About the Job
Pay range : $130,000-$150,000 annually
This is a full timeposition.
Work Location : Bell Museum, University of Minnesota, St Paul Campus
Application Deadline : June 9, 2024
The Director of Development will lead the full range of fundraising efforts for the Bell Museum, Minnesota’s state natural history museum and planetarium and the gateway to the sciences at the University of Minnesota.
This work is both strategic and hands-on. The Development Director will oversee the Museum’s significant and growing portfolio of philanthropy, including individual giving, annual fund, membership, and corporate / foundation giving in the forms of sponsorship and philanthropic grants, in partnership with the University of Minnesota Foundation (UMF) corporate and foundation relations team.
They will also serve as an architect and principal leadership gift officer for Bell Museum fundraising efforts. They will lead a current team of four and directly supervise three full-time staff (Associate Development Officer, an Annual Giving Manager, and a Membership Manager).
The Director of Development will serve as a member of the Bell Museum’s Executive Leadership Team. This dynamic role has a dual reporting structure to the Chief Development Officer of the College of Food, Agricultural, and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS), the Bell’s home college, and the Executive Director of the Bell Museum.
This individual is an entrepreneurial and seasoned fundraising professional with a passion for public education and cultural institutions.
They embrace and represent the mission and vision of the Bell Museum, and inspire others with their enthusiasm, knowledge, and integrity.
We are looking for individuals to join our team who are inspired by our mission to ignite curiosity and wonder, explore our connections to nature and the universe, and create a better future for our evolving world.
We believe that difference is a strength and are looking for candidates that reflect and respect diversity. We encourage you to apply for the position even if you do not believe you meet every qualification.
Duties / Responsibilities :
Front-line Fundraising and Strategy (70%)
Identifies and qualifies 1 a personal portfolio of 100 major gift prospects and donors with primary focus on qualifying prospects and closing major gifts of $50,000 to $1,000,000+
Performance expectations include : 15 solicitations per year at $50,000+ and total annual gift production of $2,000,000 to $4,000,000 and above
Leverages the resources of the University of Minnesota Foundation (UMF) with the public face and reach of the Bell Museum to expand the potential of museum fundraising and pipeline development
Serves as the primary architect and guide for Bell fundraising, including the development of case materials and collaboration with UMF on future campaign efforts
Leads with a strong commitment to a high-touch, donor-centered approach to fundraising that embraces collegiality and procedures of UMF
In coordination with the CFANS Chief Development Officer and Bell Executive Director, sets fundraising goals and objectives and develops and executes strategies for cultivating and soliciting major gifts, planned gifts, and corporate / foundation gifts
Identifies and expands opportunities for collaboration with the CFANS development team centered around donor stewardship
Manages a blended portfolio of prospects (individual, corporate and private foundation) with a focus on developing and implementing effective strategies to move donors through the pipeline (cultivation, solicitation, stewardship)
Participates in trips to key geographic areas as assigned to qualify and cultivate donors, and collaborate with regional development officers, other university development colleagues, and CFANS leadership as appropriate to maximize results, approximately 2-3 times per year
In collaboration with the CFANS stewardship coordinator, prepares and delivers progress reports for donors regarding the impact of their gifts / grants
Clears and coordinates prospective donors through appropriate UMF procedures to ensure effective solicitation of the donor that maximizes the gift to the University and the donor’s satisfaction with the institution
Updates regular reports on progress and results of the prospect solicitation process and portfolio in the donor management system (DMS).
Completes and files thorough reports of all contacts in a timely manner. Review research reports and information from DMS on assigned donors and prospects
Ensures a cohesive and nuanced annual giving strategy
Ensures the Bell Museum membership program has a clear acquisition and retention strategy
Partners with the University of Minnesota Foundation’s staff and services, as necessary
Collaboration, Coaching and Supervision (30%)
Supervise, coach and evaluate development team members within the Bell Museum with a focus on professional development and team growth
Serve on the Bell Museum’s Executive Leadership Team, advising the Executive Director and playing a role in institutional decision-making, policy, budget, and strategy
Work collaboratively across museum departments particularly Public Engagement and Science Learning, Statewide Engagement, and Research and Collections to develop fundraising proposals and strategies that advance the museum’s programmatic and scientific initiatives
Serve as a liaison to the Bell Museum Community Advisory Board Nomination and Development Committee, leveraging networks, relationships, and corporate ties.
