Development and Membership Manager

Mattress Factory; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Mattress Factory in Pittsburgh seeks a Development and Membership Manager to lead all aspects of the museum’s membership program and support individual giving initiatives. The role focuses on growing membership, cultivating donors, and backing fundraising efforts including the Annual Fund, special events, and grant reporting.

Working closely with the Advancement Director, Executive Director, Artistic Director, and Marketing Manager, you will oversee membership communications, donor stewardship,

Qualifications

• 2–5 years in development or membership operations
• Strong written and verbal communications
• Experience with donor or member databases
• Ability to manage competing demands in a creative environment
• Willingness to work occasional evenings/weekends

Responsibilities

• Lead all activities of the membership program, including events and campaigns
• Develop membership communication strategy and quarterly campaigns
• Train and support Visitor Experience staff on membership strategy
• Develop engagement opportunities for premiere membership and patron groups
• Grow a comprehensive individual giving program, including annual giving and recurring gifts
• Support public programs with regards to membership and donor cultivation
• Collaborate on annual fund campaigns and other fundraising efforts
• Strengthen foundation and corporate relationships; assist with proposals and reports
• Identify sponsors for exhibitions and education programs; assist with sponsorship materials
• Support annual gala planning for a successful event
• Oversee CRM processes: gifts, memberships, pledges, payments, acknowledgments
• Ensure data integrity across development and membership records
• Enter/update prospect, donor, member, and customer records in CRM
• Provide administrative support to the Board of Directors
• Complete other duties as assigned

Skills

Membership program management

Donor relations

CRM/databases

Communication skills

Organization

Team collaboration

Tools

CRM software

Donor database

Job description

WHO WE ARE

Mattress Factory is a contemporary art museum and artist residency located in Pittsburgh’s Northside, founded in 1977. For nearly fifty years, we have been a pioneering force in the development of site‑specific, experimental, and alternative art forms. Artists live and work on‑site, creating new works that are deeply informed by and rooted in the spaces they inhabit.

Supporting artists is not only part of our mission; it is the core of our identity. We were founded by Barbara Luderowski, a sculptor and visionary who imagined a community “for artists, by artists,” a place where creative risk and intellectual exploration are celebrated. We provide artists across disciplines with time, space, resources, and a supportive team to take chances and grow their practice.

Our work doesn’t stop at creation. We are equally committed to connecting these works meaningfully with the public. Through exhibitions, tours, community programs, and artist‑led engagements, we help audiences forge personal and lasting relationships with contemporary art.

We believe that art creates connections between people, across perspectives, and within our shared environment. Our artist‑centered model builds not just exhibitions but a vibrant community. In doing so, Mattress Factory remains not just a site for artistic production, but a catalyst for cultural exchange, discovery, and creative growth.

ADVANCEMENT AT MATTRESS FACTORY

Small but mighty, the Mattress Factory’s Advancement Department is central to succuss of our mission. This dedicated team oversees all fundraising, membership, donor cultivation, marketing, advertising, and public relations for the museum. We are a small team, comprised of an Advancement Director, a Marketing Manager, and a Development and Membership Manager, but our impact is felt across every corner of the organization.

We are passionate storytellers, art lovers, and ambassadors for the mission of the museum. Our work is driven by a deep belief in the power of contemporary art and the artists who live and work in residence at the Mattress Factory. We know that when our audiences understand and connect with this work, our institution thrives. Whether building lasting relationships with supporters or amplifying the voices of artists, we are committed to sharing the incredible story of Mattress Factory and the hundreds of artists who have called it home.

THE JOB

The Development and Membership Manager at Mattress Factory plays a key role in advancing the museum’s mission by leading all aspects of its membership program and supporting individual giving initiatives. This position is responsible for developing strategies to grow membership, cultivate donor relationships, and support fundraising efforts including the Annual Fund, special events, and grant reporting. Working closely with the Advancement Director, Executive Director, Artistic Director, and Marketing Manager, the Manager also oversees membership communications, donor stewardship, and administrative support for the Board. This role offers the opportunity to think creatively and collaborate across departments to develop unique programs and engagement opportunities that deepen connections with members and supporters while bringing the museum’s artistic vision to life. Ideal for a passionate, highly organized, people‑oriented individual, this position combines strategic relationship‑building with creative collaboration in support of contemporary art and community engagement.

JOB DESCRIPTION

• Lead all activities of the membership program, including member events and programming, annual acquisition and renewal campaigns, delivery of member benefits, etc.
• Develop membership communication strategy and quarterly membership campaigns to grow membership base and increase individual donor pipeline.
• Train and support Visitor Experience staff on membership strategy to grow membership revenue.
• Develop and oversee engagement opportunities for premiere membership and patron groups.
• Help develop the strategy for and support the growth of a comprehensive individual giving program including annual giving and recurring gifts by building and maintaining prospect lists and research.
• Support the development and execution of public programs as needed, especially with regards to membership and donor cultivation.
• Work with the Advancement Director and Marketing Manager to create and deploy the museum’s Annual Fund, as well as other fundraising campaigns.
• Strengthen foundation and corporate relationships, by assisting Advancement Director with grant proposals and reports.
• Support the Advancement Director by identifying and researching sponsors for exhibitions, education programs and events by assisting with the creation of sponsorship materials and with the delivery of sponsor benefits.
• Support the Advancement Director in all relevant activities for the annual gala to ensure a successful and profitable event.
• Oversee all development processes in the CRM system, including manage all gift and membership processing, the booking of pledges and processing of payments, acknowledgement of gifts, monthly membership renewal reminders and delivery of membership materials.
• Support development and membership by ensuring data integrity.
• Enter and update prospect, donor, member and customer records in the CRM system.
• Provide administrative support to the Board of Directors as needed.
• Complete other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

• 2-5 years of experience working in development or membership operations
• Demonstrated strength in written and verbal communications
• Experience with donor or member database
• Ability to manage competing demands in a creative and evolving environment
• Skill in navigating different personality types among internal and external constituencies
• Highly organized and detail oriented; accuracy is a must
• Ability to function effectively as team member and a willingness to participate in activities and assignments that help meet shared goals
• Must be a people person – approachable, even‑tempered and solutions oriented
• Adaptable and eager to learn
• Ability to occasionally work evening/weekend hours