Individual Giving Director

POSITION: Individual Giving Director

EXEMPT STATUS: Exempt

REPORTS TO: Director of Development

LOCATION: 212 West 83rd Street, New York, NY 10024

WEBSITE: www.CMOM.org

ABOUT THE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF MANHATTAN

The Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) is a steward of early childhood, helping all children grow and develop into their best selves. Through our programs on-site, online, and around the five boroughs, CMOM nurtures the next generation of creative global citizens as they learn through exploration and play. Our offerings embrace the intersection of the arts, sciences, and humanities and include exhibitions, classes, workshops, performances, and festivals. Our programs and exhibits are designed to address the multiple ways children learn and to help parents understand and support their children’s development. CMOM’S special areas of focus include early childhood education, creativity, health, and world cultures. The museum’s programming reflects the rich cultural diversity, energy, and resilience of New York City itself and we aim to ensure our programs are available to those families who might not otherwise have access.

Founded in 1973 as a neighborhood organization, CMOM has grown over the years into a beloved destination and resource for children, families, and educators from across the five boroughs and from around the world. The museum welcomes 350,000 visitors each year to its Upper West Side location and engages hundreds of thousands more through its outreach programs in partnership with schools, libraries, shelters, and Head Start centers throughout New York City; its touring exhibitions; and its online tools and curricula.

ABOUT THE POSITION

CMOM is hiring a Director of Individual Giving to lead the museum’s individual giving fundraising. Reporting to the Director of Development, the Director of Individual Giving will be a key leader in the department, responsible for designing and implementing comprehensive strategies to cultivate, solicit, and steward relationships with individual donors, ultimately driving increased financial support. In addition to contributing to annual fundraising goals, they will also partner with our capital campaign team on prospecting and stewardship. A successful candidate will be a seasoned fundraising professional with a proven ability to cultivate relationships with individual donors and secure major gifts. They will possess a strategic mindset and the ability to translate organizational goals and programmatic activity into actionable fundraising strategies.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Establish individual giving fundraising goals and strategies in partnership with Director of Development, ensuring alignment with overall organizational objectives.
• Develop and execute annual plans for individual giving, including prospect research, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Provide strategic direction, guidance, and mentorship to the Memberships Manager, fostering a collaborative and high-performing work environment.
• Manage a portfolio of major donors, developing tailored cultivation and solicitation plans to deepen engagement and secure financial support.
• Develop and implement strategies to upgrade existing donors, secure multi-year commitments, and increase donor retention.
• Develop and implement targeted prospecting plans to identify and cultivate new major donor relationships, leveraging research, data analysis, and industry best practices.
• Manage event committees, including recruitment and coordination of members, to ensure two successful fundraising events annually, and actively participate in all aspects of event fundraising efforts in partnership with Special Events Director.
• Identify and create opportunities for donor recognition and stewardship (e.g., building and managing a donor circle), ensuring that individual donors feel valued, appreciated, and connected to the organization.
• Collaborate with CMOM’s CEO, Development team, and Capital team to integrate individual giving strategies with broader fundraising initiatives, including events, direct mail, and online campaigns.
• Support the CMOM leadership in managing board relations with a focus on fundraising, by organizing fundraising initiatives, developing engagement strategies, and maintaining strong board member connections.
• Oversee the planning, implementation, and evaluation of individual giving campaigns, including solicitation letters, proposals, and impact reports.
• Utilize donor database (Raiser’s Edge) to track donor interactions, manage relationships, and analyze performance metrics to inform decision-making.
• Provide regular updates and reports to leadership and the board on individual giving progress, successes, and challenges.
• Stay informed about trends and best practices in individual giving and philanthropy, and proactively adapt strategies to maximize fundraising effectiveness.
• Represent the organization at events, meetings, and other networking opportunities to promote fundraising opportunities and build awareness of the organization's mission and impact.

QUALIFICATIONS

• A passion for the mission of CMOM with a collaborative, creative, and entrepreneurial spirit
• 7+ years of demonstrated success in nonprofit fundraising, particularly in major gifts solicitation.
• Demonstrated track record of independently managing a portfolio of external relationships and building meaningful partnerships with key donors and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated track record of identifying, soliciting, and stewarding major gifts of $5,000 and above.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to persuasively articulate the organization's mission and impact to a variety of audiences through written materials, presentations, and interpersonal interactions.
• Strong strategic thinking and planning skills, with the ability to develop and execute comprehensive fundraising strategies.
• Demonstrated leadership ability, with experience managing and motivating staff, volunteers, and board members involved in fundraising activities.
• Familiarity with New York City philanthropic landscape a plus.
• Experience with donor management software (Raiser’s Edge preferred), database systems, and other fundraising tools to track donor interactions, manage relationships, and generate reports effectively.
• An ability to handle pressure with equanimity and to thrive in an entrepreneurial, fast-paced, and accountability-focused organization; a roll-up-your-sleeves attitude.

Hybrid Position: 3 days in person / 2 remote - with flexibility to work evenings and weekends as needed for event coverage.

COMPENSATION

Compensation is $100,000 to $120,000 commensurate with experience.

The Children’s Museum of Manhattan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We encourage people from all backgrounds, ages, abilities, and experiences to apply. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If, due to a disability, you need an accommodation during any part of the interview process, please let your recruiter know.

Background checks will be completed on all employees.