Director, Individual Giving & Auxiliaries - Field Museum

Our Mission: Since the 1893 World Columbian Exposition, our organization has aimed to connect people to the natural environment and human history.

The Director of Individual Giving and Auxiliary Groups oversees the Field Museum's individual annual giving programs, including individual unrestricted giving of any amount ($1 to $50,000+), the Trustees’ Annual Fund, and the fundraising activities of the Women’s Board and Field Associates young professionals group. This position is responsible for working with Museum executives, trustees, scientists, and staff to ensure the Museum reaches and exceeds all applicable fundraising goals and donor contact goals.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Individual Giving Team Management

• • Implement strategies to achieve the $3,010,000 (2024 amount) annual fundraising goal
  • Manage team of five, leading fundraising strategies to ensure optimal donor experience and positive financial outcome for the Museum
  • Track progress toward achieving financial goals throughout the year, pivoting as necessary to add new and creative tactics to achieve goals
  • Work with team to plan annual solicitation calendar, identifying compelling solicitors and solicitation mechanisms to inspire individual giving
  • Coordinate solicitation and stewardship strategies for the Annual Fund ($1-$2,499) and Founders’ Council ($2,500+) donor pools. Utilizing both direct mail and custom in-house solicitation techniques as appropriate. Oversee solicitation language development for all unrestricted proposals.
  • Lead proposal tracking coordination between Individual Giving, Major Gifts, Trustees, and Auxiliary Groups teams in order to ensure accurate projections and potential for unrestricted annual giving
  • Lead strategy for the annual Giving Day effort to engage donors at all levels, emphasizing strategies to expand the donor base and inspire increased/earlier renewal contributions
  • Coordinate efforts with major gifts and membership/annual fund ($499 and below) teams to ensure streamlined donor experience
  • Manage personal donor portfolio with outcomes of deepened donor relationships and meeting annual financial goal

Trustees’ Annual Fund management

• • Implement strategies to achieve $3.5M annual fundraising goal (2024 amount) for Trustee unrestricted philanthropy, with increasing future overall goal
  • Coordinate with personal relationship managers to ensure Trustees’ Annual Fund contributions are secured annually, in addition to other restricted funding priorities
  • In partnership with department leadership, identify and cultivate Trustee prospects with capacity to give $50,000+ annually

Administrative team participation/leadership

• • Work with the Vice President to set annual goals for Individual Giving team
  • Work with fellow IA directors to ensure a donor-centered and effective approach to work and workplace culture
  • Understand Museum mission and form professional relationships with staff throughout the organization

Auxiliary group management

• • Supervise team of two who manage Women’s Board and Field Associates activities to ensure engaged, motivated volunteer leadership and $2.6M+ of annual fundraising revenue

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Nonprofit Management, Business, or related field; Master’s preferred.
• 7-10 years of fundraising experience, focusing on individual giving and annual fund programs, preferably in museums or nonprofits.
• Proven track record of managing campaigns that exceed $2 million annually.
• Strong leadership and team management experience, fostering collaboration and driving results.
• Ability to mentor team members and develop fundraising strategies.
• In-depth knowledge of individual giving strategies, donor engagement, and stewardship.
• Experience with major gift solicitation and managing a personal donor portfolio.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to create compelling proposals.
• Proven relationship-building skills with diverse stakeholders, including executives and volunteers.
• Strong analytical skills for assessing fundraising progress and pivoting strategies.
• Ability to develop innovative approaches to donor engagement.
• Understanding of nonprofit fundraising principles and best practices.
• Familiarity with the mission of cultural and educational institutions.
• Proficient in fundraising software and donor management systems, as well as Microsoft Office Suite.

The Field Museum is an equal-opportunity employer. We are committed to providing a workplace free from discrimination, embracing diversity, and fostering mutual respect. We value the unique perspectives each team member brings, which empowers our ability to innovate and overcome challenges.

At the Field Museum, we are dedicated to making our career website and recruitment process accessible to everyone. If you encounter any difficulty when using or accessing our online application, or if you need a reasonable accommodation for completing your application, participating in interviews, or any other part of the selection process, please reach out to us at accessibility@fieldmuseum.org.