Lindauer is pleased to partner with KCI Search + Talent in their search for this executive leadership role at the Aga Khan Museum.

The Aga Khan Museum is a unique global museum located in Toronto, Canada, dedicated to showcasing the artistic, intellectual, and scientific heritage of Muslim civilizations and their interconnectedness with the world at large. Its mission is to foster a greater understanding and appreciation of the achievements and contributions of Muslim civilizations, fostering intercultural dialogue and pluralism through exhibitions, public programs, and educational initiatives onsite and online.

The Museum’s opening in 2014 signaled a new chapter in the history of museums in North America as the first dedicated to the arts of Muslim civilizations. With its landmark building, designed by the Pritzker Prize-winning architect Fumihiko Maki, and its setting within the landscaped gardens of the Aga Khan Park, the Museum celebrates the arts in all its forms – from the visual to the performing arts.

The Aga Khan Museum relies on the generosity of donors and members in Canada and around the globe to sustain its vision of building bridges between cultures and fostering pluralism through the arts.

The Opportunity

The Aga Khan Museum (AKM) is seeking a mission-driven, results-oriented, and collaborative Chief Development Officer (CDO) to provide strategic leadership and operational expertise for the fundraising efforts of the Museum to further advance its mission to foster a greater understanding of Muslim civilizations and to connect cultures through art.

Reporting to the Museum’s Director and CEO, the CDO will be a member of, and contributor to, the Senior Leadership Team and will have active support from a strong network of global senior volunteers who serve on the Board of Directors and fundraising committees of the Museum.

The CDO will be an accomplished and passionate fundraising professional who will champion and lead the growth and elevation of a sustainable fundraising plan targeted to raise $12-$15M annually, overseeing the management and cultivation of donors and sponsors, the identification and submission of grant applications to government agencies and foundations, the planning of fundraising, cultivation, and stewardship events, and the growth of the museum membership program. In addition to this, the planning and implementation of a multi-year $150M endowment campaign is one of the key deliverables of the position.

Carrying a personal portfolio of the Museum’s key donors and prospects in Canada and around the world, the CDO will be a fearless and highly proactive networker and fundraiser in their own right. As a skilled enabler of volunteers, the CDO will encourage and inspire volunteers to open doors and will provide support locally and internationally to maximize their passion, time, and connections most effectively.

A role model who demonstrates inclusive leadership, collaboration, respect, and excellence, the CDO will harness the strengths of a Development team of 10, motivating the staff to new heights of achievement. By establishing clear goals and understanding the tactics and processes needed to achieve them, the CDO will engender confidence in, and enthusiasm for, the fundraising team’s efforts by demonstrating exceptional results.

Passionate about equity and inclusion, the CDO will possess intercultural competence, understanding the unique nuances and perspectives of various cultures, and expand support for the Museum through outreach and engagement with multiple communities in Canada and around the world.

This is a permanent, full-time position and will be based in the Aga Khan Museum at 77 Wynford Drive, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. As of mid-April 2022, and for the rest of 2022, the museum will be working within a hybrid model with staff expected to be present in the office for a minimum of 3 days per week (with flexibility for donor-facing commitments and travel, of course). There will be significant travel in this role (regionally, nationally, and internationally) and candidates must possess a valid passport.

Applications from international candidates are welcomed and will be considered per Canadian immigration laws. The salary range for this position is $250,000 – $300,000 CAD per annum.