Stewardship Manager

National Aquarium • Baltimore, MD

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

The National Aquarium is seeking a Stewardship Manager to support its growing philanthropy program and annual fundraising goals exceeding $15.6 million. The role provides high-quality, timely oversight of day-to-day major-gifts activities and initiatives, helps devise strategies and ensure their implementation, and manages a portfolio of up to 20 donors and prospects.

The Stewardship Manager coordinates leadership and donor-facing activities, including action lists, project plans, calendars, meeting materials, correspondence, and contact reports for the CEO, senior staff, and senior volunteers. The role also provides administrative and planning support to the Senior Vice President/Chief Philanthropy Officer (SVP/CPO), including scheduling, travel, expenses, communications, and board committee support.

The position creates major-gifts meeting and solicitation materials; coordinates donor meetings, tours, and events; and maintains accurate donor and prospect records in Salesforce. It also establishes and leads a donor engagement program for VIP tours, working with Aquarium stakeholders to continuously improve guest experiences and create tours that other staff can replicate. The role supports the Aquarium’s mission and follows organizational and departmental policies and procedures.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree in a related field.
• At least three years of experience working on a major-gifts program.
• Experience working with senior-level volunteers.
• Experience managing complex projects, calendars, and timelines.
• Knowledge of the major-gift development and stewardship process.
• Ability to manage multiple projects with overlapping timelines and adapt to shifting priorities.
• High attention to detail.
• Strong writing and editing skills.
• Expert facility with standard office software.
• Outstanding oral and written communication skills.
• Creative problem-solving abilities.
• Knowledge of the Aquarium, its operations, leaders, and vision for the future.
• Ability to discreetly manage confidential information.
• Ability to work effectively with colleagues across the organization, leadership, Board Members, volunteers, and donors.
• Highly responsive and eager to support projects and requests.
• Sincere interest in stewarding donor relationships and investments and working in a donor-centered development culture.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends.

Responsibilities

• Develop prospect strategies with development leadership, proposing engagement based on prospects’ backgrounds, interests, and prior activities, as well as Aquarium programs and opportunities.
• Coordinate donor-facing activities for the CEO, leadership staff, and senior volunteers.
• Maintain current action lists for the CEO and volunteers and ensure they are ready for weekly meetings and work sessions.
• Prepare call memos, meeting materials, and draft correspondence to support CEO and volunteer development activities.
• Coordinate development activities on the CEO’s calendar with the Executive Office, maintain development holds, and keep the calendar accurate and complete.
• Facilitate timely debriefs of CEO and volunteer development activities and record activities and contact reports in Salesforce.
• Support the SVP/CPO by drafting personalized correspondence and documents, initiating telecommunications, and collecting and analyzing information.
• Maintain the SVP/CPO’s schedule, including meetings, conferences, teleconferences, and travel.
• Assist the SVP/CPO with expense reports, travel planning, and meeting planning.
• Serve as liaison and record keeper for board committees supported by the SVP/CPO.
• Create major-gifts meeting and solicitation materials, including presentations, proposals, reports, and letters, collaborating with colleagues to gather information and materials.
• Arrange major donor meetings, tours, and events, including space reservations, catering, materials, and logistics.
• Greet guests, join visits, and serve as the primary tour guide when necessary.
• Support complete and accurate Salesforce records for major-gifts donors and prospects, including moves management, proposal status, and action information.
• Establish and lead a donor engagement program for VIP tours and act as a point of contact for the Board, Leadership Team, External Affairs, and Philanthropy stakeholders.
• Work with staff to improve the guest experience through continuous evaluation and improvement, strengthen connections to conservation, and build donor and stakeholder relationships.
• Create tours and experiences that other staff members can replicate.
• Support the company mission, adhere to organizational and departmental policies and procedures, and perform other duties as assigned or required.

Benefits

• Four weeks of paid time off.
• Six paid floating holidays.
• Up to four weeks of paid family leave.
• Health care coverage for single and family plans after 30 days of full-time work.
• Conservation day leave.
• 401(k) plan with employer match.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level