Summary:
Reporting to the Director of Development, the Donor Engagement & Stewardship Officer is responsible for creating meaningful experiences that strengthen relationships with SJMA's members, donors, volunteers, and supporters. This position leads donor stewardship initiatives, membership engagement strategies, recognition programs, and cultivation experiences designed to inspire continued involvement and philanthropic support.
This position plays a central role in ensuring that donors at all levels, including annual donors, Directors Council members, Council of 100 members, trustees, and campaign supporters, experience exceptional stewardship and engagement.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Donor Stewardship
- Manage donor acknowledgement and recognition programs.
- Coordinate stewardship communications and donor impact reporting.
- Develop and implement stewardship plans forleadershipannual donors and major donor prospects.
- Ensuretimelyfulfillment of donor benefits and recognition opportunities.
- Maintain stewardship calendars and tracking systems.
Donor & Member Engagement
- Coordinate donor cultivation events, exhibition openings, behind-the-scenes experiences, and member programs.
- Support engagement activities forDirectorsCouncil, Council of 100, trustees, and other donor groups.
- Manage membership retention and upgrade initiatives in partnership with Development colleagues.
- Serve as a primary point of contact for select donor and member engagement activities.
Events & Special Projects
- Support planning and execution of development events and fundraising experiences.
- Coordinate donor-facing aspects of campaign and special fundraising initiatives.
- Collaborate with Curatorial, Education, and Public Programs staff to create meaningful donor experiences.
- Assistwith volunteer engagement and affinity-group activities.
Data & Administration
- Track stewardship and engagement activities in the Museum's CRM system.
- Produce reports related to donor engagement, stewardship, and membership retention.
- Collaborate across departments to ensure consistent donor communications and experiences.
- Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Education and/or Experience: Bachelor's degree (B.A.) from four-year college or university preferred, three (5) years related experience and/or training, or equivalent combination of education and experience. Fundraising, stewardship, membership, events, customer engagement, or related fields.
Computer Skills: Competence with Microsoft 365 products and project management software, including knowledge of CRM, specifically Blackbaud/Altru.
Other Qualifications: Exceptional interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills; prospect research and editorial efficiency; ability to synthesize information and compose clear and effective prose. Strong work ethic and self-discipline to work independently. Excellent organizational skills and ability to prioritize workload in a timely manner to complete assignment when faced with many deadlines and competing requirements. Strong attention to detail and the ability to quickly understand and remember details about donors, museum exhibitions, public programs, and events.
Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; use hands to finger; reach with hands and arms; talk or hear. The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
Other: Demonstrates a clear commitment to SJMA's values of Collaboration, Care, Curiosity, and Inclusion. Ability to work with discretion and diplomacy; excellent time-management and multi-tasking skills; organized and detail-oriented. Can be depended upon to report consistently to work at scheduled time and is seldom absent from work. Notifies supervisor with appropriate notice when absent. Completes work in a timely, accurate, and thorough manner and is conscientious about assignments. Follows instructions, responds to management direction, takes responsibility for own actions, keeps commitments. Interest in contemporary art, museums, and philanthropy preferred. Ability to work evenings and weekends as needed.
About Us:
The San José Museum of Art (SJMA) is a contemporary art museum dedicated to inclusivity, new thinking, and visionary ideas. Founded in 1969 by artists and community leaders, its dynamic exhibitions, collection, and programs resonate with defining characteristics of San José and Silicon Valley–from its rich diversity to its hallmark innovative ethos. The Museum offers lifelong learning for school children and their educators, multigenerational families, creative adults, university students and faculty, and community groups. SJMA is committed to being a borderless museum, essential to creative life throughout the diverse communities of San José and beyond: https://sjmusart.org/about
SJMA has been awarded re-accreditation by the American Association of Museums (AAM), a recognition given to just 1,106 of the nation’s 33,000 museums and SJMA is one of only 78 museums accredited in California. With its mix of self-assessment, peer review, and public recognition, AAM Accreditation ensures the integrity and accessibility of museum collections, reinforces the education and public service roles of museums, and requires good governance practices and ethical behavior. SJMA has been awarded Charity Navigator Four Stars and Guidestar Platinum Transparency, noting the highest non-profit distinctions exceeding or meeting best practices and industry standards.
Located near the Plaza de César Chavez in downtown San José, the Museum serves 100,000 people a year, including 30,000 school children, and is the largest provider of arts education in Santa Clara County.
SJMA conducts pre-employment, post-offer background checks in accordance with state and federal law.
SJMA is actively seeking individuals from diverse backgrounds. We deeply appreciate cultural, racial, and ethnic diversity, as well as different gender expressions and abilities. We encourage BIPOC, LGBTQ+, bilingual or multilingual candidates, and individuals with disabilities to apply. As an equal opportunity employer, we at SJMA highly esteem the diversity of individuals and the multitude of ideas, perspectives, insights, and values they contribute to our workplace.
SJMA's hiring policy requires all candidates to be at least 18 years of age. Due to the high volume of interest, regrettably, we cannot respond to individual applicants. If you are selected as a potential candidate, SJMA will contact you to schedule an interview. No phone calls, please.
Salary Range: $70,000 to $80,000/year.