Director of Development

Position: Director of Development

Reports to: Vice President of Development

Position Type: Full time, Year-round, Exempt

Supervises: 1 Seasonal part-time employee

Hours: Full- time, Weekdays, with occasional evenings and weekends as needed.

 

WHO WE ARE: Genesee Country Village & Museum, located in Mumford, NY 25 miles outside of Rochester, is the largest living history museum in New York State. Our 68-building Historic Village, John L. Wehle Gallery, and Genesee Country Nature Center host nearly 100,000 guests each year on site, off site around the community, and online across the world. Learn more on our website www.gcv.org.

POSITION OVERVIEW:

The Director of Development is a key fundraising position that balances strategic writing with donor engagement. Reporting to the Vice President of Development, this role is responsible for writing and managing grants, leading and expanding our annual giving program, and supporting donor cultivation and stewardship events, including our annual signature event, The Whirl.

 

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES (includes but not limited to):

Writing and Managing Grants. (50%)

• Research, write, and manage grant proposals to foundations, corporations and government agencies.
• Maintain grant calendar to track deadlines, reporting requirements and renewal opportunities.
• Ensure compliance with grant guidelines and submit timely reports.
• Cultivate relationships with program officers and funding partners.

Annual Giving Program (30%)

• Lead and grow the annual fund through direct mail, digital campaigns, and other appeals.
• Develop creative strategies to strengthen recurring giving and donor retention.
• Partner with marketing team to create compelling fundraising campaigns.
• Track results and use data to refine strategies for future campaigns.

Donor Cultivation Activities & Stewardship Events (20%)

• Hire, train, and manage customer service staff (scheduling, payroll, etc.)
• Set standards in operations for customer service.
• Crosstrain employees to maximize efficiency of customer service team.
• Work with Volunteer Coordinator on outreach, orientation, training & scheduling of volunteers.
• Collaborate with colleagues and volunteers to ensure events align with donor engagement goals.
• Work within and enforce all Museum policies and procedures.

 

 

 

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and professional experience.
• Minimum of 3 years of nonprofit fundraising experience, with a focus on grant writing, individual giving, or donor relations.
• Excellent writing and communication skills, with the ability to tell compelling stories that inspire support.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail; able to manage multiple deadlines.
• Experience with donor databases (Bloomerang preferred) and proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in fundraising practices.

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

 

Salary: $62,500-$65,000 annually, dependent on experience

 

Benefits: We are proud to support the health and wellbeing of the people we employ. We offer a competitive, comprehensive benefits package that includes Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, NYS Disability, Supplemental Disability, Vacation, Personal time, Floating Holidays, accrued NYS Sick Leave and an employee assistance program.

 

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Genesee Country Village & Museum is committed to a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity with respect to all employees, applicants, and interns for employment. We recruit, hire, train, and promote without discrimination due to race, color, sex, age, disability, religion, citizenship, national origin, military or veteran status, marital status, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, and any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

 

Diversity Statement: Genesee Country Village & Museum is actively committed to broadening our understanding of DEAI (Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion), and making it part of everything that we do. Guided by our mission, values, and inclusive culture of curiosity, we celebrate the stories of our shared past; connect the rich diversity of the 19th century to the present; and collaborate with the communities we serve to create welcoming spaces for learning, work, exploration, and play.