Development Officer

C.M. Russell Museum; Great Falls (MT); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Simple IRA retirement plan

Disability insurance

Professional development and training

Complimentary museum membership

Store discounts

Job summary

The Development Officer at C.M. Russell Museum advances its mission by inspiring philanthropic support and building lasting relationships with donors, members, sponsors, and community partners.

This role cultivates, solicits, and stewards individual and corporate donors, expanding charitable giving that sustains the Museum's exhibitions, educational programs, collections, and long-term vision. Working with the Chief Development Officer, Executive Director, Board, and colleagues, you will lead

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management, communications, business, marketing, public relations, arts administration, or related field preferred.
• 5+ years of fundraising, development, major gifts, or related experience with revenue growth.
• Proven ability to translate relationships into philanthropic support.
• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Cultivate and manage a portfolio of individual and corporate donors.
• Solicit and steward donors to inspire philanthropic investment.
• Lead planned giving and annual fundraising campaigns.
• Collaborate with Executive Director, CDO, Board, and volunteers to grow donor networks.
• Represent the Museum at events and donor engagements.
• Develop donor communications, fundraising appeals, and campaign materials.

Skills

Donor cultivation

Relationship management

Public speaking

Networking

Fundraising strategy

Donor stewardship

Education

Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management or related field

Tools

Altru CRM

Job description

The Development Officer advances the C.M. Russell Museum's mission by inspiring philanthropic support and building lasting relationships with donors, members, sponsors, and community partners. This position cultivates, solicits, and stewards individual and corporate donors, expanding charitable giving that sustains the Museum's exhibitions, educational programs, collections, and long-term vision.

Working closely with the Chief Development Officer, Executive Director, Board of Directors, and colleagues across the Museum, the Development Officer serves as an ambassador for the institution, connecting supporters with opportunities to preserve and celebrate the legacy of Charles M. Russell and the American West.

This position carries annual fundraising goals and drives growth in philanthropic support through relationship management, strategic outreach, and donor stewardship.

Primary Responsibilities

• Donor Cultivation & Relationship Management
  • Develop and manage a portfolio of individual and corporate donors, cultivating relationships that inspire philanthropic investment.
  • Identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward new and existing donors through personalized engagement.
  • Partner with the Executive Director, Chief Development Officer, Board members, and volunteers to strengthen donor relationships and expand the Museum's network of supporters.
  • Conduct donor visits and represent the Museum at community events, donor gatherings, and other engagement opportunities.
  • Create stewardship experiences that recognize donor generosity and strengthen long-term relationships.
  • Work collaboratively with the marketing team to develop compelling donor communications, fundraising appeals, and campaign materials.
  • Maintain accurate donor records, contact reports, and gift documentation within the Museum's CRM database.
• Planned Giving
  • Lead and grow the Museum's planned giving program by cultivating relationships with legacy donors and prospective supporters.
  • Educate donors about planned giving opportunities and collaborate with professional advisors when appropriate.
  • Develop stewardship strategies that recognize and celebrate planned giving donors while encouraging future commitments.
  • Assist in planning and implementing annual fundraising campaigns and donor engagement initiatives.
  • Support sponsorship cultivation and corporate partnerships that align with Museum priorities.
  • Monitor fundraising progress toward established goals and recommend strategies to strengthen donor participation and giving.
• Collaboration & Museum Engagement
  • Serve as an active member of the Development team, contributing ideas and strategies that strengthen philanthropic support across the organization.
  • Collaborate with Museum staff to identify funding opportunities for exhibitions, educational programming, and institutional priorities.
  • Participate in Museum events, programs, and donor activities, representing the Museum with professionalism and enthusiasm.
  • Perform other related duties as assigned.

Preferred Skills

• A genuine enthusiasm for the Museum's mission and the ability to inspire others to invest in its future.
• Confidence initiating conversations with prospective donors and supporters, whether through personal visits, phone calls, networking, or community engagement.
• Strong relationship-building skills with the ability to establish trust, identify shared interests, and cultivate long-term partnerships.
• Comfortable making direct, thoughtful requests for philanthropic support and guiding donors through the giving process.
• Excellent listening skills, with the ability to understand donor motivations and connect their interests to Museum opportunities.
• A proactive, self-motivated approach with the initiative to identify opportunities, open new doors, and follow through on commitments.
• Professional presence and sound judgment when representing the Museum with donors, community leaders, volunteers, and stakeholders.
• Curiosity and a willingness to continually learn about the Museum's collections, exhibitions, history, and strategic priorities to effectively share its story.
• Strong collaboration skills and the ability to work across departments to support fundraising initiatives and organizational goals.
• Resilience, persistence, and optimism, recognizing that successful fundraising is built on consistent relationship-building over time.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management, communications, business, marketing, public relations, arts administration, or a related field preferred.
• 5 years of experience in fundraising, development, major gift fundraising, sales, business development, client relationship management, or a related field, demonstrating success building relationships and achieving revenue goals.
• Track record of translating strong relationships into philanthropic support, revenue growth, or lasting partnerships.
• Exceptional interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, with the confidence to engage donors, community leaders, volunteers, and colleagues.
• Ability to cultivate trust, inspire generosity, and communicate the Museum's mission with authenticity and enthusiasm.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining close attention to detail.
• Experience using donor management or CRM software (Altru experience preferred).
• Self-motivated, collaborative, and results-oriented with strong organizational and time management skills.
• Willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends for donor events and Museum functions.

The C.M. Russell Museum offers a comprehensive benefits package to support employee well-being, including:

• Paid time off, including vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Simple IRA retirement plan with employer contribution
• Disability insurance
• Professional development and training opportunities
• Complimentary museum membership and museum store discounts
• A supportive and mission-driven workplace culture

Research shows many people hesitate to apply unless they meet every qualification. We know it's rare to match 100% of the criteria — if much of this description sounds like you, we encourage you to apply.

Why This Role Matters

The C.M. Russell Museum is built on the generosity of people who believe art, history, and culture matter. As Development Officer, you'll create those connections — introducing supporters to opportunities to preserve an iconic legacy while the Museum continues to educate, inspire, and serve future generations. Every relationship you build and gift you help secure leaves a lasting impact on the Museum and its community.