Vice President of Development

Maine College of Art

Portland, ME

https://www.meca.edu/

Send Nominations or Cover Letter and Resume to:

Jon Derek Croteau

Vice President

617-262-1102

jcroteau@LLLSearches.com

The Opportunity:

Uniquely poised for a period of continued growth as the

leading college of art and design in northern New

England, Maine College of Art (MECA) is the oldest and

largest arts institution in the State of Maine, as well as

Maine’s only accredited college of art and design.

For more than 135 years, MECA has been committed to

educating artists for life. The MECA education is rooted

in artistic excellence, creative entrepreneurship and civic

engagement. Today, the vitality of its mission is clearly

exemplified by expanding facilities and resources, a highly engaged and prolific student body, a growing

network of successful alumni, an impressive caliber of faculty, visiting artists and guest lecturers, and a

dedicated administration.

MECA’s interdisciplinary curriculum focuses on models of creative practice, ensuring that students will

graduate with a solid understanding of how to most effectively use their passions, talents and education to

make a living as a professional artist and designer.

Located in the heart of Portland, Maine’s thriving

Downtown Arts District, MECA is perfectly situated at

the center of one of America’s most livable cities.

Portland is a place of true cultural distinction that

celebrates creative expression, individualism and

originality. Renowned locally, nationally and

internationally for awe-inspiring natural beauty, historic

architecture and an edgy urban pulse, a brief walk

around the city reveals how easily one can fall in love

with this great destination that MECA proudly calls home.

MECA believes that art and culture make communities better. It is committed to empowering a new

generation of creative, problem-solving Artists at Work. MECA provides an incomparable, individualized

foundation for a successful career in the arts.

Position Overview – Vice President of Development

Reporting to the President, the Vice President of Development will be responsible for creating, managing,

planning, directing and executing a comprehensive donor Development and fundraising program to

include, but not be limited to the development and establishment of a fundraising and Development

program, infrastructure and operational plan, the build-up and generation of a consistent annual donations

pipeline and the related donor base.

The position requires the creation and management of signature events to increase the College's donor

base, community profile and donor recognition, and the management of Board member relations to

facilitate Development initiatives. This position is strategic and hands-on, and at the same time will be

responsible to establish processes and procedures related to the seamless operation of a Development

department, including Development communications with the College’s donor base and Board of Trustees.

The Vice President of Development is responsible for the creation and generation of related

communications materials and donor databases/informational reports.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in Development; higher education setting a plus.

• Demonstrated ability to generate Major Gift donations, cultivate high capacity donors, and close

major gifts.

• Ability to create a strategic plan for Development with diverse revenue streams, as well as the ability

to set & manage priorities to execute the plan.

• Ability to create and manage annual revenue goals & operating budget.

• Entrepreneurially inclined; energized by start-up opportunity.

• Commitment to and experience in building a culture of philanthropy.

• Passion for MECA’s mission and the ability to communicate its urgency.

• Excellent communication and social skills and passion for the arts; strong teamwork skills and a

flexible and positive attitude.

• Ability to interact with high-net-worth individuals on a peer-to-peer level.

The Vice President for Development is a core member of the President’s leadership team and is responsible

for the development of the strategic plan, donor cultivation & solicitation materials, development and

management of the financial reporting package, and oversight of the donor database.

Benefits:

Please click to learn about staff benefits at MECA: https://lllsearches.box.com/v/MECA-BENEFITS

Development Overview

During the past six years, MECA has increased revenue

by 39%, advanced annual fundraising efforts by 52%,

grown enrollment every year, and increased selectivity.

Its recent $3 million gift from the Crewe Foundation,

the largest gift in the history of the 135-year-old

institution, is designed to introduce new programs,

including a unique music and art minor.

A small but effective and nimble team, MECA’s

Advancement Office manages over $1.5 million per

year in Restricted, Endowed, Campaign, and Annual Fund gifts. Additionally, MECA’s Advancement Office

manages several fundraising, stewardship and cultivation events each year.

