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Director, Principal Gifts Program

New York City, New York (onsite)

About the Organization 

The American Museum of Natural History, founded in 1869 with a dual mission of scientific research and science education, is one of the world’s preeminent scientific, educational, and cultural institutions. The Museum encompasses more than 40 permanent exhibition halls, galleries for temporary exhibitions, the Rose Center for Earth and Space including the Hayden Planetarium, and the Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation. The Museum’s scientists draw on a world-class permanent collection of more than 30 million specimens and objects, some of which are billions of years old, and on one of the largest natural history libraries in the world. Through its Richard Gilder Graduate School, the Museum offers two of the only free-standing, degree-granting programs of their kind at any museum in the U.S.: the Ph.D. program in Comparative Biology and the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) Earth Science residency program. Visit amnh.org for more information. 

Position Overview

AMNH is seeking a strategic and entrepreneurial Director of Principal Gifts Program to join its high-performing Advancement team.

The Director will play a pivotal role in designing and executing a creative, high-touch, and customized program of cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship for current and future Board members, as well as principal gift donors at the seven-figure level and above. This program will strengthen principal gift donor engagement, foster community among its growing Board, and drive new and increased commitments.

Reporting to the Vice President for Advancement, the Director will serve as a senior member of the Advancement team and a key partner to colleagues across the Museum, including senior leadership. The Director will provide strategic leadership to guide the Principal Gifts team’s revenue expansion and maximize mission impact.

The Director will also manage and support the strategic growth of the Museum’s annual appeal to its Board of Trustees, ensuring financial goals are met. They will be responsible for cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding their own portfolio of Honorary Trustees as well as supervising the Manager of Principal Gifts.

Responsibilities

Principal Gifts Strategy

  • Shape and execute the Museum’s Principal Gifts goals and strategies to retain, grow, and deepen engagement with current donors, including Board members, and expand the base of donor support.
  • Work as an effective partner with the President, Board of Directors, and other Museum leaders on their fundraising and prospect outreach efforts.
  • Devise strategies, draft briefings, and create pitch decks to support Museum leadership on principal gift solicitations.
  • Develop a strong working knowledge of Museum programs and funding priorities in order to articulate a compelling case for support to all constituents.

Donor Engagement

  • Manage a personal portfolio of Honorary Trustees to strengthen their relationships with the Museum.
  • In alignment with the Museum’s fundraising priorities, create customized short-, intermediate-, and long-term cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for the Honorary Trustees portfolio.
  • Partner with the Manager of Principal Gifts to create and execute a new Honorary Trustee engagement program, which will meaningfully support the Director’s portfolio management efforts.

Cross-functional Collaboration

  • Collaborate with colleagues in Institutional Advancement and across the Museum on the creation and implementation of creative and impactful fundraising strategies and resources, including but not limited to events, programs, giving and recognition opportunities, proposals, reports, and other printed and digital materials.
  • Champion a culture of philanthropy across the organization, promoting fundraising as a shared responsibility and energizing colleagues and volunteers to advance the Museum’s mission.

Team Leadership & Management

  • Supervise, mentor, and coach the Manager of Principal Gifts, ensuring professional development and career enhancement.
  • Meaningfully collaborate with the Advancement team.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree required.
  • Minimum of ten (10) years of progressive professional experience at a complex institution, including at least four (4) years of frontline fundraising experience.
  • Minimum of two (2) years of management experience managing fundraising professionals, creating a positive and productive work environment through collaboration, trust, and transparency.
  • Experience working closely with high-net-worth individuals, identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major and principal gifts with diplomacy and maturity.
  • A proven track record of meeting or exceeding ambitious fundraising goals individually and as a team.
  • Demonstrated experience and ability to work effectively with key institutional leaders, high-level volunteers, Board members, and colleagues.
  • Expert written and oral communication skills and the ability to communicate AMNH’s mission to a broad audience.
  • Adept at crafting compelling proposals, donor correspondence, and other materials.
  • Proficient use of Microsoft Office programs, internet applications, and fundraising databases (knowledge of and experience with Raiser’s Edge, a plus).
  • Ability to travel locally and work the occasional evening and weekend.

Compensation & Benefits 

  • Annual salary in the range of $150,000-165,000. Pay will be determined based on several factors. The hiring range for the position at commencement is based on the type of work and the scope of responsibilities. The salary and placement offered is based on a number of individualized factors, including, but not limited to, skills, knowledge, training, education, credentials, areas of specialization and depth and scope of experience.
  • AMNH offers an extensive benefits package including Medical, Dental, and Life Insurance, Retirement Plans, and PTO. Learn more at careers.amnh.org. 

Orr Group

AMNH has retained the Orr Group to conduct this search.  Please direct all inquiries and interest to the Orr Group search team.

Jesse Bryan

Orr Group

Vice President

jbryan@orrgroup.com

 

 

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