Individual Giving Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Description: Job Summary Great Lakes Science Center seeks an enthusiastic, relationship-oriented, and highly organized Individual Giving Manager to lead the organization's individual giving and donor engagement efforts. This position will play a key role in cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding individual donors while developing meaningful opportunities for supporters to deepen their connection to the Science Center and its mission.
Working closely with the Vice President of Development, the Individual Giving Manager will oversee the Science Center's annual giving program, including the Curiosity Society, its leadership annual giving society, and the 1996 Legacy Society, recognizing individuals who have made planned or legacy gifts to ensure the Science Center's impact for generations to come. The position will develop and execute strategies to acquire, retain, upgrade, and steward individual donors while working closely with the Vice President of Development and other members of the Development team.
This position will also lead the planning of select Development special events, working in collaboration with the Director of Special Events, to engage and inspire supporters. The ideal candidate is an exceptional relationship builder who combines strong interpersonal skills with creativity, organization, and a passion for connecting people to mission.

• Develop and implement strategies to grow Great Lakes Science Center's individual giving program.
• Manage a portfolio of individual donors and prospects, with a focus on cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding annual and leadership-level donors coordinating closely with the Vice President of Development to ensure continuity with the major giving program.
• Lead the Curiosity Society, the Science Center's leadership annual giving society, including donor recruitment, renewal, upgrades, communications, recognition, and stewardship.
• Coordinate donor communications, including the quarterly donor newsletter Mission Report and the Annual Report.
• Conduct select donor visits, tours, meetings, and personalized stewardship activities.
• Prepare donor correspondence, solicitation materials, proposals, briefings, and stewardship communications.
• Develop and execute annual giving appeals, including direct mail, digital, email, and other fundraising campaigns, in partnership with the Development and Marketing teams.
• Track annual giving goals, donor retention, and acquisition, and provide regular reports and recommendations to Development leadership.

996 Legacy Society

• Manage the ongoing stewardship and engagement of members of the 1996 Legacy Society, Great Lakes Science Center's planned giving and legacy society.
• Coordinate Legacy Society communications, recognition, special events, and member benefits.
• Assist in the identification of annual giving and major gift donors who may have an interest in planned giving and work with Vice President of Development to develop strategies for engagement.

Special Events & Donor Engagement

Work collaboratively with Development, Marketing, Guest Services, Education, Exhibits, and other departments to create meaningful donor experiences.

Work with the Director of Special Events to lead select Development special events, including donor cultivation, stewardship, and recognition events.

Coordinate event logistics, invitations, guest lists, communications, and follow-up, with support from the Development Coordinator

Development Department Support

• Maintain accurate activity and relationship records in the Altru donor database in partnership with Development Coordinator.
• Prepare reports and updates on individual giving, legacy giving, and event engagement.
• Participate in Development team meetings and contribute to a collaborative, creative, and results oriented team culture.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of Great Lakes Science Center's mission.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum 3-5 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, individual giving, donor relations, membership, development, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience cultivating and stewarding individual donors.
• Experience with annual giving programs and/or donor recognition societies strongly preferred.
• Experience with planned giving or legacy societies.
• Experience planning and executing fundraising or donor engagement events.
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, and deadlines.
• Experience with donor databases or CRM systems; familiarity with Altru preferred.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends for special events and donor activities.
• Passion for Great Lakes Science Center's mission and commitment to expanding access to STEM learning.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise discretion when handling donor information.

Great Lakes Science Center is proud to provide staff members with a benefits program that offers choices designed to meet their individual needs and lifestyles. Eligible staff members can participate in the following benefits programs:

• Free Parking
• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Employee Assistant Program (EAP)
• Paid Time Off (PTO) & Paid Holidays
• 403b Retirement Savings Plan with Match
• Association of Science-Technology Centers Membership
• Northeastern Ohio lntermuseum Council (NEOIMC) Membership
• And more!

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

It is the policy of GLSC to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) free from illegal discrimination, harassment and retaliation to all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religious affiliation, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, immigration status, age, source of income, familial status, marital status, veteran or military status, genetic information, disability or any other basis protected by applicable law. GLSC complies with applicable state, federal and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment.