Summary

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 individual donors. 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 ideal candidate will bring high emotional intelligence, exceptional communication skills, and superb relationship management experience. This position reports to the vice president of development & membership and is part of a six-person fundraising team. 

Five Areas of Accountability

• Identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of individual donors and prospects interested in SPY’s 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 the department’s fundraising strategy.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and execution of strategies to maintain and grow the individual donor and prospect pipeline for SPY programs, exhibitions, and collections, from cultivation through stewardship of current and new funders.
• 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 Museum’s 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 expected for cultivation and networking events. 

Desired Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience

• Five (5) to seven(7) years of proven success in securing five—and six-figure gifts from individuals, from pipeline to cultivation and stewardship. 
• 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 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.
• Experience with managing budgets and budget forecasting
• Attention to detail, flexible self-starter.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint. 
• Experience with Salesforce, Raiser’s Edge, or other prospect management systems preferred.
• Commitment to and passion for the mission and work of the International Spy Museum.

Success Traits

• Creative connector – Able to successfully connect donors’ passions with the funding needs of the Spy Museum in a dynamic environment.
• Collaborative problem-solver – Seeks understanding and makes smart decisions through consistent effective communication, positive influence, and leading by example.
• Flexible innovator – Thrives on a dynamic environment. Is comfortable pivoting to meet opportunity while paying attention to strategic priorities. Curious and able to quickly absorb information and make it actionable. 
• Hands-on – As a small team with big ambitions, we tackle both the details and the big creative projects with energy, knowing that both accelerate our learning and strengthen our results. 
• Creative, persuasive, and sophisticated communicator – both written and verbal, both in groups and one on one.