Development Officer, Individual Giving

The Morris Museum creates opportunities for lifelong learning, discovery, and creativity driven by the contemporary interpretation of its Guinness Collection of Mechanical Musical Instruments and Automata as well as its general collections. The Museum is newly engaged in a multi-year transition embracing its revised mission “to interpret the past and discover the future through Art, Sound, and Motion.” With a long tradition of serving its surrounding communities, the Museum provides family-friendly educational programs, complemented by sophisticated public programming for adults, including a dozen or more annual exhibitions and as many as 100 performances in its fully-rigged, 312-seat proscenium theatre, and (responding to pandemic exigencies) on its outdoor parking deck. Opening in 2021 the tenth location in the Smithsonian Institution’s growing national network of Spark!Lab educational facilities, STE(A)M education is an increasing focus. The Morris Museum is the only Smithsonian Affiliate in the state of New Jersey.

 The Development Officer, Individual Giving is a dynamic, well-articulated individual who identifies, engages cultivates, solicits, and stewards high net worth families and individuals. They will serve as the Museum’s primary individual giving fundraiser, qualifying and managing an active portfolio of 50 prospects and donors to build relationships and secure support for general operations (primarily through the Director’s Circle), exhibition and theatre sponsorships, education programs, and planned giving.

Position: Development Officer, Individual Giving

• Full-time. Exempt.
• Salary: $50,000 with benefits

Essential Functions: 

• Develop strategies to achieve maximum growth through a personal portfolio of individuals who give $2,500 to $25,000 annually
• Proactively move donors and prospects through the 7 stages of Moves Management
• Assist Director of Development in managing the Director’s Circle and 1913 Circle

 Responsibilities:

• Draft solicitations, acknowledgements, and other correspondence as related to individual giving (including end-of-year appeals, special events, and corporate support)
• Create and maintain a pipeline of major gift prospects and Board candidates
• Work with Manager of Individual and Institutional Giving to acquire and upgrade upper-level Museum Members
• Perform prospect research                 
• Manage constituent records in Raiser’s Edge
• Manage event logistics and track budgets and expense as related to individual giving
• Perform other related duties as assigned

 The ideal candidate will:

• Hold a minimum of 3-5 years of frontline fundraising experience, working directly with leadership and donors; or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience
• Demonstrate active interest in the visual arts, art history, museums, or STEAM disciples
• Have experience with DEI initiatives
• Be an idea generator and a quick and efficient problem solver; have strong entrepreneurial spirit, a terrific sense of humor, and solid follow-through skills
• Have exceptional written and verbal communication skills
• Be able to work independently as well as with a team. Individual must be personable and diplomatic in working with a diverse constituency and staff.
• Have knowledge of fundraising principles, techniques, and ethics; understanding of nonprofit environments
• Possess the ability to successfully organize workload in a fast-paced environment; maintain several projects of equal priority simultaneously; sustain focus, productivity, and accuracy under pressure
• Have experience with Raiser’s Edge (ideally) or other fundraising software

Key Relationships:

• Reports to Director of Development
• Collaborates with a team including a Manager of Individual and Institutional Giving, Institutional Giving Associate, and Visitor Services Associates
• Works directly with the Board and major donors

Workplace Requirements:

Work is typically performed in an office environment; prolonged periods of sitting, use of computers and standard office equipment required to accomplish work objectives. Evening events and meetings, and weekend commitments are an occasional requirement of the position.

 The Morris Museum is an Equal-Opportunity Employer, dedicated to the goal of building a multicultural staff, with a passion to reach and serve our expanding, diverse public.  We are also committed to providing reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities.

To apply:

Applications reviewed as received. No phone inquiries. Qualified candidates should submit: 1) a thoughtful letter of interest, 2) a CV, and 3) contact information for three professional references. These materials must be sent as email attachments to info@morrismuseum.org with “Development Officer, Individual Giving” in the subject line.  Thank you for your interest.