• Manage the gift processing, acknowledgment, and tracking process, and track department expenses and budgets, providing regular reports
• Craft written communications and marketing materials for membership and development outreach, mailings, solicitations, newsletters, events, proposals, and annual reports
• Conduct prospect research, wealth screenings, and run reports of donor and prospect portfolios for team meetings, actions, and solicitations
• Act as rockstar CRM lead for advancement, tracking donors, prospects, and contacts

Special Events

• Manage advancement's calendar of events, including membership events, donor stewardship and prospect cultivation events, the annual gala, and exhibition openings and program receptions
• Support the CAO in coordinating all fundraising event logistics and manage the budget, expense and income tracking for each event
• Manage member, donor, and VIP lists for all Canyon special events, external member or partner events, and organize cultivation events with Canyon's programmatic partners

General Administrative Responsibilities:

• Book meetings, tours, and travel
• Work select events that may take place outside of working hours

Required Qualifications:

• 5+ years of experience in a similar fundraising position
• Experience running membership programs, donor groups, and producing special events
• Knowledge of significant funders, leaders in philanthropy, social, and cultural circles in NYC
• Comfortable engaging with people, cultivating relationships, and facilitating solicitations
• Proficient in donor CRM systems, communications software, and ideally experience with Adobe Creative Cloud or graphic design software preferred
• Experience with gift processing, member/donor benefit fulfillment, and communications
• Possess sound judgement, diplomancy, hospitality, and discretion in donor relations
• Proactive, creative, positive, and resourceful problem solver and communicator who takes initiative and anticipates needs in advance
• Highly organized and detail oriented
• Excellent verbal, written and communication skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in a museum, performing arts or cultural institution, or
• Passionate about deeply connecting with others through performances, video and media art, music, and art that moves, hospitality, and wide ranging audiences
• Experience with Google Workspace, Project Management software (Click-Up, Asana, similar)
• Experience with CRM software best practices and data entry, and event management software
• Experience working in hospitality, customer relations, or start-up/early stage organizations

Compensation & Benefits Salary: $90,000–$100,000, commensurate with experience.

Canyon offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with employer match
• Generous paid time off
• Tuition reimbursement
• Professional development opportunities

This is a full-time position. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; life, AD&D, long-term disability, and short-term disability insurance; a Health Savings Account or Flexible Spending Account; a 401(k) retirement account with a matching contribution; and tuition reimbursement. We are an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

To Apply

Please upload a resume, cover letter, and contact information for three references in the 'Resume' section of the job application portal.

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. All background checks will be conducted in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.