Director of Strategic Philanthropy

MONTSHIRE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE

POSITION DESCRIPTION: Director of Strategic Philanthropy

TITLE OF SUPERVISOR:  Executive Director

MAIN FUNCTION

The Director of Strategic Philanthropy is a member of the Montshire’s senior management team and is responsible for actively managing the Montshire’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. The Director of Strategic Philanthropy works closely with the Executive Director, museum trustees, other staff and volunteers to plan, coordinate and implement special fundraising campaigns and associated activities. 

DUTIES AND 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 portfolio of high-net-worth individuals by developing cultivation, solicitation and stewardship strategies. Develop and track solicitation/stewardship assignments for self, Montshire’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.
• Leverage current planned giving vehicles strategically and appropriately.
• Integrate individual giving with corporate and foundation giving, as is appropriate.

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 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 communications platforms.

SUPERVISION OF OTHERS

This position does not provide direct supervision of other staff, but is a member of the Montshire’s senior management team and helps to coordinate the work of leadership and fundraising volunteers.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree and CFRE strongly preferred.
• Passion for the mission and new strategic direction of the Montshire.
• 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. University, hospital or previous museum major gifts fundraising experience strongly preferred.
• 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; able to successfully close major gift conversations required.
• 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, but also able to work independently.
• Must exhibit excellent organizational and time-management skills, with ability to effectively handle multiple overlapping deadlines, required.
• 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.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• On-site in congenial and fast-paced non-profit museum office environment
• All Montshire employees are subject to a criminal background check
• Montshire Museum of Science requires that all employees and volunteers be fully vaccinated against COVID-19

TIME COMMITMENT 

• Full-time hourly position (37.5 hours/week)
• Occasional weekend and evening work
• Occasional regional and national travel may be required for project participation, meetings and/or conferences attendance

SALARY AND BENEFITS 

Salary: $85,000 - $100,000 depending on skills, education, credentials and years of experience.  Includes full Montshire benefits: health insurance, 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.