Director of Annual Giving & Donor Engagement

Job Overview

The Dubuque County Historical Society operates the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium and the Mathias Ham Historic Site and is home to the National Rivers Hall of Fame. Its mission is to inspire stewardship by creating educational experiences where history and rivers come alive.

Position Summary

The Director of Annual Giving & Donor Engagement leads the organization’s annual fundraising and donor engagement efforts, with primary focus on the annual fund, Captain’s Ball Gala, donor stewardship, and corporate membership and sponsorship programs. This role blends strategic leadership with hands-on execution and serves as a frontline fundraiser managing a portfolio of annual donors and corporate partners.

This position initially encompasses both strategy development and day-to-day implementation, with the opportunity to evolve as the development program grows. The Director plays a key role in strengthening donor relationships, growing annual revenue, and delivering a thoughtful, high-quality donor experience aligned with organizational priorities.

As a member of the organization’s leadership team, the Director collaborates with cross-departmental leaders and the Board of Directors to advance the museum’s mission and support its long-term sustainability as a cultural institution.

This is a full-time, permanent position. Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. Benefits include vacation time, sick time, paid holidays, medical, dental, flex plan, and 403b retirement plan.

The Dubuque County Historical Society and its properties, the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium and Mathias Ham Historic Site, are committed to embracing diversity, practicing equity, and ensuring accessibility and inclusion. We continually strive to achieve a welcoming environment in all our spaces, where our staff and community feel reflected and valued for their unique perspectives and backgrounds. DEAI values guide and impact all the decisions the museum makes, both internal and external.

Primary duties

Organizational Leadership

• Serve as a member of the organization’s leadership team responsible for strategic plan creation and execution
• Work closely with internal teams and external agencies to advance fundraising and engagement goals
• Act as a visible leader by attending organizational events and participating on committees

Annual Fund Strategy and Execution

• Develop and execute annual fund strategies to grow donor participation, revenue, and retention, with emphasis on gifts under $10,000
• Lead all annual appeals and campaigns across direct mail, digital, and personal solicitation channels
• Write and oversee donor communications from appeals and acknowledgements to newsletters and social media
• Track donor pipelines and monitor progress toward annual goals

Captain's Ball Gala

• Serve as lead staff for our signature annual fundraising gala
• Oversee event strategy, sponsorships, auction, vendors, and post-event stewardship
• Partner with leadership, board, and volunteers to maximize fundraising engagement

Donor Engagement & Stewardship

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 50 annual donors and prospects
• Plan and coordinate donor stewardship events (3+ annually)
• Oversee giving societies and donor recognition programs
• Represent the organization at events and programs to cultivate and steward supporters

Sponsorship and Corporate Giving

• Lead the corporate membership program in partnership with the Membership Manager
• Develop and solicit corporate sponsorships for events, exhibitions, and programs
• Create tailored giving opportunities for exhibits, programs, or other priorities
• Ensure timely delivery of sponsorship benefits and recognition
• Build and maintain corporate partnership pipelines

Collaboration, Planning, and Management

• Recruit, manage, and providing leadership of the Auxiliary Board
• Monitor fundraising trends and identify opportunities for growth and innovation
• Collaborate with the VP of Development, CEO, and board on fundraising strategy
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience required.
• A minimum of 4 years of leadership experience (non-profit leadership preferred)
• 4–6 years of progressive fundraising experience, with success in annual giving, donor engagement, sponsorships, or event-based fundraising.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling donor messaging.
• Experience with donor databases or CRMs (Altru, Blackbaud, or similar) and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Strong relationship-building skills and collaborative working style.
• Willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends for donor and fundraising events.
• Must be able to read, write and speak the English language
• Must be able to perform any physical demands of job duties, either with or without reasonable accommodation
• Final candidates will be subject to a reference and background check

How to apply

To learn more, visit www.rivermuseum.org/join-our-team.  Apply by emailing your resume, cover letter, salary requirements and references to apply@rivermuseum.org or by delivering them in person to 350 E. 3rd St., Dubuque, IA 52001.

We recognize that it is highly unlikely that any applicant is able to meet all of the qualifications for a given role. Therefore, if you are drawn to this position and feel your strengths would be an asset to the organization, we highly encourage you to apply.