Support museum-wide initiatives related to diversity, equity, access and inclusion, ensuring these values are integrated into all aspects of the museum’s internal and external work.
Collaborate with the Bell Marketing team and external vendors on the development of materials and coordination of events that support fundraising objectives and donor recognition
Qualifications
Required Qualifications :
Bachelor’s degree and five years demonstrated ability to successfully solicit major gifts; or experience in marketing, sales, public relations, financial advisement or related field with emphasis on relationship cultivation and solicitation of individuals / businesses
Demonstrated track record of securing gifts of $100,000 and above
Supervisory experience with demonstrated ability to lead, motivate, and / or coach a team in a professional or volunteer setting
Demonstrated ability to promote and successfully solicit gifts, manage a prospect portfolio, design and implement cultivation and solicitation strategies, and ensure follow-up activities and stewardship
Proven ability to work effectively and tactfully with a diverse group of internal and external constituents
Ability to work independently and with excellent judgment and attention to detail
Master storyteller - excellent written and oral communication skills
Impeccable and detail-oriented organization, planning, and problem-solving skills
Thrives in a collaborative environment
Operates with integrity and discretion
Willingness to participate in occasional regional travel and attend approximately 1-2 evening and 1-2 weekend events per month
Access to reliable transportation and ability to travel for donor visits is required
Preferred Qualifications :
Fundraising experience in cultural or nature / environment / science-based institutions
Capital campaign experience
Events development and management experience
Experience working with advisory or other board structures and members
About the Department
The mission of the Museum is to ignite and sustain curiosity for nature and the Universe, to achieve our vision of a hopeful future where all are inspired by nature and empowered by science.
The Bell Museum is Minnesota’s official natural history museum, established by the legislature in 1872 and held in trust by the University of Minnesota.
For over 150 years, the museum has preserved and interpreted our state’s rich natural history and served learners of all ages.
Our scientific collections contain over one million specimens, representing every county in Minnesota and various locales around the globe, and the Whitney and Elizabeth MacMillan Planetarium expands the mission to the universe and points beyond.
We moved to a state-of-the-art public facility on the St. Paul campus in 2018, and expanded our role to become a gateway to science and research at the University of Minnesota.
While natural history remains a bedrock for the Bell, opportunities in astronomy and space science, health and medicine, the environment, the arts, and other areas afford the Bell opportunities for new partnerships and the development of new experiences for public science engagement, taking place in the public facility and increasingly across the state.
The Director of Development plays a leading role in creating broad-based support for the Museum’s mission and aligning donor interests with strategic objectives.
The Bell Museum development team embraces new ideas and perspectives as it raises philanthropic support for the Bell Museum’s key priority areas including : Research & Collections, Museum without Boundaries, Curiosity Catalyst, Minnesota’s Astronomy Classroom and Creative by Nature.
This role also plays a critical role in the Bell Museum’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts as we aim to remove barriers to engagement with the museum.
A successful candidate will be a committed collaborator and strategic partner who has the vision and drive to bring the Bell Museum’s initiatives to life while building a strong pipeline for a sustainable future.
Benefits
Working at the University
At the University of Minnesota, you’ll find a flexible work environment and supportive colleagues who are interested in lifelong learning.
We prioritize work-life balance, allowing you to invest in the future of your career and in your life outside of work.
The University also offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes :
- Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
- Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the
- Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
- Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
- University HSA contributions
- Disability and employer-paid life insurance
- Employee wellbeing program
- Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
- Financial counseling services
- Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
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