Advancement Officer

Maritime-Aquarium; East Norwalk (CT); On-site; USD 75,000 - 79,000; Full time

Job summary

The Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, CT seeks an Advancement Officer to drive philanthropy goals by growing a donor base capable of 3- to 5-figure gifts. The role partners with leadership to build engagement, manage campaigns, and expand giving programs.

This full-time, Monday–Friday position offers a $75k–$79k salary and requires evenings, weekends, and after-hours events as needed. Join a mission-driven team advancing conservation and education.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or relevant on-the-job experience.
• 3-5 years of development experience focusing on individual or mass-market philanthropy.
• Proven track record securing three- to five-figure gifts.
• Proficiency with CRM systems a plus.
• Strong teamwork and goal-driven mindset.
• Fluent in Microsoft Office Suite.

Responsibilities

• Identify, research, cultivate, and steward new and existing donors and members giving $500-$50,000 annually.
• Maintain donor engagement and motivate increased giving.
• Establish a monthly giving program.
• Support annual appeal processes and mass outreach.
• Develop quarterly updates and mid-year mass market appeal.
• Identify new major donor prospects through research.
• Support the $20M Capital Campaign's public phase.
• Assist fundraising events including the annual gala.
• Maintain accurate donor records in the CRM.
• Pursue professional development through workshops and publications.
• Manage subscriptions with fundraising databases.
• Lead special projects as needed.

Skills

Donor research

Relationship building

Major gifts cultivation

Fundraising strategy

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Event coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

CRM software

Microsoft Office

Job description

The Maritime Aquarium’s mission is to ignite a connection to Long Island Sound and the ocean to enrich the lives of all people and inspire action to protect our blue planet. For 38 years, the Aquarium has played a significant role in shaping the landscape of Norwalk and the region. The second largest family attraction in Connecticut, and 50 miles from New York City, the Aquarium hosts nearly 450,000 guests annually. Its primary exhibits take guests on a voyage from the shallow salt marshes and estuaries to the depths of the Long Island Sound and the ocean beyond, culminating with habitats for sharks and harbor seals.

Altogether, the Aquarium is home to more than 8,000 animals and 285 species in 75 exhibits. A new 4D Theater offers a unique sensory film experience for guests. Its education programs introduce nearly 50,000 students, campers and scouts to marine and STEM education. The Aquarium is recognized as a top aquarium in the nation and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. It is an active participant in the local and regional community. The strength of the Aquarium is its approximately 97 full-time and 78 part-time employees, seasonal staff, and our volunteers.

POSITION OVERVIEW

Reporting to the Associate Director of Advancement, the Advancement Officer will be critical to the success of the organization’s philanthropy goals. The Advancement Officer will collaborate with the Associate Director and Director of Advancement to maintain and grow a donor base that includes current donors and strong prospects that have the capacity for 3-to-5 figure gifts.

This is a full-time, exempt position scheduled Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM, with occasional early mornings, evenings, and weekends for time-sensitive needs and after-hours events. The role offers a salary range of $75k-$79k per year.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Identify, research, cultivate, and steward new and existing individual donors and members giving $500-$50,000 annually; reactivate lapsed supporters.
• Through relational fundraising, ensure donors remain engaged, informed and motivated to increase their giving.
• Establish a monthly giving program.
• Support the annual appeal process and year-end messaging for printed and digital solicitation and outreach.
• Develop a quarterly update communications stream and mid-year mass market appeal.
• Identify new major donor prospects for Associate Director and Director through research and cultivation.
• Contribute to the success of the public phase of the organization’s $20M Capital Campaign.
• Support the Aquarium’s signature cultivation and fundraising events, including the annual gala.
• Maintain accurate, up-to-date donor records in the CRM.
• Maintain professional knowledge by attending educational workshops, reviewing professional publications, establishing personal networks, benchmarking, etc.
• Maintain/manage subscriptions with fundraising search engines like Candid, GuideStar, and Charity Navigator – ensuring Aquarium accounts are accurate and reflect up-to-date organizational details and financials.
• Support/lead special projects as requested.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree or relevant on-the-job experience
• 3-5 years of development experience with a focus on individual or mass market philanthropy
• Experience and proven track record in securing three to five figure gifts
• High fluency in Microsoft Office Suite
• Contributes to team effort by accomplishing shared goals
• Proficiency with CRM systems a plus

Knowledge and skills

• Commitment to the Aquarium’s mission, with an appreciation for the important role that the Aquarium plays in conservation, education and the life of a vibrant community.
• Commitment to equity and social justice, and strong alignment with our organizational values.
• Ability to interact with all levels of the organization and external vendors and work independently or collaboratively.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
• Continuous improvement / problem solving mindset and way of working.
• Proven ability to build strong relationships with a variety of constituents, including high net worth individuals.
• Strong creative thinking and capability in developing engagement strategies with maximum impact.
• Exceptional listener with ability to understand the needs and motivations of others, find common ground and synthesize information into compelling narratives.
• Exceptional strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Strong organizational skills, high attention to detail and discipline in stewarding donor information and database records.
• A high level of integrity and a strong work ethic.
• Professional presentation and demeanor that inspires confidence in prospects and donors.
• Willingness to work evenings, weekends and holidays as needed.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

The Maritime Aquarium is an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to diversity. All individuals, regardless of personal characteristics, are encouraged to apply.