Salary – $50,000.00 - $65,000.00 Annually
The South Carolina State Museum Foundation (SCSMF) is seeking a motivated and experienced Donor Relations Specialist to join our team. The ideal candidate will be responsible for building and maintaining relationships with donors and ensuring their continued engagement and support for the South Carolina State Museum’s educational mission and initiatives. Responsibilities include but are not limited to developing and implementing fundraising appeals; communicating with and stewarding donors; maintaining donor giving information; and supporting the Foundation's leadership in the execution of its overall fundraising goals, strategies and current Capital Campaign. The ideal candidate will be a strong multi-tasker, have outstanding communication, interpersonal, and research skills, work well under limited supervision and be extremely organized. Most importantly, they should have a passion for fostering meaningful connections with donors.
Responsibilities:
- Develop and implement strategies to cultivate and steward relationships with donors– including donor prospect identification, cultivation, and solicitation.
- Increase support for individual donors, corporate Community Partners, and foundations to support the museum’s program sponsorships, exhibitions and educational initiatives, and annual fund appeals.
- Solicit individual gifts up to $100,000.
- Develop and execute strategies for retaining and upgrading base-level and new donor giving. Acts as a primary point of contact for donors which includes responding promptly to inquiries, acknowledging gifts, and expressing gratitude for their support.
- Research prospective donors and prepare personalized cultivation plans to deepen their connection to the Foundation and Museum and increase their giving potential.
- Track fundraising metrics and prepare and present campaign reports.
- Coordinate donor recognition activities, including timely gift acknowledgement and other cultivation events to demonstrate appreciation and reinforce donor loyalty.
- Manage the Foundation’s high-level donor group.
- Collaborate with the Museum’s Department of Communications & Marketing to create compelling donor-centric materials, including impact reports and stewardship updates.
- Monitor donor trends and preferences, providing insights and recommendations to enhance fundraising strategies and improve donor cultivation.
- Stay informed about best practices in donor relations and fundraising ethics, continually seeking professional development opportunities to enhance skills and knowledge.
- Contribute to Foundation’s overall fundraising and development strategy to build and grow a culture of philanthropy at the SCSMF and the South Carolina State Museum community.
- Supervise Foundation and Capital campaign administrative staff, volunteers and interns.
- Oversee database management and maintenance to ensure that donor records are accurate and up to date.
