National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium
Director of Annual Giving & Donor Engagement
National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium, Dubuque, Iowa, United States, 52001
Overview
The Director of Annual Giving & Donor Engagement leads the organization’s annual fundraising and donor engagement efforts, with primary focus on the annual fund, Captain’s Ball Gala, donor stewardship, and corporate membership and sponsorship programs. This role blends strategic leadership with hands-on execution and serves as a frontline fundraiser managing a portfolio of annual donors and corporate partners. This position initially encompasses both strategy development and day-to-day implementation, with the opportunity to evolve as the development program grows. The Director plays a key role in strengthening donor relationships, growing annual revenue, and delivering a thoughtful, high-quality donor experience aligned with organizational priorities. As a member of the organization’s leadership team, the Director collaborates with cross-departmental leaders and the Board of Directors to advance the museum’s mission and support its long-term sustainability as a cultural institution. This is a full-time, permanent position. Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. Benefits include vacation time, sick time, paid holidays, medical, dental, flex plan, and 403b retirement plan. Primary duties
Organizational Leadership Serve as a member of the organization’s leadership team responsible for strategic plan creation and execution Work closely with internal teams and external agencies to advance fundraising and engagement goals Act as a visible leader by attending organizational events and participating on committees Annual Fund Strategy and Execution Develop and execute annual fund strategies to grow donor participation, revenue, and retention, with emphasis on gifts under $10,000 Lead all annual appeals and campaigns across direct mail, digital, and personal solicitation channels Write and oversee donor communications from appeals and acknowledgements to newsletters and social media Track donor pipelines and monitor progress toward annual goals Captain's Ball Gala Serve as lead staff for our signature annual fundraising gala Oversee event strategy, sponsorships, auction, vendors, and post-event stewardship Partner with leadership, board, and volunteers to maximize fundraising engagement Donor Engagement & Stewardship Manage a portfolio of approximately 50 annual donors and prospects Plan and coordinate donor stewardship events (3+ annually) Oversee giving societies and donor recognition programs Represent the organization at events and programs to cultivate and steward supporters Sponsorship and Corporate Giving Lead the corporate membership program in partnership with the Membership Manager Develop and solicit corporate sponsorships for events, exhibitions, and programs Create tailored giving opportunities for exhibits, programs, or other priorities Ensure timely delivery of sponsorship benefits and recognition Build and maintain corporate partnership pipelines Collaboration, Planning, and Management Recruit, manage, and providing leadership of the Auxiliary Board Monitor fundraising trends and identify opportunities for growth and innovation Collaborate with the VP of Development, CEO, and board on fundraising strategy
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The Director of Annual Giving & Donor Engagement leads the organization’s annual fundraising and donor engagement efforts, with primary focus on the annual fund, Captain’s Ball Gala, donor stewardship, and corporate membership and sponsorship programs. This role blends strategic leadership with hands-on execution and serves as a frontline fundraiser managing a portfolio of annual donors and corporate partners. This position initially encompasses both strategy development and day-to-day implementation, with the opportunity to evolve as the development program grows. The Director plays a key role in strengthening donor relationships, growing annual revenue, and delivering a thoughtful, high-quality donor experience aligned with organizational priorities. As a member of the organization’s leadership team, the Director collaborates with cross-departmental leaders and the Board of Directors to advance the museum’s mission and support its long-term sustainability as a cultural institution. This is a full-time, permanent position. Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. Benefits include vacation time, sick time, paid holidays, medical, dental, flex plan, and 403b retirement plan. Primary duties
Organizational Leadership Serve as a member of the organization’s leadership team responsible for strategic plan creation and execution Work closely with internal teams and external agencies to advance fundraising and engagement goals Act as a visible leader by attending organizational events and participating on committees Annual Fund Strategy and Execution Develop and execute annual fund strategies to grow donor participation, revenue, and retention, with emphasis on gifts under $10,000 Lead all annual appeals and campaigns across direct mail, digital, and personal solicitation channels Write and oversee donor communications from appeals and acknowledgements to newsletters and social media Track donor pipelines and monitor progress toward annual goals Captain's Ball Gala Serve as lead staff for our signature annual fundraising gala Oversee event strategy, sponsorships, auction, vendors, and post-event stewardship Partner with leadership, board, and volunteers to maximize fundraising engagement Donor Engagement & Stewardship Manage a portfolio of approximately 50 annual donors and prospects Plan and coordinate donor stewardship events (3+ annually) Oversee giving societies and donor recognition programs Represent the organization at events and programs to cultivate and steward supporters Sponsorship and Corporate Giving Lead the corporate membership program in partnership with the Membership Manager Develop and solicit corporate sponsorships for events, exhibitions, and programs Create tailored giving opportunities for exhibits, programs, or other priorities Ensure timely delivery of sponsorship benefits and recognition Build and maintain corporate partnership pipelines Collaboration, Planning, and Management Recruit, manage, and providing leadership of the Auxiliary Board Monitor fundraising trends and identify opportunities for growth and innovation Collaborate with the VP of Development, CEO, and board on fundraising strategy
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