Position Description:
The newly created position of Leadership Gifts Officer will be responsible for managing a portfolio of 100 -150 donors with the potential to make four-through-five figure gifts. The Leadership Gifts Officer conducts outreach to individuals and corporate leads to support the operations and mission of the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History. 

About Connecticut Museum of Culture and History and its opportunities:
The Connecticut Museum has always worked to understand the past and encourage historic inquiry. Through permanent and groundbreaking temporary exhibitions, the Connecticut Museum works to ensure that Connecticut residents feel connected not only to the history and culture of Connecticut but, through a shared understanding of history, with each other. The public programming of the Connecticut Museum serves K-12 school groups, families, teachers, curious life-long learning adults, researchers, and the State of Connecticut. The Connecticut Museum is the only state historical organization that offers a folklife program, known as the Cultural Sustainability department (formerly known as the Connecticut Cultural Heritage Arts Program), to ensure the collection is an inclusive and true representation of the diversity of the state. The adoption of the state folklife program in 2015 resulted in bringing more than 60,000 objects, mostly photographic and video content, of the diverse cultural groups that are in Connecticut. 

The Connecticut Museum is at an exciting moment in its history. As the organization celebrates its 200th Anniversary in 2025, the Connecticut Museum is committed to a five-year strategic plan to enhance its impact by elevating work with diverse communities across the state to develop engaging programs, events, and exhibitions. The Connecticut Museum is in the initial stages of a capital project and anticipates launching a comprehensive capital campaign soon. In preparation for this anticipated campaign, the Connecticut Museum has completed a campaign readiness assessment, an extensive development assessment, and wealth screen of its prospects. The Connecticut Museum completed an institutional rebrand which was launched to the public in June 2023.  

Responsibilities: 

• Work at the direction of the Chief Advancement Officer to design a leadership gift program aimed at increasing the overall dollars raised, and deepening our relationships with the Connecticut Museum’s most committed supporters; 
• Develop and grow the Connecticut Museum’s donor base and pipeline of individuals capable of making four-through-six figure gifts; 
• Cultivate and secure corporate sponsorships to support ongoing exhibitions and programs Collaborate with the Connecticut Museum colleagues and leaders to achieve organization fundraising goals; 
• Cultivate, steward and solicit a fundraising portfolio of 100-150 active prospects, tasks include: 
  • Identify, research, and qualify leads and donors in close consultation with the Annual Fund Manager 
  • Create individual goals that match organizational needs to the passions, interests, and capacity of each individual prospect; set and achieve annual portfolio goals  
  • Create a meaningful cultivation and solicitation plan for each prospect; execute and modify as circumstances change 
  • Work with the Connecticut Museum program staff to secure project information to create exciting investment opportunities for prospects (front-end) and report gift impact to donors (back-end) 
  • Partner with the team to design and implement comprehensive, creative, and high-quality stewardship strategies that exceed donor expectations; 
• Ensure the integrity of the database by maintaining up-to-date and accurate donor information and contact reports; 
• Solicit four-figure annual fund gifts to support operational support goals; 
• Work collaboratively with the Advancement team on fundraising events and soliciting sponsorships; 
• Identify, cultivate and solicit corporate support for exhibitions and programs; 
• Manage some small development gatherings to cultivate larger gifts;  
• Independently exercise ethical and sound judgement, and maintain the highest standards of donor privacy and confidence; 
• Perform other leadership gift officer duties as required, including monthly reporting to management that accurately reflects caseload activity and performance. 

Skills, Experience and Education Required: 

• Demonstrated success in four to five figure gift fundraising with a minimum of 3-5 years of relevant professional experience, preferably with some knowledge of capital campaigns, either at a nonprofit or business development role; 
• A deep understanding of the Connecticut philanthropic market and key leaders in the Arts and Culture sector; 
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; ability to build relationships and inspire action from donors; 
• Comfort with speaking with the public and asking donors for gifts; 
• Demonstrated ability to close on gifts; 
• Friendly, curious, willing to learn, motivated; 
• Ability to work effectively in a team setting and independently; 
• Strong interpersonal communications skills; 
• Excellent attention to detail and a sense of pride in work;  
• Ability to remain highly organized in a multi-faceted organization and drive towards goals;  
• Utilizes a high degree of discretion, particularly as it pertains to sensitive donor information; 
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and fundraising systems, Blackbaud Altru preferred;  
• Bachelor’s Degree required; 
• A passion for the mission of the Connecticut Museum; 
• Transportation to meet donors and prospective donors on an as needed; 
• Ability to lift 30 pounds.  

Compensation
$75,000 – $85,000 per year.  

Benefits
Eligible for generous full time employee benefits including paid vacation and sick time, participation in employer-contributing 403b plan, and health, life and disability insurance. 

Schedule
Full time. Monday through Friday plus Advancement Department programming as needed. On-site in Hartford, CT. 

Other
Review of applications will commence immediately and continue until position is filled. Final candidate subject to background and reference check.  

How to apply
Please email cover letter and resume to Susan Presutti, Director of Human Resources, spresutti@connecticutmuseum.org, by March 28, 2025.  

The Connecticut Museum is an affirmative action-equal opportunity employer.