Senior Advancement Officer, Principal Giving

Ballinger | Leafblad is honored to partner with the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) on the search for its next Senior Advancement Officer, Principal Giving. A world-class art museum and a cultural anchor for the Twin Cities, Mia is dedicated to collecting, preserving, and sharing art from the world's diverse cultures. Its encyclopedic collection of more than 100,000 works spans 5,000 years of human creativity and is made accessible through free general admission, exhibitions, programs, and digital resources that engage more than half a million visitors each year. As Mia continues to evolve how a public art museum serves its community, it emphasizes deep engagement, expanded access, and partnerships that reflect the region's diversity and creative energy, stewarding a collection held in trust for future generations.

This search comes at a pivotal moment as Mia advances its strategic priorities and deepens its commitment to access, excellence, and long-term sustainability. Reporting to the Senior Head of Advancement, the Senior Advancement Officer, Principal Giving will cultivate and steward a focused portfolio of the museum's highest-capacity donors and prospects, with an emphasis on securing transformational six- to eight-figure commitments. This leader will partner closely with museum leadership, trustees, and campaign counsel on complex, long-term donor strategies and play an integral role in shaping and advancing a major capital effort.
 

QUALIFICATIONS

• 8+ years' frontline fundraising experience, preferably in principal gifts fundraising.
• Demonstrated success securing and stewarding six- and seven-figure gifts and select eight-figure opportunities, including complex and restricted commitments.
• Experience working in or alongside a major capital campaign.
• Proven ability to manage and prioritize a significant principal gift portfolio (50-75 prospective principal gift donors) with discipline and sound judgment.
• Knowledge of and experience with planned giving concepts and the complexities of integrating deferred and blended gifts into donor strategies.
• Experience strengthening major gift practice and performance across a team.
• Solid understanding of advancement operations, moves management, and fundraising infrastructure.
• Comfort using fundraising data, reporting, and CRM systems such as Salesforce to inform strategy and track progress.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

• Genuine alignment with Mia's mission and a belief in the power of art as a public good.

   

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The salary range for this position is $110,000 - $125,000.

Compensation includes participation in a comprehensive and generous benefits package, which you can read more about here.

View the full position profile: https://www.ballingerleafblad.com/current-searches
 

TO APPLY

All applicants must apply online here. To apply, a resume and cover letter are required for consideration.

We strive for a transparent and supportive process, starting with an initial review of applications, followed by exploratory conversations with qualified candidates, in-depth interviews, and open communication throughout. There will be an immediate and ongoing review of candidates, so we encourage and appreciate early applications.

All inquiries will be handled with strict confidentiality, subject to standard recruiting practices and any applicable legal disclosure obligations.

For more details or questions, inquiries may also be directed to Jen Hanlon Ash, [email protected].

Applications will be accepted through August 14, 2026, or until the position is filled. Review of materials begins immediately. We encourage early application.