Job Description

Position Type: Full Time (40 hours per week)

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Location: Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory (Milwaukee, WI) (some remote work permitted)

Deadline to Apply: July 14, 2025 (applications will be accepted until position is filled)

About Milwaukee Domes Alliance: As an operating partner of the Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory, the Milwaukee Domes Alliance (formerly Friends of the Domes) helps cultivate a lifelong love of nature for all visitors through coordinating immersive, restorative experiences within the iconic horticultural oasis.

Mission Statement: We provide inspirational experiences that restore connections to nature and community in a one-of-a-kind horticultural oasis at the heart of Milwaukee.

About the Domes: The Milwaukee Domes provides a one-of-a-kind nature retreat that takes visitors across the globe in the course of an afternoon, all housed in the world’s most unusual and architecturally significant horticultural conservatory. Home to 2,000 plants from diverse climates, it is the world’s only beehive-shaped conservatory. The Domes represent a powerful tool for encouraging visitors to make environmentally sustainable choices within their own families. With shows and displays changing multiple times a year there’s always something new to explore at the Domes.

Position Overview: The Chief Development Officer (CDO) provides leadership, strategic direction, and management for all fundraising initiatives at Milwaukee Domes Alliance (MDA). The CDO oversees all aspects of development, including individual giving, major gifts, institutional funding (foundations and corporations), government grants, special events, and capital campaign fundraising for the Domes Reimagined, the long-term capital and revitalization plan for the Domes. Reporting to the CEO, the CDO will manage the internal systems and staff needed to build a high-functioning development operation and develop a sustainable donor pipeline.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The CDO will have the following primary responsibilities:

• Oversee the planning and implementation of all programs and activities designed to advance annual, major, and planned giving, corporate and foundation relations, special events, government grants, and campaign fundraising by helping to establish goals (key performance indicators) for all team members, and by directing the strategic implementation and assessment of fundraising and engagement strategies to achieve those goals.
• Foster and deepen a culture of philanthropy throughout MDA, assuring that the organization’s culture, systems, and procedures support fund development.
• Manage the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of a portfolio of 50-75 leadership and major gift prospects through personal visits and other forms of communication.
• Work in close collaboration with the CEO to ensure successful delivery on fundraising goals and objectives, driving strategy for annual and campaign giving, managing and supporting the CEO’s relationship with the donors in their portfolio.
• Work with the Board of Directors, Campaign Cabinet, and other volunteer leaders to ensure coordination and continued progress of all fundraising and constituent engagement activities.
• Work with select volunteer leaders to ensure coordination and continued progress of all fundraising and constituent engagement activities.
• Oversee a department of two professional staff members and 2-3 consultant teams who have responsibility for major and planned giving, annual giving, corporate and foundation relations, special events, and development operations. Develop annually the staffing, capacity, and resources needed to meet the development objectives MDA sets forth.
• Promote dynamic collaboration amongst all teams across MDA, including strengthening the alignment of goals and roles, fostering open communication, and deepening a culture of accountability.
• Manage the development budget and ensure proper use of fundraising systems and CRM tools.
• Represent MDA through media interviews and at events with the goal of increasing the visibility of MDA’s development priorities and needs.

QUALIFICATIONS

The ideal CDO will bring most of the following qualifications and skill sets:

• Ten or more years of progressive development leadership; experience within the Milwaukee philanthropic community preferred.
• Previous capital campaign experience and/or experience cultivating, soliciting, and securing six- and seven-figure gifts and above.
• Excellent leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills required.
• A collaborative and inspiring approach that is supported by data-centered rigor and a strong emphasis on accountability.
• Creative and entrepreneurial thinking.
• Leadership presence that is effective with a variety of stakeholders, including board members, donors, and volunteer leadership.
• Passionate commitment to the mission, vision, and values of MDA.
• Upholds the Code of Ethical Standards and the Donor Bill of Rights as outlined by the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
• Ability to travel to meet with donors and attend events, including some evening/weekend work.
• Technology fluency including Microsoft Office and/or Google Workplace; experience in donor management systems (preferably Salesforce).
• Bachelor’s degree is required.

Physical Demands: The employee is occasionally required to traverse within their work area as well as other areas of the facility. Ascending and descending of stairs (building that does not contain an elevator). We value diversity: Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Compensation: $120,000+; up to $7,500 in healthcare premium reimbursement; flexible work hours; hybrid in-office and remote work arrangement.

Commitment to Diversity: The Milwaukee Domes Alliance is an equal opportunity employer and places a high value in creating a workforce that reflects the diversity of the Milwaukee community. The Milwaukee Domes Alliance does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability, age, marital status, military status, pregnancy, or parenthood. We believe diverse teams are effective teams, and that innovation is only possible when a set of diverse experiences and perspectives are at the table.

APPLICATION MATERIALS 

• Cover letter
• Resume
• Writing samples (NOTE: samples should demonstrate persuasive writing such as grant proposals, articles, solicitation letters, a case for support, etc.).

SEND MATERIALS TO:

Christa Beall Diefenbach

CEO 

Milwaukee Domes Alliance 

CBeall@MilwaukeeDomes.org

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