MECA’s donor profile represents a unique cross-section of philanthropic interests that include higher

education and the arts. Supported by an actively engaged community of donors who believe in the value of

creativity as a catalyst for culture and commerce, MECA is widely regarded as a key driver behind Portland’s

economic Development efforts and overall allure as a distinctively attractive place to live, work and study.

Client Overview

The Maine College of Art is one of 42 private,

nonprofit, degree-granting professional art

colleges in the country. It is both NEASC

(regionally) and NASAD (nationally) accredited.

Founded in 1882, MECA awards the Bachelor of

Fine Arts (BFA) degree in 11 studio majors:

Ceramics, Digital Media, Graphic Design,

Illustration, Metalsmithing & Jewelry, Painting,

Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture, Textile &

Fashion Design and Woodworking & Furniture

Design. MECA offers a rigorous Foundation Program that provides intensive training in the fundamentals of

drawing and design prior to the major. Required courses in Art History and Academic Studies constitute fully

one-third of the degree program, and are taught from the perspective of the artist. The academic and the

creative are indivisible at the College. Programs are designed to equip students with the skills, visual

insights, self-confidence and discipline traditionally associated with the independent professional artist and

designer.

MECA’s distinctive Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree program combines on-campus summer intensives with

off-campus supervised studio work. Launched in 1998, it was the first program of its kind in the country.

Visiting faculty are leading artists and designers. The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) Program combines

field work and community engagement to prepare artists to become effective art educators. MECA’s Salt

Institute for Documentary Studies offers a discreet graduate certificate program that focuses on radio

storytelling, writing, photography and short documentary film.

Rooted in the core values of artistic excellence, creative entrepreneurship and civic engagement, the College

places a great emphasis on the involvement of students in community life, and on preparation for working

life after college, through a minor in Public Engagement and the “Artists at Work” program, and on the

preparation of students for professional careers and lives as working artists after graduation.

A Pre-College program begun in 1982 is a three-week summer intensive that enrolls advanced high school

students from throughout the country and awards college credit.

The student body is currently comprised of

approximately 512 BFA, MFA and MAT degree

students. About 30% of the students come from Maine,

and 70% come from New England and across the

country. More than 95% of undergraduates receive

financial assistance. There are 90 full- and part-time

BFA faculty. All studio faculty are professional

exhibiting artists. Full-time and visiting artist

appointments are filled by national searches. The

College maintains a small student to faculty ratio in its

degree programs, creating an intimate teaching and learning environment that allows for the individual

attention required in quality visual arts training. Maine College of Art annually serves more than 1,500 adults

and youths in the region through more than 200 credit and noncredit public courses in its year-round

Continuing Studies program.

The College’s Joanne Waxman Library is one of the largest independent visual arts libraries in New England

(42,000 volumes, 150 periodicals and 550 videos). It is the only year-round art library in Maine whose

holdings are focused on studio art and design. Open to the public, it is a critical resource for the thriving

artist, design and cultural communities in the region.

The Institute of Contemporary Art at Maine College of Art (ICA at MECA) presents exhibitions of leading-

edge contemporary art year-round that are free and open to the public. The ICA offers both adult and

children’s educational programs. MECA’s public Visiting Artist Lectures Series features distinguished artists,

curators, designers and scholars from across the country.

Leadership

Laura Freid

President

Laura Freid is a leader in higher education and the arts, while continuing a

practice of storytelling through journalism and film.

As CEO and Executive Director of Silkroad for the past decade, Freid initiated

the organization’s ongoing multi-year affiliation with Harvard University and a

five-year partnership with the Rhode Island School of Design, created a

cultural entrepreneurship program in affiliation with the Harvard Business

School, and a Passion-Driven Learning Institute with the Graduate School of

Education at Harvard University.

During her tenure, Silkroad spearheaded a year-long, city-wide celebration of the arts in Chicago; focused

on the arts and passion-driven learning in work with middle schools, educators and teaching artists; and

brought together artists and business leaders to influence the emerging field of creative entrepreneurship.

