Major Gifts Officer

International Spy Museum; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

The International Spy Museum seeks an energetic Major Gifts Officer to attract and grow charitable support for the museum’s mission. You will develop and execute strategies for cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of donors, including individuals, corporations, foundations, and government entities.

The role requires high emotional intelligence, exceptional communication, and superb relationship management in a fast-growing nonprofit environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience.
• Five to seven years of proven success securing five- and six-figure gifts from pipeline to cultivation and stewardship.
• Experience in grant writing.
• Experience at a cultural institution or similar nonprofit preferred.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills with diverse stakeholders.
• Excellent project management and experience with tactical fundraising systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and execution of strategies to maintain and grow the donor and prospect pipeline for SPY programs, exhibitions, and collections, from cultivation through stewardship of current and new funders through moves management process.
• Identify grant opportunities and ensure timely and complete submission of proposals. Prepare grant reports and ensure completion of deliverables for existing grants.
• Work with the communications team to create compelling fundraising materials for cultivation and stewardship.
• Continuously steward relationships with donors to foster partnerships and ensure donor benefits are delivered.
• Collaborate with Museum staff to identify fundraising needs, create impactful proposals and asks that resonate with donors, and ensure excellent donor stewardship.

Skills

Fundraising

Donor relations

Moves management

Grant writing

Communication

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

PowerPoint

Job description

The Major Gifts Officer is an exciting opportunity for an energetic, collaborative, and proven fundraising professional to attract and grow charitable support for the Spy Museum's mission. The position is responsible for developing and executing strategies for the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of a portfolio of donors, including individuals, corporations, foundations, and government entities. Essential to success in this role is a keen interest in the creative process of identifying and matching opportunities for support with potential and current donors in an entrepreneurial, fast-growing fundraising environment. The candidate brings high emotional intelligence, exceptional communication skills, and superb relationship management experience. This position reports to the Vice President of Development & Membership and is a part of a cohesive development team.

Five Areas of Accountability

Identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of donors and prospects interested in the Spy Museums mission.

Implement moves-management strategies for engaging and soliciting donors and prospects

Work with departments across SPY to identify fundraising needs to develop proposals and make donor solicitations.

Strategic contributor in setting and driving fundraising strategy.

Work with departments across SPY to identify and complete LOIs, grant applications, and grant reports.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and execution of strategies to maintain and grow the donor and prospect pipeline for SPY programs, exhibitions, and collections, from cultivation through stewardship of current and new funders through moves management process.
• Identify grant opportunities and ensure timely and complete submission of proposals. Prepare grant reports and ensure completion of deliverables for existing grants.
• Work collaboratively with the communications team to conceive and create compelling digital and printed materials for fundraising, cultivation and stewardship purposes.
• Continuously steward relationships (utilizing moves management) with donors to foster partnerships and support, ensuring donor and sponsor benefits are delivered.
• Work collaboratively with department and Museum staff to identify specific fundraising needs, create impactful proposals and asks that resonate with donors, and ensure excellent donor stewardship.

Identify donor prospects for the museums fundraising priorities and effectively move prospects through the donor cycle.

Collaborate with SPY leadership team in engaging with donors through tours, meetings and special events.

Some evening and weekend work is expected for cultivation and networking events.

Desired Qualifications

Bachelors degree or equivalent work experience.

Five (5) to Seven (7) years of proven success in securing fiveand six-figure gifts from pipeline to cultivation and stewardship.

Experience in grant writing.

Experience at a cultural institution or similar nonprofit preferred.

Superb communication and interpersonal skills, able to connect effectively and strategically with a wide range of philanthropic, corporate, and high-net-worth donors as well as internal stakeholders and colleagues.

Exceptional project management skills, including strong understanding of tactical fundraising systems and fundraising best practice.

Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.

systems preferred.

Commitment to and passion for the mission and work of the International Spy Museum