Senior Development Officer

Position Overview

The Senior Development Officer is a senior fundraiser and strategist who advances The Dalí Museum’s philanthropic priorities, reporting to the Development Director. This role manages a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors and leads corporate sponsorship and event revenue. The Museum’s $75 million Dreaming Forward capital campaign is our top priority today and this role will help bring it to a successful close. Major gift fundraising will remain central beyond the campaign, through future endowment efforts and planned giving. We are looking for a creative, critical thinker who spots opportunities, builds strategy around them and turns that strategy into measurable results.

Responsibilities

Major Gifts & Capital Campaign

• Manage a portfolio of major gift and campaign prospects, leading identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship strategy for each.
• Personally solicit and secure five- and six-figure gifts for annual operations, exhibitions, education and the Dreaming Forward capital campaign.
• Partner with the Development Director on principal gift strategy, the campaign pipeline and Capital Campaign Steering Committee priorities.
• Develop proposals, donor briefings, gift agreements and stewardship communications.
• Coordinate donor recognition and naming opportunities with Museum departments to fulfill campaign commitments.
• Help build the foundation for future endowment and planned giving efforts.

The Dalí Guild

• Manage The Dalí Guild as a donor portfolio, cultivating and stewarding members’ philanthropic giving and identifying major gift prospects within the group.
• Serve as the staff liaison to Guild leadership, who manage day-to-day operations and volunteers, keeping this role’s focus on members’ philanthropy.

Corporate Sponsorships & Event Revenue

• Own corporate sponsorship strategy and revenue, identifying, cultivating, soliciting and stewarding corporate sponsors and partners across exhibitions, education programs and events.
• Set revenue goals, sponsorship strategy and budgets for signature fundraising events, including Sueños de Dalí and the Anniversary Dinner.
• Provide strategic oversight of event planning to keep each event aligned with revenue and donor goals, delegating logistics and execution.
• Design custom sponsorship packages that align Museum priorities with partner interests and evaluate results to grow sponsor retention and revenue.

Strategy & Team Leadership

• Bring fresh thinking to the Museum’s fundraising: analyze giving trends and results and recommend new approaches, revenue opportunities and process improvements.
• Supervise and coach assigned development staff, setting clear priorities and accountability.
• Engage trustees and committee members in donor cultivation and sponsorship development.
• Maintain accurate CRM records and moves management and partner with Finance on gift recording and reporting.

Qualifications

Education, Experience And Training

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 7+ years of progressive nonprofit fundraising experience, including a proven record of securing five- and six-figure gifts.
• Experience leading corporate sponsorship programs and event fundraising strategy and supervising staff.
• Proficiency with donor CRM systems and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Preferred: capital campaign experience; experience at a museum or cultural organization; knowledge of planned giving; CFRE certification.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• A creative, critical thinker and strategist who questions assumptions, approaches challenges with curiosity and develops new paths to revenue.
• Exceptional relationship-building skills with donors, trustees, corporate partners and senior leadership.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, including persuasive proposals and sponsorship decks.
• Sound judgment and initiative, with the ability to work independently while staying aligned with the Development Director.
• Discretion and integrity in handling confidential information.
• Enthusiasm for the Museum’s mission, the arts and philanthropy.
• This position requires a flexible schedule, including evening and weekend events and donor meetings.