Development Director

To apply for this position, please send a cover letter, resume, and three references in a single PDF to scaporaletti@sandyspringmuseum.org. Sandy Spring Museum is a dynamic, independently operated cultural hub located between Washington, DC, and Baltimore. With an annual operating budget of approximately $1.5 million, we connect people to Montgomery County's diverse heritage through shared and inspiring experiences of our region's cultural heritage. The Museum is in a period of growth following the opening of the Willow Grove Cultural Commons and implementing a new master plan. The Opportunity Sandy Spring Museum seeks a strategic, entrepreneurial relationship-builder to lead and grow the Museum's development program with the support of a Development Coordinator. The ideal candidate combines strong interpersonal skills with a business-minded, data-informed approach to revenue growth, community investment, and long-term engagement. This person will broaden the Museum's base of support through donor acquisition, membership growth, sponsorships, partnerships, and direct marketing strategies while also actively cultivating and stewarding relationships with donors, sponsors, community leaders, and other stakeholders. This role requires both strategic thinking and hands-on relationship management, including outreach, meetings, pipeline development, campaign strategy, and revenue retention. The Director of Development will collaborate closely with the Executive Director and Board of Trustees to align fundraising and engagement efforts with the Museum's strategic goals and help build a cohesive, sustainable development operation that supports the Museum's long-term growth and community impact. Key Responsibilities Fundraising Strategy & Revenue Growth Develop and implement annual fundraising strategies that increase contributed revenue through individual giving, membership, sponsorships, campaigns, and foundation support Establish revenue goals and evaluate fundraising performance using CRM data, reporting, and key performance indicators Develop strategies to increase donor acquisition, retention, recurring giving, and long-term sustainability Oversee integrated fundraising campaigns across digital, email, direct mail, and stewardship channels Individual Giving & Donor Pipeline Development Build and manage a donor pipeline, including donor identification, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and upgrades Actively build relationships with current and prospective donors through meetings, outreach, and engagement opportunities Collaborate with leadership and board members on donor strategy and major gift cultivation Develop and refine stewardship processes that strengthen donor retention, recurring giving, and lifetime value Membership & Sponsorship Strategy Lead the strategic direction of the Museum's membership program, including positioning, pricing, and growth strategies Establish sponsorship goals, cultivate sponsors, and develop sponsorship packages and partnerships Create pathways for members, program participants, and event attendees to become long-term supporters Events & Donor Engagement Define fundraising and engagement goals for development-related events Ensure events support donor cultivation, sponsorship visibility, community engagement, and revenue growth Use events strategically to strengthen donor relationships and pipeline development Required Qualifications Minimum 3 years of experience in fundraising, business development, sales, marketing, partnerships, membership growth, or related revenue-generating work, with demonstrated success building relationships and increasing revenue or engagement Experience cultivating and managing relationships, pipelines, campaigns, or customer/donor/member engagement strategies Strong relationship-building, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to confidently engage a wide range of stakeholders Strategic and business-minded approach to growth, engagement, and revenue development Comfort using CRM systems, data, and reporting tools to guide decision-making and measure results Ability to think entrepreneurially, work independently, and build systems and processes in a growing organization

Pay:

$89,000.00 - $104,000.00 per year

Benefits:

403(b) 403(b) matching Dental insurance Health insurance Paid time off Vision insurance

Experience:

CRM software: 2 years (Required)

Work Location:

In person