Director of Donor Relations

Position Title: Director of Donor Relations
Purpose: The Director of Donor Relations is a core member of WonderLab’s senior leadership team charged with maximizing philanthropic giving to help sustain the organization. The successful Director of Donor Relations is a strong relationship-builder and clear communicator who inspires broad community support for WonderLab’s youth-focused educational mission.

In this position, you will create, implement, and manage systems to strengthen relationships and increase engagement with WonderLab donors and supporters. This includes donor cultivation and stewardship, annual giving, major gifts, corporate and foundation gifts and grants, special fundraising events and planned giving. The Director of Donor Relations supervises a team of staff and interns, and works collaboratively with staff in other departments and the Board of Directors to lead philanthropic efforts.

As a WonderLab representative you will be part of a beloved community institution that is people-centered, community-focused, and mission driven. You will be immersed in a fun, lively environment, a gallery of hands-on science exhibits, and work with a committed, creative staff dedicated to building curious and creative problem solvers, inspired by the wonder of science, who will shape a brighter future for themselves and our world.

Reports To: Executive Director
Status: Full time position (40 hours/week), with occasional evening and weekend hours (Fair Labor Standards Act category: “exempt”)
Start Date: November 2023
Salary: Commensurate with experience, range $50,000 – $58,000
Benefits: Full WonderLab benefits. Paid holidays and paid leave. Health, vision and dental insurance benefits are available. Retirement Plan anticipated for 2024. WonderLab provides life insurance, long-term disability insurance, WonderLab membership at dual or basic family level and a 20% discount in the gift store. Training opportunities may include: Red Cross Certification, Altru Blackbaud data systems and other opportunities through membership in the Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC), the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and LinkedIn Learning.

Key Responsibility Area: Systems Management for Donor Relations
Specific Duties:
• Create/update and manage systems to ensure ongoing professional relationships with individual, corporate and foundation donors and representatives; ensure major gift requests and cultivation visits are made by Executive Director, Board of Directors and other leadership as appropriate; and ensure that major donors are thanked personally by Board and/or Executive team
• Manage systems for organizing and sharing information regarding donors, grants, and the stewardship thereof; ensure systems maintain continuity of information during staff transitions
• Manage systems to track and implement individual and corporate donor benefits, donor recognition systems and stewardship program for all giving levels. Work with Marketing and Communications Department on how, when and where donors are recognized
• Serve as staff leader to ensure accurate and timely recordkeeping relating to all fundraising activities, including relationship details
• Provide outstanding stewardship of the museum’s resources, to ensure financial responsibility, soundness, integrity and accountability, while building strong relationships with donors, members, and museum volunteers

Key Responsibility Area: Oversee Annual Giving Program
Specific Duties:
• Lead and maximize the success of the annual development plan, inviting and encouraging staff and board members to assist in cultivation, messaging, and visibility of WonderLab’s needs and vision for the future (includes annual giving, major gifts, planned giving, corporate and foundation gifts and sponsorships).
• Serve as team leader for all campaigns and appeals; manage process and timeline for annual appeal solicitations, pledges, and reminders; and ensure all team members with responsibilities related to the solicitations are informed and equipped for success.
• Work with other departments to secure funding for specific educational events and programs, new exhibits, special supplies, facility improvements, and any other museum needs that are fundable through philanthropic giving. Optimize system to field and respond to departmental requests.
• Coordinate stewardship and cultivation strategy for all donor categories and ensure necessary staff and volunteers are trained and completing follow ups.
• Ensure an integrated membership and development program that increases number of members who are donors, boosts museum loyalty among members and donors, and engages donors and members with the museum.
• Provide financial and philanthropy-related information from donor database for use in reports, budgets, grants and publications.
• Serve as a vital Executive team member to manage strategies for major gift prospects.
• Establish and monitor data-driven fundraising goals for annual appeals and budgets in partnership with Executive Director, Chief Financial Officer and development team.

Key Responsibility Area: Leadership of Development Department
Specific Duties:
• Lead and manage the overall efforts of the Development Department to maximize funding through philanthropy
• Supervise Donor Relations Manager. Recruit, train and supervise a robust team of interns and graduate assistants
• Supervise Membership Manager. Ensure the Membership function has needed resources and uses those resources efficiently
• Provide leadership to ensure the staff team and board are well-informed and encouraged to creatively engage donors and prospective donors with the excitement and discovery at WonderLab and the growth of its vision
• Represent WonderLab in a professional capacity at WonderLab fundraising events and selected other events such as Rotary meetings, civic events, large group meetings and media appearances
• Serve as the primary staff liaison to the Board of Directors on development issues

Key Responsibility Area: Donor Cultivation and Stewardship
Specific Duties:
• Engage directly with and inform select prospective donors about museum mission, goals, needs, and gift opportunities
• Cultivate dynamic relationships with donors
• Provide leadership for the development team to ensure timely processing of recognition of gifts via letters, phone calls and special recognition opportunities
• Write proposals and other fundraising materials for individual and corporate requests

Key Responsibility Area: Special Fundraising Events Management
Specific Duties:
• Oversee all aspects of the annual Science Night Out gala fundraising event. This includes assembling and managing the Gala Committee on theme selection, auction items, presenters, activities, scheduling date and venue, coordinating with venue for food, lights, sound, space set up and all other details related to implementing the event on-site; securing sponsorships to cover event expenses; managing event expense budget; donor acknowledgment and thank-yous; and providing a final accounting of attendance, revenue and expenses
• Plan for and oversee any other fundraising or stewardship events to benefit WonderLab’s mission, including member/donor receptions at the museum. Supervise the Donor Relations Manager’s implementation of these events

Key Responsibility Area Other
Specific Duties:
• Promote a collegial atmosphere in the museum, working cooperatively with staff and volunteers to help WonderLab achieve its overall financial and stewardship goals
• Cross-train for visitor-facing duties (visitor services or exhibit galleries) on a limited basis to support interdepartmental team building and a personal connection to WonderLab’s mission
• Other duties, as assigned

Qualifications:
• Experience initiating and stewarding relationships with constituents, supporters and donors, with the goal of new and continuing philanthropic donations (minimum 3 years)
• Demonstrated systems approach to setting and achieving goals, and designing benchmarked systems with multiple task streams and staff
• Proven ability as an effective leader who can network, inspire confidence, and build meaningful relationships with a broad constituency. Candidates who have demonstrated a commitment to working with diverse populations are especially encouraged to apply
• Four-year college or university degree
• Outstanding written and oral communication skills
• Experience with creating and managing budgets, and achieving expense and revenue to budget goals
• Friendly, engaging personality with professional and positive attitude
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize tasks, manage workflow and handle multiple activities simultaneously with
consistent attention to detail
• Proven ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment
• Exceptional motivation and self-initiative; strong work ethic, reliability, adaptability and commitment
• Highly proficient with digital technology applications such as word processing, e-mail, relational databases (e.g. Altru Blackbaud) and spreadsheets
• Demonstrated understanding of nonprofit environment preferred
• Proof of eligibility to work in U.S.
• Driver’s license and vehicle

The WonderLab Job Application Form is available on the WonderLab website at:
http://wonderlab.org/about-wonderlab/job-opportunities/
The form may be completed and submitted on-line. The application must also include a cover letter, a resume and three (3) letters of reference sent directly to executivedirector@wonderlab.org.