Director of Strategic Philanthropy

Director of Strategic Philanthropy

The Director of Strategic Philanthropy is a member of the Montshire Museum of Science's senior management team, responsible for actively managing the museum's portfolio of major gift-level donors, identifying new donors, conducting donor research, developing and implementing donor cultivation strategies, writing proposals, soliciting and closing gifts, and stewarding relationships with key donors.

This position works closely with the Executive Director, museum trustees, other staff and volunteers to plan, coordinate and implement special fundraising campaigns and associated activities.

Key Responsibilities:

• Major Gifts Fundraising: Identify and qualify individuals, companies and foundations capable of making high-level annual contributions and/or significant campaign gifts to the Museum.
• Conduct research on potential donors and compile donor profiles.
• Actively manage a portfolio of high-net-worth individuals by developing cultivation, solicitation and stewardship strategies.
• Develop and track solicitation/stewardship assignments for self, Montshire Museum of Science's Executive Director, Trustees and other fundraising/campaign volunteers.
• Coordinate and conduct donor visits in support of cultivation, solicitation and stewardship activities, involving the Executive Director and/or others as is appropriate.
• Write proposals for funding.
• Assist with creation of campaign documents and other collateral materials.
• Ensure proper and timely gift recording and acknowledgment.

• Campaign Coordination: Work closely with the Executive Director, campaign counsel and campaign committee(s) to plan and implement capital, special and/or comprehensive campaigns.
• Ensure coordination between campaign activities and the Montshire Fund (Annual Fund), and any concurrent corporate or foundation giving initiatives.
• Develop and implement internal systems to prepare the Museum for various campaign phases, including pre-campaign planning, fundraising feasibility study, silent phase, public phase, celebration phase.
• Coordinate the work of the campaign committee to support the master campaign plan.
• Collaboratively coordinate and communicate campaign timelines, activities, and volunteer engagement needs in support of the larger campaign.
• Make and track solicitation assignments of campaign committee members.
• Plan and implement strategic fundraising events.
• Craft monthly gift status and campaign progress reports during campaigns.
• Ensure all external museum communications support core campaign messaging; integrate and reinforce fundraising messaging across various Montshire Museum of Science communications platforms.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree and CFRE strongly preferred.
• Possion for the mission and new strategic direction of the Montshire Museum of Science.
• 5 years Individual Giving experience with strong background in in-person major gifts fundraising, developing and implementing donor strategies, and managing portfolio of high-net-worth individuals required.
• Skilled in managing all facets of donor engagement (prospecting, qualification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship) and matching donor interests to giving opportunities required.
• Skill and comfort in face-to-face gift solicitation; with demonstrated success closing major gifts.
• 5 years experience writing fundraising proposals, and building philanthropic relationships with individuals, company leaders and charitable foundations with demonstrated success securing gifts and grants ranging from $25K - $2M required.
• 3 years in donor research and profile development required.
• Demonstrated success in planning, coordinating and closing major capital, special and/or comprehensive campaigns required.
• Superior writing skills able to craft persuasive, appropriate and well-researched case statements, proposals, solicitation letters; must be a strong technical writer who is appropriate and timely in communications.
• Excellent computer skills and fluency in the following: Microsoft Office, Google Suite, internet browsers, social media.
• Familiarity with donor research databases (LexisNexis platforms, Foundation Center).
• Comfort and familiarity with donor databases, gift entry, and reporting.
• Experience with endowment fundraising and planned giving desirable, but not required.
• Must be passionately team-oriented and know when to involve others, but also able to work independently.
• Must exhibit excellent organizational and time-management skills, with ability to effectively handle multiple overlapping deadlines.
• Exhibits excellent judgment, confidentiality, maturity, and decision-making skills at all times.
• Must be an excellent listener and creative problem-solver.
• Must take pride in building relationships, producing quality work and learning new things.

Salary: $85,000 - $100,000 depending on skills, education, credentials, and years of experience. Includes full Montshire benefits: choice of health insurance plan, vision, dental, supplemental flex spending accounts, 403(b) retirement contributions and match, generous paid vacation and paid sick leave, life and accident insurance, and short- and long-term disability insurance.

The Mission of the Montshire Museum of Science is to forge and empower a community of lifelong learners through engagement with science. Our areas of strategic focus include: STEM Learning, Literacy and Career Pathway, Climate and Sustainability Education and Action, and Health and Wellbeing.

The Montshire Museum of Science is an Equal Opportunity Employer with a passionate commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Salary : $85,000 - $100,000