Donor Relations and Stewardship Manager (Full-Time, Onsite)

Berkshirejobs; North Adams (MA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

MASS MoCA in North Adams, MA, seeks a Donor Relations and Stewardship Manager to lead the museum’s day‑to‑day donor stewardship program for individual donors and to oversee patron groups and cultivation events. The role emphasizes accurate data tracking, personalized donor communications, and cross‑department collaboration to support mid and major gifts.

The successful candidate will design stewardship plans, coordinate donor meetings and tours, and manage event logistics from concept through

Qualifications

• Experience in donor relations and stewardship programs.
• Ability to plan and manage donor events and cultivation visits.
• Strong organization and cross‑department collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead donor stewardship for individual donors and mid/major gifts.
• Oversee patron groups and calendar of cultivation events.
• Coordinate donor meetings, tours, and cultivation visits; assist with gift proposals.
• Track donor interactions in CRM and support pipeline reporting.
• Draft stewardship communications and uphold brand voice across the museum.
• Manage event logistics for cultivation and donor appreciation events.
• Collaborate with other departments on donor reporting and content.

Skills

Donor relations

Portfolio management

CRM management

Event planning

Stewardship programs

Tools

CRM

Job description

The Donor Relations and Stewardship Manager plays a key role in advancing MASS MoCA’s stewardship strategy through supporting mid and major donor growth. Reporting to the Chief Advancement Officer, this position leads the museum's day-to-day donor stewardship program for individual donors. The role also serves as staff lead for the museum's patron groups and the calendar of cultivation and appreciation events that keep those groups engaged. This role suits an organized professional with attention to detail and excellent prioritization skills who wants deep, hands‑on experience in stewardship and relationship management, paired with broader exposure to cultivation and event work, and who enjoys the cross‑departmental collaboration that fundraising in a museum requires.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Gift Cultivation and Solicitation

• Manage a portfolio of mid-level ($5,000–$15,000) donors and prospects, moving each through identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship ('moves management').
• Organize and assist with donor and prospect meetings, museum tours, and cultivation visits; make direct asks for annual and mid-level gifts under the guidance of the Chief Advancement Officer.
• Draft gift proposals, solicitation letters, and pledge agreements tailored to donor interests and giving history.
• Track all donor interactions and gift activity accurately and promptly in CRM.
• Support the Chief Advancement Officer with data analysis, portfolio reviews, and pipeline reporting.
• Represent the museum at member and donor cultivation events, opening nights, and community outreach as assigned.

Donor Stewardship and Relations

• Design, develop, and manage a comprehensive stewardship program covering acknowledgment, recognition, reporting, and ongoing engagement for individual donors.
• Oversee Advancement Coordinator in gift processing, ensuring every donor receives an accurate, personalized, and timely thank-you (within 48 hours for major gifts).
• Support the development and fulfillment of major gift agreements, endowment gifts, and multi-year pledges, tracking commitments and payment schedules through to completion.
• Design and execute individualized stewardship plans for assigned donors as well as major gifts donors, including touchpoints, recognition, and impact updates aligned to each donor's interests and giving level.
• Develop impactful stewardship and gift-use reports that clearly demonstrate the outcomes of donor investments, working with other departments to gather accurate, compelling content.
• Coordinate donor recognition across the museum, including donor walls, exhibit and gallery credit lines, annual report listings, and named-fund signage, and maintain accurate donor and sponsor recognition content on the museum's website.
• Draft donor communications across the stewardship cycle, including proposals, appeal letters, acknowledgments, and stewardship reports, in the museum's voice.
• Plan and manage full logistics for cultivation and stewardship events (recognition receptions, behind-the-scenes tours, donor appreciation gatherings), including invitations, briefings, seating charts, and post-event follow-up.
• Maintain the department's stewardship calendar and ensure consistent, on-brand donor communications throughout the year.

Patron Group and Event Management

• Manage the museum's patron groups (Ambassadors and Director’s Council), serving as the primary staff liaison for each group's members.
• With oversight from the Chief Advancement Officer, plan, budget, and execute the calendar of patron group events, including exhibition previews, artist studio visits, curator talks, and collection visits from concept through post-event follow-up.
• Track patron group membership, renewals, and upgrades in the CRM, and work to convert engaged patrons into higher-level donors.
• Manage patron group event budgets, reconcile expenses, and ensure spending stays within approved limits.
• Coordinate on site event logistics with Visual Arts, Facilities, Events, and Security, including invitations, RSVP tracking, seating/guest lists, run-of-show, and on-site staffing.
• Develop event collateral and communications (invitations, programs, remarks, follow-up notes) in the museum's voice and brand.
• Evaluate each event and patron group's engagement and giving impact, and recommend adjustments to programming, cadence, or benefits.
• Assist with the annual donor travel program.
• In conjunction with Senior Manager of Membership and Annual Giving, work on all elements of the Art Futures Benefit.