Major Gifts & Planned Giving Officer

Our Mission: To ignite creativity, fuel discovery, and enrich lives through glassmaking

The Museum

Located in Tacoma, Washington, Museum of Glass is a premier contemporary art museum dedicated to glass and glassmaking in the West Coast’s largest and most active museum glass studio. Opened in 2002, the Museum has established a reputation for hosting impactful and engaging artist residencies, organizing and exhibiting nationally traveling exhibitions, and creating unique programs for visitors, all while building a growing permanent collection chronicling the development of modern and contemporary glass.

Based in the Pacific Northwest, a center of the 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. 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.

At Museum of Glass, we promote a culture that values respect, equity, diversity, and inclusion. All Museum of Glass employees will enjoy equality of opportunity and fair treatment without regard to race, color, age, religion, pregnancy, gender, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, or prior protected activity. 

  The Role

The Major Gifts Officer is responsible for the major gifts program, the planned giving program and select corporate sponsorship relationships.  The position collaborates with board trustees, advisory council members and key volunteers for donor relations activities, including identifying new supporters and organizing stewardship touch points. This position provides input to communications, marketing and public relations efforts to increase the Museum’s visibility in the community and attract new investors and works closely with the annual fund manager and the executive director.  

Major duties and responsibilities:

• Develop strategies to ensure effective, timely cultivation and solicitation of major gifts of $5,000 and above, with emphasis on personal donor visits.
• Develop and achieve annual fundraising and activity goals.
• 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.
• Work with donors to complete major gifts and planned gifts which meet donors’ charitable giving objectives and support the Museum’s mission.
• Work with events manager to identify and solicit sponsorship for all fundraising events
• Support organization’s efforts toward a capital campaign, including communications with and cultivation of major donors.
• Adhere to the highest ethical standards, reflect optimistic and positive attitude and convey sensitivity to needs of the donors.
• Create and oversee a planned giving program, including cultivating and soliciting prospects.
• Provide regular reports of cultivation activities and solicitations to executive director.
• Work with donors to complete planned gifts which meet donors’ charitable giving objectives and support the Museum’s mission.
• Creatively use events, leadership, speaking engagements and communications to increase community’s awareness of the organization.
• Engage and collaborate with the executive director, assistant development director, board trustees, development committee, development department, long-time volunteers and other staff in donor prospecting, outreach, cultivation, recognition and stewardship.
• Actively share stories and outcomes with donors to highlight the impact of their contributions
• Document major gift donor and prospect contacts in the donor database in accordance with established procedures.
• Work with the Finance Department to ensure gifts are properly accounted for.
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Five years of fundraising experience with at least three years focused on gifts of $10,000 and above.
• Proven track record in securing large donations and increasing existing donor contributions.
• Bachelor of Arts or related degree, Masters Degree preferred.

 

Skills and Abilities

• Passion for the mission and goals of the Museum of Glass.
• 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.
• Expertise in current trends in charitable giving in the area of major gifts.
• Strong verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills and superb presentation skills.
• Ability to work as an effective team member.
• Competent technology skills.
• Experience with donor databases, specifically Raiser’s Edge software.

Essential Physical Skills

This position requires frequent sitting, standing and occasional walking; lifting 25 pounds or more; manual dexterity to operate phones, computers, and other office equipment; strong command of the English language with the ability to be understood.

Environmental Conditions

Generally, in an office environment with occasional visits to external environments. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.