Development Officer [Museum of Glass]

The Museum of Glass is seeking a full-time Development Officer in Tacoma, Washington.

The Museum

Twelve years ago, the Museum of Glass opened its doors as an architectural icon and a one-of-a-kind museum dedicated to glass art. Located on the Thea Foss waterway in thriving downtown Tacoma, the 75,000 square foot facility combines exhibition galleries, and education studio, a theater, the 500-foot long pedestrian Chihuly Bridge of Glass and the world’s largest and most active museum glass making studio – the Hot Shop.

Based in the Pacific Northwest, the center of the American Studio Glass movement, the Museum serves regional, national and international audiences. The Museum’s visitor-centered public programs, original exhibitions and riveting glassmaking demonstrations have inspired and engaged over two million visitors from all 50 states and more than 75 countries. The Museum of Glass is a member of the American Association of Museum Directors and was granted accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums, recognizing its commitment to excellence, accountability, high professional standards and continued institutional improvement.

The Role

The Development Officer will be responsible for further expanding the individual giving program and will have the opportunity to work on an endowment and capital campaign. This position will collaborate with board trustees, advisory council members and key volunteers for donor relations activities, including assigning thank-you calls, identifying new supporters and organizing stewardship touch points. The position reports to the Director of Development and has significant potential for growth and leadership. The Development Officer will work closely with the entire advancement team and the executive director, who is an active participant in fundraising for Museum of Glass.

Major duties and responsibilities:

Assume and achieve annual fundraising and activity goals. Develop strategies to ensure effective, timely cultivation and solicitation of gifts of $1,000 and above. Oversee upper-level membership program – Circles.  Draft and send correspondence, plan events and programs to keep donors engaged and move them up the giving ladder. Lead a moves management process for individual donors, setting up appropriate cultivation steps and acknowledgments. Develop and create short-term goals and long-range strategic plans for stewarding existing donors and growing individual giving. Provide regular reports of cultivation activities and solicitations to Director of Development.

Solicit gifts from major donors. Thank donors in thoughtful, creative ways. Develop individualized cultivation plans for all donors in portfolio. Keep current and potential supporters informed, interested and involved.  Document major gift donor and prospect contacts in the donor database in accordance with established procedures.

Oversee Planned Giving Program, including cultivating and soliciting prospects.

Creatively use events, leadership, speaking engagements and communications to increase the community’s awareness of the organization. Actively share stories and outcomes with donors to highlight the impact of their contributions.

Work with the Finance Department to ensure gifts are properly accounted for. Engage and collaborate with the executive director, board trustees, development committee, long-time volunteers and other staff in donor prospecting, outreach, cultivation, recognition and stewardship.

Support organization’s efforts toward a capital campaign, including communications with and cultivation of major donors.

Education and Experience

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Adhere to the highest ethical standards, reflect optimistic and positive attitude and convey sensitivity to needs of the donors.
• Proven ability to work effectively with a wide variety of individuals. Demonstrates interest in building positive and authentic relationships. Experience researching, cultivating and stewarding individual and corporate donors, including major donors.
• Expertise in fundraising and donor relations strategies and best practices, including leveraging social media.
• Solid relationships with local businesses and community leaders.
• A proven track record in securing large donations and increasing existing donor contributions.
• Competent technology skills, including experience with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, etc)
• Experience with donor databases, specifically Raiser’s Edge software.
• Expertise in current trends in charitable giving in the area of major gifts.
• Experience with communications, marketing and/or public relations preferred.
• Experience utilizing donor management software.