Major Gifts Program Manager The Major Gifts Program Manager at Museum of the Rockies is responsible for building, soliciting, and stewarding relationships with donors capable of making gifts of $10,000 or more. The position manages a portfolio of 70-100 donors and prospects, primarily in the Bozeman area, and is expected to meet fundraising goals that support the museum's annual operations, capital projects, exhibitions, and strategic initiatives. Using a moves management approach, the Major Gifts Program Manager develops donor relationships through personal meetings and other forms of communication. They maintain accurate records and follow-up activities in the museum's donor database. The ideal candidate is a self-motivated relationship builder with strong organizational, communication, and time-management skills, high personal integrity, and a proven ability to manage a donor portfolio and achieve revenue goals. An appreciation for the role of public institutions and museums is important. Some regional travel and occasional evening or weekend work are required. The position reports to the Director of Development and Membership. Salary starting at $72,000 annually, commensurate with experience, education, and qualifications. Museum of the Rockies is an independent 501©(3) nonprofit, a division of Montana State University, a Smithsonian Affiliate, and an accredited member of the American Alliance of Museums. Located in Bozeman, Montana, the museum inspires curiosity through world-class exhibitions in paleontology, cultural history, science, and astronomy, serving visitors of all ages while advancing research, education, and community engagement.
Duties and Responsibilities
Donor Relationship Management:
Manage a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors of 70-100 individuals or households capable of giving $10,000+ to the museum annually.
Build and maintain strong relationships with the portfolio through personal meetings, calls, emails and other forms of communication.
Develop a deep understanding of each prospects'/donors' interests, motivations, and philanthropic goals to motivate giving.
Move prospects through a structured donor pipeline.
Cultivation and Solicitation:
Create individualized cultivation and solicitation strategies for each donor.
Coordinate meetings between donors and other museum staff (e.g. curators, Director of Development and Membership, Executive Director) and Board of Trustees members as appropriate and in pursuit of securing donations.
Prepare and present compelling funding opportunities and gift proposals. Personally ask for major gifts.
Stewardship and Donor Retention:
Ensure donors are recognized for their gifts in a personalized format and in addition to the museum's standard gift acknowledgment processes.
Demonstrate the impact of donor contributions through personalized stewardship.
Maintain ongoing engagement to encourage renewed and increased giving.
Database and Reporting:
Maintain accurate donor records and interaction notes in the museum's donor database software. Track donor activity, next steps, proposals, and gift outcomes.
Internal Collaboration:
Work closely with other museum staff and museum Board Members to leverage existing relationships and take a team-approach to donor cultivation, as appropriate. Support museum fundraising events and donor engagement opportunities.
Required Qualifications:
Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills:
Bachelor's Degree in a field relevant to the position and/or work environment or an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.
Experience securing major gifts ($10,000+) from a portfolio of donors and/or driving sales from a portfolio of customers in the private sector.
Demonstrated knowledge of the moves management process and experience tracking and moving donors through the pipeline of identification, qualification, cultivation, stewardship and solicitation.
Demonstrated knowledge of fundraising or sales computer software for donor/customer record management.
Experience composing, editing and formatting business correspondence with a high degree of attention to detail and accuracy.
Preferred Qualifications: Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills:
- Demonstrated ability to use fundraising or sales computer software for more complex purposes such as reporting, wealth screenings and/or analysis of large donor/customer datasets.
- Experience in a Major Gifts position with similar duties and responsibilities.
- The Successful Candidate Will:
- Exceptional English written and verbal communication skills with the ability to inspire confidence and motivate giving from varied audiences.
- Impeccable attention to detail and ability to produce high-quality work with deadlines while managing a variety of projects concurrently.
- Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships and work collaboratively with staff, donors, trustees, volunteers, and community partners.
- Team player who balances team and individual responsibilities, gives and welcomes feedback as a way to support everyone's efforts to succeed.
- Curious and proactive mindset that possesses sound judgment.
- Ability to communicate in a professional and effective manner, providing a high level of customer service and discretion with sensitive or confidential information.
- Consistently exercise initiative and adaptability in a dynamic campaign environment.
- This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts Montana State University's rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.
- Applications will be: Screening of applications will begin on September 14, 2026; however, applications will continue to be accepted until an adequate applicant pool has been established.
- This position is not eligible for sponsorship.
Montana State University is an equal opportunity employer. MSU does not discriminate against any applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, national origin, physical or mental disability, or any other protected class status in violation of any applicable law. In compliance with the Montana Veteran's Employment Preference Act, MSU provides preference in employment to veterans, disabled veterans, and certain eligible relatives of veterans. To claim veteran's preference, please complete the veteran's preference information located in the Demographics section of your profile.
