American Museum of Natural History

Senior Major Gifts Officer

New York City, New York
Full-time
$135,000-150,000
Posted Oct 7, 2026

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Skills

Communication
Leadership
Microsoft Office
Teamwork

Job description

About the Organization

The American Museum of Natural History (AMNH), founded in 1869 with a dual mission of scientific research and education, is one of the world’s preeminent scientific, educational, and cultural institutions. The Museum encompasses more than 40 permanent exhibition halls, galleries for temporary exhibitions, the Rose Center for Earth and Space, including the Hayden Planetarium, and the Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation. The Museum’s scientists draw on a world-class permanent collection of more than 30 million specimens and objects, some of which are billions of years old, and on one of the largest natural history libraries in the world. Through its Richard Gilder Graduate School, the Museum offers two of the only free-standing, degree-granting programs of their kind at any museum in the U.S.: the Ph.D. program in Comparative Biology and the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) Earth Science residency program. Visit amnh.org for more information.

Position Overview

The AMNH Advancement team is seeking a full-time Senior Major Gifts Officer (SMGO) to secure five- and six-figure gifts from individual donors and prospects in support of the broad scope of the institution’s work in science and education. Reporting to the Director, Major & Individual Giving, the SMGO identifies, qualifies, cultivates, solicits, and stewards their own portfolio of donors and prospects, developing and carrying out targeted strategies that lead to gifts at maximum levels of support. They will also partner with the Vice President, Advancement to support strategic major gift efforts.

The SMGO supervises two Gift Officers, each of whom manages their own large portfolios of 250-275 mid-level donors and prospects. In this role, the SMGO oversees the Museum’s mid-level individual giving effort with the goal of building its pipeline. This is an exciting opportunity to oversee a robust array of donors as they move through the mid-level and major gift process at the Museum.

Responsibilities

Portfolio Management

•Manage and strengthen a portfolio of 125-150 major gift donors and prospects with the capacity to make 5-6 figure gifts to deepen their engagement and relationships with the Museum, and ultimately increase their giving.

•Create customized short-, intermediate-, and long-term strategies for the existing donor/prospect portfolio.

•Partner with Gift Officers on mid-level giving to develop customized portfolio strategies to deepen ties to the Museum and grow year-over-year revenue.

•Maintain current and accurate records in the Raiser’s Edge

Prospect Development & Cultivation

•Conceptualize and implement strategies to engage new prospects, including identifying and researching prospective donors as needed.

•Craft effective proposals, reports, acknowledgments, and other related communications, in partnership with the Donor Relations and Donor Communications teams.

•Plan, manage, and host various cultivation and stewardship activities, including one-on-one and volunteer council meetings, tours, and other small gatherings.

•Manage a schedule that includes local travel and occasional evening and weekend work.

Leadership & Collaboration

•Manage two Gift Officers, providing guidance, coaching, and professional development opportunities to ensure individual targets are met.

•Foster a results-oriented “out-the-door” fundraising culture that effectively moves prospects through the development cycle, identifies new prospects, and re-engages lapsed prospects to advance and grow fundraising opportunities and results.

•Coordinate and collaborate with Museum colleagues, including Museum leadership, fellow Advancement staff, scientists, educators, and exhibition.

Qualifications

•Bachelor’s degree in a related field.

•Minimum of seven years of professional experience in fundraising, including at least four in a major donor-facing role in a nonprofit development context.

•Demonstrated success leading and managing a team and creating a positive and productive work environment, with three years of supervisory experience preferred.

•Demonstrated success personally soliciting and closing a variety of complex gifts at the major gift level (five-and six-figure gifts required).

•Proficiency in the Microsoft Office Suite, internet applications, and fundraising databases.

•Strong interpersonal, communication, presentation, and decision-making skills.

•Volunteer management skills and experience.

•Knowledge of and experience with Raiser’s Edge.

Compensation & Benefits

•Annual salary in the range of $135,000-150,000. Pay will be determined based on several factors. The hiring range for the position at commencement is based on the type of work and the scope of responsibilities. The salary and placement offered is based on a number of individualized factors, including, but not limited to, skills, knowledge, training, education, credentials, areas of specialization and depth and scope of experience.

•AMNH offers an extensive benefits package including Medical, Dental, and Life Insurance, Retirement Plans, and PTO. Learn more at amnh.org .

•This is a New York City based hybrid position. Members of the AMNH Advancement team are expected to work at the Museum campus for a minimum of 4 days per week.

Application Process

Please submit application materials using the form below. AMNH has retained the Orr Group to conduct this search. Please direct all inquiries and interest to the Orr Group search team. 

Jesse Bryan

Vice President

Orr Group

jbryan@orrgroup.com

Zoe Patinkin

Senior Associate Director

Orr Group

zpatinkin@orrgroup.com

About Orr Group

Orr Group is a strategic partner to nonprofit organizations, offering comprehensive fundraising and executive recruitment support that advances mission, maximizes philanthropic potential, and builds long-term sustainability. We specialize in the business of philanthropy, helping our partners drive results through data-informed strategies, embedded team members, and hands-on implementation.