Over the last 20 years, the Peabody Essex Museum (PEM) has distinguished itself as one of the fastest-growing art museums in North America. Founded in 1799, it is also the country's oldest continuously operating museum. Under Supervision of the Director of Major Gifts, the Major Gift Officer will support the Major Gifts Team on all aspects of fundraising for major gifts and initiatives. This individual will manage a specific portfolio of major gift prospects and donors locally, nationally and globally to identify and cultivate their interest in the museum to successfully meet annual goals, objectives and metrics for philanthropic support.

The Major Gift Officer must develop a deep understanding of PEM’s unique mission, history, current strengths, and future ambitions and build effective working relationships with staff, curators, trustees, and volunteers. Working in collaboration with development colleagues as well as trustees, advisors, and volunteers, the Major Gift Officer will strengthen relationships with current donors and identify and engage new potential donors. They will develop and implement strategies for cultivating and successfully soliciting these donors for major gifts.

Major Gift Officer responsibilities include:

• Identifies, qualifies, cultivates, solicits, and stewards individual prospects toward the goal of securing philanthropic support.
• Interacts with donors on a regular basis; adheres to the highest ethical standards; demonstrates empathetic disposition and perseverance, and reflects an optimistic and positive attitude.
• Conducts 15 visits monthly and produces timely contract reports detailing visit summary with relevant next-steps.
• Meets with internal personnel, and on occasion with trustees, advisors, and other volunteers as representative of the Museum.
• Works on occasion with trustees, advisors, and volunteers to solicit individual donors; accompanies volunteers on prospect visits.
• Prepares solicitation letters, correspondence, proposals, and reports for use by internal staff, trustees, advisors, donors, and volunteers.
• Assists in planning cultivation events and other special events for major gift prospects.
• Tracks all prospect and donor contacts and moves management on Tessitura database system.
• Works collaboratively with museum staff and outside counsel on the identification, cultivation and solicitation of planned gifts and gifts of art for the museum.
• Ability and willingness to travel as needed.

The ideal candidate will have a bachelor's degree or an advanced degree in a relevant field with a background in art and/or art history with a minimum of 5 years experience in direct one-to-one solicitation preferred. This candidate should also have proficiency in Tessitura Database system with project management skills and close attention to detail. Experience managing a personal portfolio and a passion for conveying the world of art, art history, and the Museum’s rich cultural history to diverse audiences all while maintaining a mature level of judgment and decision-making in a changing, forward-thinking operation focused environment. The Major Gift Officer will also demonstrate creativity, problem-solving, and planning skills with both internal and external constituencies. Proficiency in Google Workspace, Microsoft Office and other web-hosted services coupled with exemplary interpersonal, oral, written and presentation and skills.

PEM is committed to diversity among its employees and encourages qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply.