Development Officer for Fundraising Events

About the Norton Museum of Art:

Founded in 1941 by Ralph Hubbard Norton and his wife Elizabeth Calhoun Norton, the Norton Museum of Art is Florida’s largest art museum, renowned for its distinguished collection. The Norton Museum of Art welcomes visitors to experience the transformative power of art through intimate and creative encounters with wide-ranging collections and programs of the highest quality. With holdings spanning Contemporary, Early European, Modern, and Asian Art, as well as Photography, the Norton serves as a cherished institution within its community.

Our Commitments:

To uphold our mission and ensure the Norton’s relevance to our community, we are dedicated to the following principles:

• Art: We celebrate and share excellence in the arts in all its forms.
• Audience: We cultivate meaningful dialogues and relationships with a diverse and inclusive audience.
• Ambassadors: Our employees, Trustees, volunteers, and partners are the vital links connecting Art and Audience.
• Foundations: We are committed to preserving the Norton’s fiscal and physical legacy for future generations.

Job Purpose:

The Development Officer for Fundraising Events is a full-time, exempt position reporting to the Director of Donor Engagement (DODE). This role supports the planning and execution of the Museum’s signature fundraising initiatives, including the Gala and ArtBeat, with a focus on delivering exceptional donor experiences that advance institutional revenue and engagement goals.

Working in close partnership with Development Leadership, this position contributes to event strategy while leading the operational and logistical execution of fundraising events. The Development Officer collaborates across departments—including Development, Communications, and Event Services—as well as with external vendors and partners to ensure seamless, high-quality event delivery.

As a key member of the Donor Engagement team, this role strengthens donor relationships, supports revenue generation through sponsorship and underwriting coordination, and ensures that all fundraising events reflect the Museum’s mission, values, and commitment to excellence.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Support the planning and execution of the Museum’s major fundraising events, including Gala and ArtBeat
• Translate event strategy and vision into detailed production and execution plans with appropriate parties in collaboration with Development Leadership
• Coordinate with internal stakeholders and external vendors to manage event logistics, production timelines, and deliverables
• Partner with Development Leadership to support event strategy and revenue-generating initiatives
• Serve as the primary liaison between the Museum and external production, design, and event vendors for the Gala to ensure timely and accurate delivery of all event components
• Partner with the Development Officer for Donor Events to execute the revenue and fundraising strategy for ArtBeat, translating event vision into detailed production plans and leading on-site implementation to ensure successful delivery of sponsorship, underwriting, and donor engagement goals
• Oversee sponsorship fulfillment, underwriting coordination, and donor benefit execution to ensure all contractual obligations are met
• Oversee guest operations for the Gala in collaboration with DODE, including guest lists, seating, registration, and on-site logistics
• Collaborate with Communications and Marketing teams to support event messaging, invitations, promotional materials, and event collateral
• Support tracking and reporting of event revenue, attendance, and post-event outcomes
• Maintain accurate donor, guest, and event records in CRM systems to support reporting and stewardship (Altru preferred)
• Ensure alignment between event execution, sponsorship deliverables, and overall fundraising strategy
• Collaborate with Donor Relations and Individual Giving teams to integrate donor cultivation and stewardship touchpoints into fundraising event experiences
• Provide on-site event support, including staff coordination, guest relations, troubleshooting, and execution oversight
• Support event staffing and volunteer coordination as needed
• Support post-event follow-up efforts, including donor acknowledgments, stewardship activities, and engagement tracking
• General administrative tasks, including answering phones, and managing multiple email accounts
• Contribute to broader Donor Engagement initiatives and special projects as needed

Benefits Offerings:

The museum provides competitive compensation and generous benefits and perks for all eligible employees. Note: Benefits may differ based on employment status.

• Medical, Dental, Vision, Worksite plans & Additional Life Insurance
• Basic Life Insurance and AD&D, employer paid
• Short-term Disability Insurance, employer paid
• Flexible Spending Accounts and Health Savings Accounts
• 401(k) retirement plan and 2% employer match
• Considerable paid time off, plus 4 additional discretionary days, and 9 recognized holidays
• Flex Work options; hybrid & flexible schedule after an employee’s 90-day probationary period. NOTE: FlexWork is not suitable for all positions.
• 20% discount for staff in the Museum store
• 10% discount at The Restaurant
• Membership to the ROAM Museum network

Requirements & Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required
• 3 years of experience in event planning, development, fundraising, or a related field
• Experience in a museum or cultural institution preferred, but not required
• Demonstrated experience supporting complex, high-profile events and/or donor engagement activities
• Strong project management skills with the ability to prioritize, manage multiple deadlines, and perform in a fast-paced environment
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with a professional, donor-facing approach
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build effective relationships across internal teams, external stakeholders, vendors, and community partners
• High attention to detail, accuracy, and strong organizational skills
• Demonstrated problem-solving ability and sound judgment in dynamic or high-pressure situations
• Self-starter with the ability to work independently and meet deadlines with minimal supervision
• Commitment to professionalism, discretion, and the highest ethical standards in handling confidential information
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite; experience with CRM or donor database systems required (Altru preferred)
• Ability and willingness to work evenings, weekends, and occasional holidays in support of events and donor activities
• Ability to respond to time-sensitive communications outside standard business hours when required

Hours & Compensation :

• Monday-Friday 9am-5pm
• Full-Time, Exempt/Non-Exempt
• Compensation: Commensurate with experience

Location Requirements:

At the time of employment, employees are expected to be located within reasonable commuting distance of the museum. Commuting Distance means they are located in South Florida, and able to commute to and from the Museum in a single day.

• Museum Location: 1450 South Dixie Hwy, West Palm Beach, FL 33413

Physical Requirements:

• This position will require evening, weekend and possible holiday hours. The person in this position must be able to move about inside and outside the office, stand for long periods of time (up to at least 4 hours), communicate with managers and employees, access and operate computer and other office equipment; and ability to lift, move or carry up to twenty-five (25) pounds. 

Note: Nothing in this job description restricts management’s rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. 

Norton Museum of Art is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship. Norton Museum of Art makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.