"Director, Donor Communications and Recognition"

Director, Donor Communications and Recognition

The American Museum of Natural History is one of the world's preeminent scientific and cultural institutions, and has as its mission to discover, interpret, and disseminate information about human cultures, the natural world, and the universe through a wide-ranging program of scientific research, education, and exhibition.

AMNH seeks a creative and entrepreneurial Director of Donor Communications and Recognition to join its high-performing Advancement team.

Reporting to the Vice President, Advancement Operations and Strategy, the Director is responsible for overseeing all aspects of both donor recognition and public-facing donor communications at the Museum. This role ensures that donor contributions are celebrated appropriately, consistently, and strategically, while developing the guidelines and standards that shape recognition and communication practices. The Director leads the creation of public-facing donor communications that articulate and elevate philanthropic partnership with the Museum and oversees donor recognition programs to ensure contributions are acknowledged meaningfully and according to a thoughtfully developed recognition framework.

A strategic thinker and strong communicator, the Director is adept at balancing donor recognition with institutional priorities, benchmarking best practices, and aligning donor communications with the Museum's voice, mission, and brand. This position requires exceptional judgment, writing skills, and cross-departmental collaboration to ensure donor visibility and acknowledgment are both meaningful and sustainable.

The Director will partner with frontline fundraisers and Advancement leadership to coordinate recognition and communications strategies during cultivation and solicitation. Additionally, the Director will supervise a small team, providing mentorship and ensuring excellence in output. This is a high-impact opportunity for a results-driven donor communications leader to join a world-renowned cultural institution.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Donor Recognition

• Strategically oversee and manage all aspects of donor recognition, including signage, naming, crediting, and other forms of acknowledgment across the Museum.
• Establish and maintain standards, policies, and guidelines for donor recognition and crediting to ensure consistency and alignment with institutional values.
• Track and maintain records of donor recognition, naming commitments, and related obligations.
• Partner with Operations, Legal, Exhibitions, and other Museum departments and external vendors to plan and implement recognition and signage installations.
• Serve as the departmental lead in assessing and evolving recognition practices, ensuring they reflect industry best practices and resonate with donors.
• Determine, source, and procure meaningful donor gifts that reflect the Museum's mission and resonate with donor audiences, as needed.

Donor Communications

• Develop and craft original public-facing donor communications, including sponsorship descriptions, naming opportunity text, newsletters, website copy, and other advancement-related messaging highlighting philanthropic impact.
• Create templates, guidelines, and messaging frameworks for donor communications to ensure a unified voice.
• Collaborate with the Museum's Communications and Marketing colleagues to align with institutional branding and external communications strategies.

Team Leadership and Management

• Supervise and mentor a small team, ensuring professional development and career enhancement.
• Identify, hire, and manage exceptional talent to meet the evolving needs and priorities of the team.

The expected salary range for the Director, Donor Communications and Recognition is $150,000/annual - $165,000/annual. The AMNH offers an extensive benefits package designed to meet the needs of our dedicated and diverse community.

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.

Required Qualifications:

Preferred Qualifications:

To be considered for this position please visit our web site and apply on line at the following link: careers.amnh.org