Director of Development

About the Museum: Small Institution, Big Impact

The Mattatuck Museum is an art and regional history museum located on the historic Green in downtown Waterbury, CT. Founded as the Mattatuck Historical Society in 1877, the Museum opened its first display hall in 1912 and has been exhibiting art ever since.

The Mattatuck Museum is known for engaging its community in an understanding of the past and providing vision and leadership for the future through its exhibitions, programs, and collections of national significance. The Mattatuck is a small yet dynamic institution, a team of professionals doing big things. Candidates should thrive in an environment where all senior staff are expected to be hands-on and contribute to the institution's overall advancement.

About the Area

Waterbury, CT is 30 minutes southwest of Hartford, 40 minutes northwest of New Haven, 1 hour south of the Berkshires, 2 hours northeast of New York City, and 2.5 hours southwest of Boston, MA. Waterbury’s population is 114,403 (2020 census) and it is the second-largest city in New Haven County, Connecticut.

Position Summary

The Development Officer is responsible for securing funding from foundations, government agencies, corporations, and other institutional partners to support the Mattatuck Museum’s mission and strategic priorities. This role leads the Museum’s grants program (research, writing, submission, and reporting) and manages corporate sponsorships and partnerships across programs, exhibitions, and special events. The Development Officer works closely with colleagues across Curatorial, Education, and Finance to gather project information, steward funders, and ensure full compliance with grant and sponsorship requirements.

This position is ideal for a strong writer, a detail-oriented project manager, and a relationship-builder who is passionate about museums, cultural organizations, and community impact. The ideal candidate is highly organized, possesses exceptional attention to detail, and brings a proactive, high-energy approach to both day-to-day administrative tasks and creative, high-impact fundraising projects.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Grants & Institutional Giving

·        Research foundation, government, and corporate grant opportunities aligned with Museum priorities.

·        Write and submit compelling grant proposals, LOIs, budgets, reports, and renewal requests.

·        Develop and maintain a comprehensive master grants calendar, ensuring all deadlines are met.

·        Manage the full lifecycle of grants—from identification and cultivation to reporting and stewardship.

·        Collaborate with Curatorial, Education, and Program staff to gather project narratives, attendance data, budgets, and outcomes for use in proposals.

·        Maintain up-to-date records on all grants, sponsorships, and funder interactions in the donor database.

·        Track awarded grants, restricted funding, and reporting requirements in coordination with the Finance Department.

·        Build and strengthen relationships with program officers, funders, and institutional partners.

·        Ensure compliance with all grant agreements, including visibility, crediting, and recognition.

Corporate Sponsorships & Partnerships

·        Develop, solicit, and manage corporate sponsorships for exhibitions, programs, special events, and other strategic fundraising priorities.

·        Create sponsorship decks and proposals tailored to corporate interests and Museum needs.

·        Steward existing corporate partners, ensuring high-quality relationship management.

·        Track and deliver all sponsorship benefits (logo placement, recognition, tickets, previews, etc.).

·        Support fundraising and cultivation events by securing and managing event sponsors.

·        Work closely with the Administrative Coordinator and Director of Development to align sponsorship efforts with individual and membership campaigns.

Fundraising and Annual Giving

·        Plan and manage the Annual Fund campaign, including direct mail, email, and online giving.

·        Coordinate special fundraising initiatives, such as Giving Tuesday and year-end appeals.

·        Support the Executive Director, Director of Development, and Board Development Committee in cultivating major gift prospects.

·        Implement a donor stewardship program to engage and acknowledge supporters at all levels.

·        Prepare regular fundraising reports and analyses.

Qualifications and Skills

·        Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree or relevant certifications a plus.

·        2–4 years of experience in grant writing, institutional advancement, nonprofit development, or related field.

·        Proven success in writing compelling proposals and managing grants or sponsorships.

·        Strong writing, editing, and storytelling skills with excellent attention to detail.

·        Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.

·        Experience with donor databases (e.g., Altru, Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce) preferred.

·        Strong interpersonal skills and an ability to cultivate professional relationships.

·        Interest in the arts, museums, education, or community-focused cultural work.

Key Competencies

·        Exceptional written communication

·        Strategic thinking and research skills

·        Project management and organization

·        Relationship-building and stewardship

·        Deadline-driven and detail-oriented

·        Ability to collaborate across departments

Benefits

The Museum offers a full benefits package including:

·        Vacation, personal, and holidays.

·        Health, vision, and dental insurance (Health Savings Account with employer match).

·        Short- and long-term disability.

·        403(b) plan with employer match.

·        Free parking and complimentary annual membership to the Greater Waterbury YMCA.

·        Membership in the Art Museum Development Association (underwritten by the museum).

·        Support for professional development.

The Development Officer must be prepared to work evenings and weekend hours, in addition to fulfilling the obligations of a routine workday. Position contingent upon a satisfactory background check. The Development Officer is expected to live within 40 miles of the Museum.

To Apply

Recruitment will continue until the position is filled. To apply, please send a cover letter, current resume, and 3 professional references to:

DEVELOPMENT OFFICER SEARCH

Attn: Nicole Espeut, Director of Finance

Email: Nicole@mattmuseum.org

Documents should be sent as attachments using Microsoft Word or PDF format and should not exceed five (5) megabytes. No phone calls, please. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

The Mattatuck Museum is an Equal Opportunity Employer. As such, we are interested in candidates who are committed to high standards of scholarship, performance, and professionalism, as well as to the development of a climate that supports equality and diversity.