Job Title: Director of Development
Date: February 20, 2026
Classification: Exempt
Supervisor: President and Executive Director
Compensation: $120,000–130,000 per annum, with benefits
Position Summary:
The Director of Development oversees all aspects of fundraising, including major gifts, individual giving, membership, foundations, annual appeals, special events, corporate partnerships, and government grants.
Responsibilities:
- Work in close partnership with the Executive Director and the Development Committee of the Board to set and achieve fundraising goals.
- Direct the spring benefit, Poetry & the Creative Mind, during National Poetry Month.
- Direct the fall Chancellors Reading Benefit.
- Steward foundation, individual, and corporate donors and oversee appeals and proposals.
- Direct the membership program and benefit fulfillment.
- Supervise donor database management.
- Manage the direct mail and online membership campaigns, including working with consultants.
- Oversee production of monthly financial reports and perform analysis to identify trends and suggest improvements or tests.
- Manage the departmental budget and reconcile monthly with Finance.
- Manage membership and fundraising communications and solicitations on Poets.org.
- Oversee the development and production of a membership newsletter and Benefactor newsletter.
- Create compelling emails, donation pages, and social media promotions.
- Encourage online audiences to make a gift through targeted messaging.
- Create and coordinate social media promotions for membership and development-related events.
- Oversee the promotion of planned giving on Poets.org and American Poets magazine.
Qualifications & Competencies
- 10+ years of nonprofit fundraising experience.
- Strong team management skills.
- Steep experience in individual giving, membership, and major gifts.
- Foundation grant writing experience.
- Advanced knowledge of popular CRMs, with Raiser's Edge experience.
- Proven track record of success in organizing special events.
- Commitment to providing excellent customer service.
- Commitment to excellence in database administration.
- Strong written and oral communications skills.
- A passion for poetry, literature, and the arts a plus.
To apply, email your cover letter and resume as one PDF to [email protected], with the job title and your last name in the subject line.
ABOUT THE ACADEMY OF AMERICAN POETS
Founded in 1934, the Academy of American Poets is the nation’s leading champion of poets and poetry with supporters in all fifty states. Its mission is to support American poets at all stages of their careers and to foster the appreciation of contemporary poetry.
The organization annually awards a total of $1.3 million to poets at various stages of their careers. The organization also produces Poets.org, the world’s largest publicly-funded website for poets and poetry; established and organizes National Poetry Month each April; publishes the popular Poem-a-Day series and American Poets magazine; provides award-winning resources to K–12 educators, including the Teach This Poem series; hosts an annual series of poetry readings, literary seminars, and special events; and coordinates a national Poetry Coalition working to promote the value poets bring to our culture. Taken together, the Academy reaches more than 18 million individuals annually.
In addition to its mission, the Academy staff is guided by the organization’s values, which include anti-racism, collaboration, diversity, equity, inclusion, innovation, and leadership.
The Academy of American Poets is based in New York, NY.