Role: Development Specialist
Department: Advancement
Reports to: Chief Advancement Officer
Date: January 2026
Status: Full-time, Exempt, Salaried, Union Position
Salary Range: $50,000 - $52,500 per year

The EcoTarium, a Museum of Science and Nature, seeks an energetic and organized professional to join the Advancement Team to drive Membership growth, and support Development, Special Events, and Marketing. The Development Specialist will coordinate the membership program, oversee and maintain the organization’s donor and member database in our CRM system (Altru), and support fundraising efforts and events. This position is the driving force behind member relations, membership sales growth, member retention and satisfaction, and member communications and engagement at the Museum. The Development Specialist will work closely with the Sr. Manager of Philanthropic Engagement and the Chief Advancement Officer (CAO) on fundraising efforts, and will support the Events Specialists and Marketing Team as needed.

Essential Functions:

Manage Membership Growth and Related Membership Activities

  • Develop and implement annual plans to retain existing and gain new members to meet membership goals for each year. Collaborate with marketing, events, and guest services teams to execute
  • Plan and execute a communications strategy to engage members in Museum activities and deepen their sense of commitment to and belonging at the EcoTarium
  • Grow revenue from Membership by at least 15% each year
  • Conduct annual competitive research of museum admission pricing and membership pricing and make recommendations for benefit and pricing changes
  • Create and issue member surveys and analyze results to inform planning and communications strategy and membership benefits.
  • Provide training to Guest Services team to facilitate their promotion/sales of memberships and to troubleshoot and field membership inquiries
  • With CAO and Sr. Manager of Philanthropic Engagement, participate in designing, planning, executing and communicating benefits and programming to retain and grow memberships in the 1825 Membership Society
  • Generate renewal letters and membership cards, produce materials and maintain supplies as needed
  • Manage and utilize membership portion of Xtrulink platform to create, process and distribute digital membership cards
  • Determine and order materials for tabled events, raffles and giveaways.
  • Work with Marketing team members to update/create new Membership brochures
  • With Marketing team members, keep track of institutional printing needs such as letterhead and other brochures
  • Produce custom membership gift certificates and complimentary tickets when needed
  • Serve as the main contact for our reciprocal museum programs, ensuring information is properly communicated and managing invoicing and payments

Support Development Efforts

  • Working with the Development Team, identify appropriate audiences for marketing pieces for segmented markets; help to generate fundraising appeals, and event invitations; generate accurate mailing lists and email lists from the database
  • Participate in executing strategy and tactics defined by CAO and Sr. Philanthropic Manager related to gaining corporate members and sponsorships – including composing and sending letters and emails and making phone calls to select targets
  • Participate in the planning and implementation of special events under the direction of the Events Specialists, including managing raffles and supporting auctions. Update the Square POS units with appropriate items, price and taxes for each event
  • Oversee and grow the Museum’s Symbolic Animal Adoption Program, including managing each package’s contents, securing contents from vendors or museum gift shop, and working with Zoo Team to coordinate a yearly Symbolic Animal Adoption Meet and Greet event for donors
  • Participate in executing strategy to share zoo-cams with Animal Adopters as we develop interest in the program and the animals
  • Assist with writing and producing select donor acknowledgments and pledge reminders
  • Field and administer requests for donations of admissions passes, oversee volunteer(s) and develop and maintain process for fulfilling, and declining, and tracking requests

Maintain Accurate, Comprehensive and Up-to-Date Donor and Member Databases

  • Maintain the accuracy and consistency of member and donor information and interactions in a database, as well as other electronic and hardcopy files. This includes individual data, contact notes, event participation, correspondence, gifts, renewals, and other actions. Maintain and safeguard confidential data
  • Record gifts in the organization’s database and collaborate with Finance and Development teams in reconciling donor and gift-related questions
  • Produce and ensure accuracy of regular reports on members and donors for use in management decision-making, reconciling financial records, producing the organization’s Annual Report and other external reporting
  • Add new constituents to the database from development events and other sources and communicate to Marketing additions to the E-News list from raffles, events and other sources
  • Monitor transaction disputes in Altru Merchant Services and challenge and resolve as necessary.

Non-Essential Functions:

  • Participate actively (virtually or in person) in staff meetings, daily huddles, and staff trainings
  • Contribute to a professional and motivational work environment by encouraging teamwork and providing positive reinforcement to team members when a job is well done
  • Serve on staff ad-hoc committees when needed
  • Other duties as assigned

Qualifications: 

  • Associate’s degree required, Bachelor’s degree preferred
  • Minimum of 1 - 3 years of experience – in development/advancement field preferred
  • Experience working with fundraising databases, Altru or Raiser’s Edge preferred
  • Marketing experience preferred (familiarity with Adobe, Canva other design software a plus)
  • Experience in a museum, non-profit, fundraising, or mission-driven environment preferred
  • Experience working with or supervising volunteers a plus
  • Interest in science and nature a plus
  • Strong organizational, multi-tasking, and project management skills, with attention to detail and deadlines
  • Excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills; ability to work effectively with diverse audiences
  • Demonstrated commitment to high-quality customer service
  • Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment; strong collaboration and leadership skills
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office (PowerPoint, Word, Excel) and Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Meet, Chat)
  • Availability to occasionally work flexible hours including evenings and weekends
  • Ability to perform the physical demands of the role, including lifting up to 35 lbs., navigating indoor and outdoor spaces in varying weather conditions, and setting up and breaking down event equipment in a highly active, guest-facing environment
  • Pass CORI, SORI and background checks according to EcoTarium guidelines

The EcoTarium is an equal-opportunity employer. We value each member of the team, and are committed to inclusion and fostering a sense of belonging. We embrace diversity, and strive for equity and universal accessibility for employees and visitors

Instructions: Please fill out the form below to submit your application.

All applications require a cover letter and resume. Review begins immediately; applications accepted until position is filled. EOE.

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