Director of Development, Arts

Pomona College (Pomona) seeks a creative, driven, and proven advancement professional to serve as the next director of development, Arts (DoD, Arts) to strategically develop and lead fundraising activities for Pomona’s Benton Museum of Art and the college’s scholastic visual and performing arts priorities. Pomona enjoys particular strength in the arts, offering students boundless opportunities ranging from eight musical ensembles to glee club and orchestra, theatre, and dance productions. Students and community members benefit from access to the Benton, the college’s vibrant art museum, which is a 33,000-square-foot, $44 million teaching museum that opened in Fall 2020, providing space for some of Southern California’s most compelling and experimental exhibitions. Building on a long tradition of excellence at the alma mater of such artistic pioneers as James Turrell, Helen Pashgian, and Chris Burden, the Benton hosts groundbreaking artists and offers a state-of-the-art site for a growing permanent collection ranging from Native American art to Renaissance panel paintings to works by such artists as Karl Benjamin, Rico Lebrun, and Jose Clemente Orozco. The conceptualization and fruition of the Benton was made possible through a generous $15 million gift from long-time supporter Janet Inskeep Benton, Pomona College trustee and member of the Class of 1979.

Reporting to the senior director of major gifts and serving as a critical partner to the museum’s director, the DoD, Arts will play a vital role in supporting the Benton’s operations, distinction as a cultural epicenter to the Claremont community, and overarching success by engaging and soliciting a broad spectrum of prospective alumni, donors, community leaders, and external constituents. As the primary fundraiser for the Benton and Pomona’s Music, Studio Arts, and Performing Arts departments, the DoD, Arts will design and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy, resulting in increased visibility and philanthropic contributions from both affiliated and unaffiliated donors. This exciting opportunity arises during a pivotal moment in Pomona’s history as the campus aspires to achieve the goals identified in the Strategic Vision for Pomona College on the horizon of an ambitious comprehensive fundraising campaign. 

The ideal candidate must possess at least five years of progressive experience demonstrating a proven track record of success securing six- and seven-figure gift commitments from individuals, corporations, and/or foundations in an art institution or museum. Additionally, the successful candidate will show evidence of establishing and maintaining strong, collaborative connections with varied internal and external constituencies and a sophisticated understanding of the complexities around raising philanthropic support for an art institute and/or museum. The DoD, Arts must be a collaborative team player and relationship-builder who is eager to partner with and across the college including, but not limited to, Pomona’s growing advancement team; museum leadership, operations, and curatorial staff; key academic leaders; and volunteers. The ideal candidate will possess a personal passion for the arts and connections and experiences in the arts community. 

Rachel Ellenport is leading this search with Christina Garrison and Megan Gorman.

Pomona College prides itself in being an open, competitive, and equal opportunity employer.