Philanthropy Officer

Job Category: Development

Requisition Number: PHILA001480

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• • Posted: July 11, 2025
• Full-Time
• Location:
• The Museum of Flight
  Seattle, WA 98108, USA

Description

Are you a strategic relationship builder passionate about deepening engagement between donors and the causes they care about? The Museum of Flight is seeking a Philanthropy Officer to join our Development team.

In this pivotal role, you’ll focus on connecting and nurturing relationships with newly engaged and mid-level donors as part of the Museum's ambitious multi-year campaign. We're looking for someone skilled in effectively managing a portfolio of 300 households, guiding them from initial qualification through comprehensive stewardship.

If you thrive in a collaborative environment and are passionate about delivering exceptional donor experiences, we want to hear from you. Help advance this premier cultural institution's impact in the Northwest, inspiring future generations and preserving aerospace history.

Summary

The Philanthropy Officer supports the mission of The Museum of Flight as part of the Development team, by creating thoughtful strategies that allow donors to reach their fullest philanthropic potential. This role is vital to building initial relations with newly engaged or mid-level donors, fostering deeper engagement and philanthropic support for the Museum’s mission. The Philanthropy Officer works collaboratively across the Development/Membership and other departments to ensure a seamless and rewarding donor experience.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

The following is a summary of the essential functions for this job. Other duties may be performed in both major and minor, which are not mentioned below. Specific activities may change from time to time. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

1.  Identify, manage, and grow a tiered portfolio of mid-level donor households by developing and implementing individualized qualification, outreach, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for each donor.

2.   Create and manage strategic communications and personalized plans engaging donors’ passions, interests, and communication preferences.

3.  Promptly acknowledge and thank donors for their contributions and provide timely updates on the impact of their generosity, demonstrating appreciation and transparency.

4.  Maintain accurate and timely records of donor interactions and activities in the Museum’s donor database.

5.  Routinely report on portfolio activity, progress, and projections including acquisitions, retention, and growth as it pertains to stated goals and objectives of the position.

6.  Build and maintain donor relationships through in-person, onsite visits, virtual meetings, phone calls, and other personalized communications.

7.   Collaborate across the organization to develop engaging communications materials that implement a thoughtful and holistic donor journey from acquisition to major gifts and, as appropriate, planned giving.

8.  Collaborate with Membership to identify individuals who would benefit from individualized relationships to strengthen their philanthropic connection to the Museum.

9.   Create thoughtful protocols that allow donors to reach their fullest philanthropic potential.

10.  Represent the Museum at donor events, exhibitions, and other engagement opportunities as needed.

11.   Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• A bachelor’s degree in a related field or a combination of education and relevant work experience.
• 3-5 years of progressively responsible experience in nonprofit fundraising and/or membership, with a proven track record in cultivating and soliciting individual donors.
• Experience managing a portfolio of individual donors, preferably within a mid-level or annual fund context.
• Experience in cold calling and a demonstrated record of building new donor relationships.
• Museum related experience, preferred.

Knowledge

• Deep knowledge of donor cultivation, pipeline management, and successful solicitation techniques
• Expert-level knowledge in CRM systems (Raiser's Edge preferred) and email marketing (Hubspot preferred).
• Proficient knowledge of impact reporting and donor stewardship. 

Skill

• Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to build rapport and meaningful relationships with a diverse group of donors.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling solicitations and stewardship materials.
• Proficient data analysis skills are used to interpret fundraising metrics, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions to optimize outreach efforts.
• Proficient planning and organizational skills, strong attention to details, deadline driven.
• Proficient prospect research skills to identify potential donors and gather relevant information.

Abilities

Ability to demonstrate advanced interpersonal skills that reflect the Museum’s mission and core values—including integrity and joy—in all interactions and relationships.

• Ability to initiate and build relationships with prospective donors and interact via telephone and in person.
• Ability to prioritize donor contact while managing dynamic and competing tasks and priorities.
• Ability to effectively convey the Museum’s mission and impact through compelling narratives.
• Customer-service mindset with the ability to work among diverse populations, both internal and external.  

License & Certification

• None

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Schedule is primarily Monday through Friday during regular office hours; however occasional additional hours including evenings and weekends based on Museum need is to be expected.
• Some travel is expected for this position.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions

• On-site attendance is essential to perform some of the duties of this position.
• Occasionally able to lift up to 25 pounds with or without assistance.
• This position works in an office environment with long sedentary periods and repetitive wrist and arm movement.
• The ability to focus, bend, carry, reach to the side, front and overhead, push, pull, walk, stand, twist and squat are occasional requirements in a normal office setting.
• On occasion, must be able to be physically active for the duration of the workday.

Benefits

The Museum of Flight offers full-time employees a generous and comprehensive benefits package which includes medical, dental, vision, flexible spending accounts, a 403(b) retirement plan with a 5% match after 1 year of service, Employee Assistance Program, as well as company paid life insurance, Accidental Death and Dismemberment, and long-term disability. 

Paid-Time Off

Our paid time-off plans include 2 weeks of accrued sick leave and 2 weeks of vacation (80 hours each) per year, 10 paid holidays, and 2 floating holidays. 

Compensation

The hourly range for this position is $76,000 to $109,000.00 depending on experience.  

Should you receive an offer, please expect that it can fall anywhere within this range. A multitude of factors will determine a fair salary based on the following: scope of role within the organization, years of relevant experience, specific skills, and evaluation of capability to execute in role successfully (among other critical factors).

Important Information

The Museum of Flight is committed to reflecting the diverse community around us. We continue to listen, learn, and implement change so that we can become a more inclusive organization that addresses bias and inequity, and better serves our communities. We highly encourage persons of color, members of marginalized communities, women, non-binary, and LGBTQIA+ individuals to apply. 

Prior to hire and once an initial offer of employment has been made, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position. 

The Museum of Flight is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to a policy of non-discrimination in employment on any basis including race, color, age, sex, religion, national origin, disability, veteran’s status, sexual orientation, or gender identity/expression. 

This organization participates in E-Verify. 

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Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.