Stewardship Manager

National Aquarium • Baltimore, MD

3d • $45,000 - $55,699 • Hybrid

About The Position

The National Aquarium is seeking a Stewardship Manager to support its growing philanthropy program and help achieve annual fundraising goals exceeding $15.6 million. The role provides timely oversight of day-to-day major gifts activities and initiatives, coordinates action lists and project plans, manages task lists and calendar items for the CEO, senior staff, and senior volunteers, and prepares major-gift correspondence and other written materials. The manager helps devise and implement fundraising strategies and manages a portfolio of up to 20 donors and prospects.

The position coordinates leadership portfolio activity and donor-facing engagements, supports the Senior Vice President/Chief Philanthropy Officer (SVP/CPO), and develops materials for major-gift meetings and solicitations. It also arranges donor meetings, tours, and events, maintains accurate donor and prospect information in Salesforce, and establishes and leads a VIP tour engagement program. The role works across the organization with leadership, Board members, volunteers, donors, and colleagues, and supports the Aquarium’s mission and organizational policies.

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 changing 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, organizational leadership, Board members, volunteers, and donors.
• Highly responsive approach and eagerness to support projects and requests.
• Sincere interest in stewarding donor relationships and investments, and commitment to a donor-centered development culture and exceptionally high-quality work.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends.

Responsibilities

• Develop prospect strategies with development leadership, identifying engagement ideas informed by prospects’ backgrounds, interests, prior activities, and Aquarium programs.
• Coordinate donor-facing activities for the CEO, leadership staff, and 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, maintain development holds, and ensure the calendar is accurate and complete.
• Facilitate timely debriefs of CEO and volunteer development actions 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 arranging 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 materials for major-gift meetings and solicitations, including presentations, proposals, reports, and letters, collaborating across the organization to gather information.
• Arrange major donor meetings, tours, and events, including space reservations, catering, materials, and logistics; greet guests, join visits, and serve as primary tour guide when necessary.
• Support accurate and complete Salesforce records for major-gift donors and prospects, including moves management, proposal status, and action information.
• Establish and lead a donor VIP tour engagement program and act as the point of contact for the Board, Leadership Team, External Affairs, and Philanthropy stakeholders.
• Work with staff to improve and continuously evaluate donor experiences, strengthen conservation connections, and create tours and experiences that staff can replicate.
• Support the company mission and adhere to organizational and departmental policies and procedures.
• 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