Development Associate

Development Associate

REPORTS TO: Associate Director of Advancement STATUS: Full-Time, Non-exempt

General Description

The Development Associate is a vital, detail-oriented member of the Advancement team, providing comprehensive administrative and operational support, and serving as the primary administrator for the museum’s Membership and Annual Giving programs. This role is essential to maintaining excellent donor relations, ensuring the integrity of financial data, and contributing to the museum’s mission advancement efforts in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Accurately process all member and donor contributions in the Altru database within one week of receipt. Run the daily cash receipts journal and collaborate closely with the Finance department and Manager of Development Operations for reconciliation.
• Perform  data entry tasks, list updates, and run daily and weekly cleanup queries in Altru to ensure the highest level of data accuracy.
• Prepare and issue member thank you letters, membership cards, and routine correspondence, including monthly renewal notices for members and Patrons.
• Prepare and issue donor acknowledgments for the Gala and Museum Fund contributions in a timely manner and with careful attention to detail. 
• Serve as the primary point of contact for members and donors, providing exceptional customer service and responding to all questions and requests for information within 24 hours.
• Work with frontline visitor service and retail staff to promptly resolve member issues, providing them with necessary materials and talking points to successfully present the membership program.
• Assist Manager of Events and Member Services with event invitation RSVP tracking and communication.
• Utilize project management platform Asana to track various department projects and key deadlines. In the Events and Member Engagement Manager’s absence attend weekly Ops Meeting and update the Museum and Altru Calendars as necessary.
• Manage office supply inventory and purchase of letterheads, envelopes, stationery, and other  supplies. Coordinate mail delivery and pick-up. Occasionally assist the Administrative / Executive Assistant with duty coverage as needed.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the Museum, its mission, collections, programs, and operations, and actively support and uphold organizational values of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Perform other duties as assigned, including required attendance at museum and advancement events, some of which occur after usual business hours.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or two years equivalent experience in an administrative role. Prior office experience is preferred.
• Ability to accomplish tasks with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail is essential for financial and data management tasks.
• Strong sense of organization, planning, and time management to handle multiple priorities.
• Effective written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills for interacting with donors and staff.
• Experience working with Google, Microsoft, Zoom, project management platforms, and other software.
• Experience with donor database or data entry work (ideally Altru) is strongly preferred.
• A high level of integrity, tact, and discretion is required to deal with confidential donor and financial information.
• Must be able to work occasional evenings and weekends with regular onsite attendance required.
• Ability to work independently and as a collaborative team member.
• This position requires significant onsite presence.

About the Farnsworth 

Founded as a bequest of Lucy Copeland Farnsworth, the Museum opened its doors in 1948 in Rockland, Maine, with a singular mission to celebrate Maine’s role in American art. The Farnsworth’s primary purpose is to be a repository for American art objects related to Maine and a resource for all, including local and state residents, as well as tourists visiting from throughout the United States and abroad. 

Throughout the Museum’s history, it has championed the unique role that Maine plays in the larger story of American art. The Farnsworth’s collection of almost 16,000 works focuses on American art from the 18th century to the present, in all media, with a special emphasis on artists with deep connections to Maine. From purchasing works by a young Andrew Wyeth–becoming the first museum to do so–to collecting pieces by pivotal Maine artists such as Fitz Henry Lane, George Bellows, Rockwell Kent, Lynne Drexler, Lois Dodd, Daniel Minter, Ann Craven, and Jeremy Frey,  the Museum has and will continue to represent the excellence of the arts in Maine. We are also broadening and diversifying collections to more fully reflect the breadth of Maine artists working today and the interests of our growing and multicultural audience.

The Museum also cares for two historic properties: the Farnsworth Homestead, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, and the Olson House, joining the campus in 1991 and designated as a National Historic Landmark in 2011. 

The Farnsworth is the first art museum in Maine to receive accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums, which recognizes institutions that have demonstrated a commitment to excellence, accountability, and the highest professional standards in education, public service, and collections care.