The Major Gifts Officer (MGO) will play a key role in securing philanthropic support for the museum by managing a portfolio of donors and prospects capable of making 5, 6 and 7 figure gifts. Reporting to the Director of Majorand PrincipalGifts, the MGO will contribute to the development and execution of the museum's major gifts strategy through effective donor engagement, solicitation, and stewardship. This position requires a strong commitment to relationship-building, strategic thinking, and goal-oriented fundraisingas well as adeep interest incontemporary art. The MGO will collaborate closely with colleagues across Advancement-including Individual Giving, Strategic Partnerships and Events, Advancement Operations, and Foundation, Government and Planned Giving-to align donor strategies with institutional priorities and maximize philanthropic impact.
Responsibilities:
- Build and manage a portfolio of100-150 donors and prospects capable of giving $50,000and aboveto the Whitney; carryand achieve an individual fundraising goal tied to the portfolio performance.Review and refresh portfolio based on updated research,interactions, andresearch.
- Develop and execute strategies to deepen donorengagement and increase giving over time,leveragingevents,programsand institutional touchpoints.
- Craft compelling donor strategies tied to exhibitions, acquisitions, education, and otherstrategicpriorities.Collaborate thoughtfully withsenior leaders and colleagues across the Museum (including the museum Director, curators, educators, and other key stakeholders) in donor engagement, preparing meeting briefs and supporting materials.
- Draft personalized proposals, gift agreements, and stewardship materials to support donor engagement and successful solicitations.
- Represent the museumon- and off-site atdonor events,committee meetings, openings and more.
- Ensure growth of pipeline throughcultivation ofnew prospects.
- Deeplycollaborate withdepartments across the museum and within the departmentto ensure a holistic donorapproach,a unified fundraising effort, andaccuratetracking.
- Increase participation inWhitney'splanned giving program asappropriate.
General Duties and Purpose - Maintain responsibility for management of all gifts within your portfolio adhering to the Advancement Data Services processing procedures; upholding not for profit compliance, and ensuring timely and accurate stewardship of all donors
- Effectively utilize the Museum's CRM, Raiser's Edge, to maintain records of contact with donors and prospects; analyze potential donor research materials to target appropriate givers; and track, evaluate and present relevant giving information.
- Manage expense budgets and work with colleagues within the department to effectively maximize finite resources to work smart and not just hard.
- Maintain fundraising schedules, objectives, databases and tracking systems for your area and ensure that plans are implemented, goals achieved, timely reports generated and information shared; ensure that fundraising is done in the most efficient and cost-effective way.
- Ensure that all donors and patrons are appropriately recognized both publicly and privately and regularly communicated with; make donor stewardship a priority at all levels develop a stewardship program and administer the fulfillment
- Creatively plan, organize, and manage patron level events, programs, travel, and other cultivation activities within the scope or the defined program and in support of the other major donor groups. Ensure that all programs reflect the unique mission of the Whitney in its commitment to supporting individual artists and meet the standards of excellence the Whitney strives to achieve
- Be a committed collaborator, energize about the work of the Whitney with a solutions-oriented disposition energizing Major Gifts team
Additional & Other Duties - Maintainaccurateandtimelyrecords of all donor interactions in Raiser's Edge;utilizeprospect research and giving data to inform strategy and portfolio decisions.
- Monitor and report on personal fundraising activity and progress toward goals, ensuring effective management of donor pipelines and engagement plans.
Confidentiality - Access to confidential documents such as museum strategic planning, funding strategies, pledge agreements
- Confidential donor records, giving history
- Constituent anonymity and personal information
- Advance Museum Exhibition Schedule
Requirements- At least8-10years' experience in nonprofit advancement/major gifts fundraising; experience in museums or cultural institutions a plus
- Track recordof securing six figure+commitments in non-profit or commercial sectors
- Comfort managing and stewarding high-net-worth donors
- Expert written and oral communication skills
- Data-driven thinker with comfortleveragingRaiser's Edge or related software
- Self-starter with the ability to multi-task and prioritize requests
- Strong organizational skills
- Commitment to the value or arts inour society
- Advanced computer skills and knowledge of Microsoft Office programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Familiarity with Zoom and Basecamp
- Knowledge of Raiser's Edge or familiarity with database programs
- Strong level of comfort with museums and the art world or cultural world
- Collaborative with a drive to work with others
Unusual Working Conditions - Donor travel (domestic and international)
- Event hours: early mornings and evenings for patron events, private tours, Museum openings, programs, dinners, and other Museum-wide events.
- Expected to have flexible hours for special projects that have certain deadlines.
Compensation & Benefits- Salary range is $120,000 - 135,000 and will be commensurate with experience
- Medical, Dental, Vision, 403(b) elections
- Generous Paid Time Off benefits
- Commuter benefits - parking and mass transit
- Admission to world-renowned museums across the city and nationally
- Pet insurance and discounted membership for Citibike
The advertised pay scale reflects the good faith minimum and maximum salary range for this role. The advertised pay scale is not a promise of a particular wage for any specific employee. The specific compensation offered to a candidate may be dependent on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, the candidate's experience, education, special licensing or qualifications, and other factors.
If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply. We are dedicated to considering a broad array of candidates. Whether you're new to arts and culture administration, returning to work after a gap in employment, simply looking to transition, or take the next step in your career path, we will be glad to have you on our radar. Please use your cover letter to tell us about your interest in the arts and culture space and what you hope to bring to this role.