Development Officer, Individual Giving and Major Gifts

Title: Development Officer, Individual Giving and Major Gifts

Reports to: Assistant Director, Development

The Hudson River Museum seeks an experienced and goal-oriented Development Officer, Individual Giving and Major Gifts, to develop and implement strategies for the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of individual and major donors in support of the Museum’s exhibitions, programs, endowment, and strategic initiatives.

The Development Officer will play a key role in expanding philanthropic support for the Museum by managing a portfolio of current and prospective donors, building and deepening relationships, identifying new opportunities for individual giving, and securing major gifts. Reporting to the Assistant Director, Development and working closely with the Anita K. Hersh Director and CEO and the broader Development team, this position will help develop and execute fundraising strategies that advance the Museum’s goals. The Museum currently operates with a $4 million annual budget and is pursuing a multi-year growth plan over the next five years.

The ideal candidate will be a strategic and entrepreneurial fundraiser with a successful track record of cultivating, soliciting, and closing major gifts. They will be an ambitious relationship builder, strategic thinker, goal-oriented, excellent communicator, skilled writer, strong project manager, and able to secure major gifts. The successful candidate will have the ability to develop creative funding strategies that advance the Museum’s mission, strengthen its donor pipeline, and support its ambitious plans for growth.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement strategic Annual Fund plans to grow unrestricted support for Museum operations and special initiatives. Working with the Assistant Director, Development to create objectives, timelines, and evaluation measures; monitor performance; and design and execute strategies to increase donor acquisition, retention, and revenue in alignment with the Museum’s expanding programs, operating needs, and long-term fundraising goals.
• Develop and implement an individual giving strategy focused on identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding individual donors, with an emphasis on growing the pipeline of leadership-level and major gift prospects. Manage a portfolio of individual donors and prospects to increase giving, strengthen engagement, and secure philanthropic support for the Museum’s priorities.
• Partner with the Assistant Director, Development in planning and launching a comprehensive capital campaign. Support campaign strategy, manage a portfolio of campaign prospects, develop effective donor materials, and contribute to campaign execution and stewardship.
• Conduct strategic prospect research to identify new individual giving opportunities, qualify prospects, and expand relationships to inform and support Museum leadership.
• Establish annual major gift goals, track progress toward objectives, and develop strategies to retain and upgrade donors while expanding the Museum’s base of major supporters.
• Write and prepare compelling donor communications, including solicitation letters, gift proposals, presentations, and stewardship materials tailored to individuals and families.
• Support the development and implementation of planned giving strategies to expand long-term philanthropic support.
• Develop and execute strategic cultivation and stewardship activities for current and prospective major donors, including personalized engagement opportunities, donor briefings, behind-the-scenes experiences, and special programs that deepen relationships and advance philanthropic support. Work collaboratively with Development team members to plan and implement donor experiences aligned with fundraising priorities.
• Collaborate with the Development team to execute the annual gala and other fundraising and cultivation events throughout the year, including managing donor follow-up and stewardship opportunities.
• Attend and actively participate in Museum events, including cultivation events, behind-the-scenes experiences, and community engagement opportunities.

Qualifications:

• A minimum of 10 years of professional experience, with at least five years progressive fundraising experience including experience in frontline fundraising and raising gifts from individual donors, with a proven track record of soliciting and closing five- and six-figure gifts. Strong understanding of the nonprofit sector, with experience or demonstrated interest in one of the Museum’s core areas: art, science, or history.
• Excellent written and verbal communications, and interpersonal skills, including the ability to write and speak engagingly about the Museum to a wide-ranging donor constituency.
• Knowledge of Westchester and metropolitan area philanthropic potential and strong relationships.
• Comfort and demonstrated ability to build and steward relationships with high-net-worth donors with professionalism, discretion, and confidence.
• Bachelor’s Degree
• Excitement about and commitment to the Museum’s mission
• Excellent ability to prioritize, organize, and manage multiple competing assignments and responsibilities; highly detail-oriented.
• Being a collaborator who works successfully with board members, colleagues, and volunteers.
  
  
• Ability to travel throughout the region for donor meetings, events, and other Museum-related activities; reliable access to a personal car required.
• Ability/willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends.
  
  
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel), Google Suite, and the ability to effectively utilize proprietary software; Salesforce experience preferred.
  
  

Benefits:

The Museum provides competitive compensation, and generous benefits and perks for all eligible employees, including:

• Competitive compensation
• The Museum pays 100% of premiums for medical, dental, and life insurance.
• 403(b) retirement plan
• Generous paid time off, including annual leave, sick leave, personal days and 13 Museum holidays
• Flexible spending accounts (pre-tax income for eligible health care expenses)
• On-site free parking and discount in Museum shop
• Access and free admission to numerous museums and cultural institutions
• Paid membership in the American Alliance of Museums (AAM).
• Standard worker’s compensation, short-term and long-term disability and unemployment insurance.
• Participation in TransitChek Commuter Benefit program
• This position is hybrid, with 4 days at HRM and the opportunity for 1 day working remotely

Compensation: $55,000–$65,000 annually.

To apply: email cover letter, resume to [email protected] and a brief summary of significant gifts you have personally secured, including gift amount, type of support, and your role in the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship process. Confidential donor information should be omitted.

Submissions without a cover letter will not be considered. Include “Development Officer” in the subject line.

Hudson River Museum (hrm.org) is a preeminent cultural institution in Westchester County and the New York Metropolitan area. Situated on the banks of the Hudson River in Yonkers, New York, the HRM’s mission is to engage, inspire, and connect diverse communities through the power of the arts, sciences, and history.

The Museum offers engaging experiences for nearly every age and interest, with an ever-growing collection of American art; dynamic exhibitions that range from notable nineteenth-century paintings to contemporary art installations; Glenview, an 1877 house on the National Register of Historic Places; a state-of-the-art Planetarium; an environmental teaching gallery; and an outdoor Amphitheater. Accredited by the American Association of Museums (AAM), the Museum is dedicated to collecting, preserving, exhibiting, and interpreting these multidisciplinary offerings, which are complemented by an array of public programs that encourage creative expression, collaboration, and artistic and scientific discovery.