She also served as executive producer of the internationally acclaimed feature documentary The Music of

Strangers: Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble.

Prior to joining Silkroad, Freid was Executive Vice President for Public Affairs and University Relations at

Brown University. A magazine journalist and editor, she served as Publisher of Harvard magazine and

Publisher and Editor of Bostonia magazine. She graduated from Washington University in St. Louis and holds

an M.B.A. from Boston University as well as an Ed.D. from the University of Pennsylvania.

Location

Portland, ME:

Portland is an incredible city. Located on the southern coast of Maine, it’s just the right size, easy to navigate

on foot, and filled with arts and culture and just minutes from beaches, lakes and forests.

Forbes Magazine has cited Portland as the #1 most livable city in the country. Besides its coastal setting with

access to colorful islands, oceanfront bike and foot trails, it is a “foodie’s” delight, offering everything from

seafood to vegetarian fare to international

cuisine. The weekly Portland Farmers

Market provides locally grown vegetables,

meats, dairy and a range of food.

Its commitment to arts and culture makes

Portland an East Coast nexus where artists,

musicians and small business start-ups thrive.

During Portland’s monthly legendary First

Friday Art Walk, the galleries celebrate artists

accompanied by street vendors, musicians,

performers and more — a mini Mardi Gras 12

times a year!

One of Portland’s greatest assets is its size — large enough to host a diverse blend of nationalities,

this endlessly interesting city is also small enough to retain a strong sense of community. Here,

committed creative thinkers and entrepreneurs have developed niche markets and micro-cultures centered

around socially responsible businesses, research and technology, agriculture, creative innovation, design,

fashion and more. MECA is located right in the heart of it; in fact, the College was instrumental in the

resurgence of downtown.

Wander down the street during a First Friday Art Walk in summer, admiring the city’s historic 19th century

buildings. Pick up a slice of Otto’s cranberry and goat cheese pizza, or grab a cup of handcrafted locally

roasted Joe at Coffee By Design or The Speckled

Axe and enjoy listening to some urban

folkies. Perhaps there is a performance

in Congress Square, the fire jugglers are out in

the Old Port, there happens to be a bicycle

parade, or hop on a ferry and take a refreshing

cruise around Casco Bay.

People are drawn to Portland from all over the

world and choose to visit and/or live here

because of its unique blend of dynamic

communities; easy access to Maine’s bounty

of coastline, forests and mountains; and fertile creative scene. Its beauty and stimulating culture

energize the body and inspire the spirit. The official city motto is “Yes. Life’s good here.”

Learn more:

Discover Portland

The Arts District

About Maine

Background Checks:

Prior to submitting your resume for this position, please read it over for accuracy. LLLS does verify academic

credentials for its candidates, and our clients frequently conduct background checks prior to finalizing an

offer.

To learn more, call

Jon Derek Croteau, Vice President at

617-262-1102

or send nominations or cover letter and resume to

jcroteau@LLLSearches.com.

All inquiries will be held in confidence.

Setting the Standard in Development Search

LOIS L. LINDAUER SEARCHES, LLC

420 Boylston Street, Suite 604, Boston, MA 02116

617.262.1102

www.LLLSearches.com

Board of Directors

Executive Vice President

Vice President ofAcademic A�airs &Dean of the College

President

Vice President of Development

ExecutiveAssistant

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

+ Brian Wilk ‘95, Chair + Daniel Poteet, Vice Chair + Jane G. Briggs + Dan Crewe

+ Deborah H. Dluhy + Dr. Edward M. Friedman ’08 + Meredith Koerner P’16 (Mark C.)+ Margaret Crane Morfit

+ John Powers ‘95+ Deborah Reed + Sue Rogers + Susan Schraft, M.D.

+ Cynthia (Cindy) Thompson + Kathryn Yates+ Paula Zeitlin

PRESIDENT’S CABINET