Philanthropy Officer

Job Title:
Philanthropy Officer

Department:
Advancement

Reports To:
Director of Individual Philanthropy

Pay range $65,000 - $75,000 /annually

The Philanthropy Officer will build and sustain meaningful relationships with current and prospective mid-level donors, leading to increased philanthropic support for Newfields’ operations, programs, and special initiatives. Managing a portfolio of approximately 300 donors giving $500–$9,999 annually, the Philanthropy Officer will employ donor-centered fundraising strategies to identify, engage, solicit, and steward supporters with the goal of deepening engagement and growing long-term philanthropic investment.

The successful candidate will also contribute to a collaborative team environment and help strengthen a culture of philanthropy across the organization.

• Cultivate and grow a portfolio of approximately 300 mid-level donors and prospects with giving capacity ranging from $500–$9,999 annually, prioritizing meaningful relationships that inspire renewed, increased, and long-term support.
• Achieve an average of 15-20 meaningful donor connections per month through visits, virtual meetings, phone calls, and personalized correspondence that deepen engagement, generate donor insight, and move donor relationships forward.
• Lead a thoughtful qualification process to identify and engage high-potential donors, building trusted relationships that strengthen annual support and prepare donors for future major gift and/or planned giving opportunities.
• Create and implement individualized engagement plans that reflect each donor’s interests and motivations, with thoughtful cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies that deepen connection and encourage movement along the donor pipeline.
• Partner closely with curatorial, education, conservation, horticulture, and senior leadership colleagues, as well as volunteer leadership, to create meaningful donor experiences and connect donor interests with Newfields’ mission and impact priorities.
• Assess and advance opportunities for non-cash gifts such as donor-advised funds, IRA qualified charitable distributions, appreciated securities, and other complex assets, while recognizing and referring planned giving opportunities as appropriate.
• Collaborate with Advancement team members to ensure donors experience a seamless philanthropic journey, including thoughtful transition into major and planned giving portfolios when appropriate.
• Work collaboratively with Advancement team to develop donor-centered recognition and stewardship strategies that celebrate impact, strengthen loyalty, and encourage continued engagement with Newfields.
• Support and participate in donor cultivation events, exhibition openings, tours, and other engagement opportunities that foster authentic relationships with donors and prospects.
• Maintain accurate, timely, and comprehensive donor records, contact reports, moves management activity, and pipeline tracking within Raiser’s Edge NXT to support personalized and strategic donor engagement.

Other duties may be assigned. To perform the job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

None

Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree or graduate-level study preferred. Minimum of 3–5 years of relevant fundraising or relationship-management experience required, including demonstrated success in donor cultivation, stewardship, and philanthropic relationship development. Experience with in an arts, cultural, or nonprofit institution preferred.

Must have exceptional interpersonal skills and be able to communicate professionally and diplomatically with a diverse group of major donors, board members, and executive management team. Ability to effectively present information in one‑on‑one and small group situations to donors and employees required.…