Development Coordinator

About the organization

Contending with the climate crisis at scale requires a transformation of our public culture. The Climate Museum (“Museum”), the first museum in the U.S. dedicated to climate change, mobilizes the power of arts and cultural programming to accelerate this crucial shift toward climate dialogue and action, empowering visitors with the understanding that they can take meaningful action for climate justice, creating community for collective action, and popularizing solutions that emphasize justice and equity. The public trust held by museums situates them as unparalleled spaces for bringing people together to join the fight for a brighter future.

The Museum has pioneered an activist cultural approach to community engagement with climate, recognizing that most Americans are worried about the climate crisis but unsure how to take meaningful action. The Museum’s free, accessible exhibitions, art installations, advocacy tools, events, and youth programs have received wide recognition in the cultural sector and beyond, and empowered hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers and visitors to exercise their agency in the global climate movement.

Building on the success of previous pop-up exhibitions, the Museum has launched an initiative to scale up to year-round space to make its path-breaking work accessible to more people. This vision is being implemented through a period of intense fundraising and collaborations with partner organizations over the next 12-18 months.

About the role

This position represents an opportunity to play a generative role in a dynamic, growing organization in the process of scaling and developing a year-round location. The position is in-person and based in New York City, as detailed below. The salary for the role is $75,000-$85,000, depending on experience, and the Museum currently offers an excellent benefits package, including health, dental, and vision, as well as a retirement savings account without matching.

We aim to fill this position as soon as possible. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis starting immediately.

Responsibilities:

• Refine strategy for growth with the Museum’s Director.
• Identify new major gifts prospects and, in consultation with the Museum’s Director, devise specific approaches to solicitation and attainment.
• Research individual donors, foundations, corporations, and philanthropic trends.
• Develop systems for maintaining and enhancing engagement of supporters at all levels.
• Collaborate with curatorial and communications teams to create compelling digital and print content reaching a range of constituents.
• Support the fundraising efforts of all of the Museum’s ambassadors, including board members, advisors, and donors.
• Assist in planning and executing all aspects of base-building and fundraising events.
• Work with the Museum's external CFO, Director, and special assistant to the director to prepare quarterly materials and annual budget proposal for trustees. Track expenditure of restricted funds. Oversee coding of expenses.
• Manage fundamental development tasks, including build-out of existing Salesforce database, preparation of materials, timely processing of donations and gift acknowledgments.
• With Director, supervise paid undergraduate Development Fellow.

Job Fundamentals:

• 3-5 years of relevant development experience.
• Enjoyment of fundraising; pleasure in asking others to contribute to a worthy cause.
• Deep drive to make a positive impact.
• Belief in the Climate Museum’s mission.

Organizational culture fundamentals:

• Kindness, humor, and resilience under pressure.
• Independent thinking and assertiveness.
• Flexible, enterprising, and ambitious mindset.
• Strong orientation toward collaboration and the success of the team.
• Comfort with error and adjustment.
• Regular in-person office hours are Monday - Thursday, 10 am - 6 pm. Fridays are remote. Additional hours may be required, with potential for additional time off.

To apply, submit a resume and cover letter detailing why you are a strong candidate and why this position would be a good fit for you as well as us.

The Climate Museum highly values diversity and views the climate crisis as, among other things, a multilateral social justice crisis. Our aspiration is for our team to represent NYC both demographically and through a multitude of experiences and viewpoints. The Climate Museum is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations for individuals where required, in employment and in its services, programs, and activities. The Museum will provide reasonable accommodations as required by law.