The Development Branch has primary responsibility for obtaining private sector funding over and above the Museum’s own business revenues and the basic funding it receives from government sources. Sister development offices serve the Canadian Museum of Civilisation (including the Children’s Museum and the National Postal Museum) and the Canadian War Museum. Development functions include planning and executing major fund-raising campaigns for each museum’s capital or long-term needs; organising special fund-raising events; planning and executing annual giving campaigns and a planned giving program; and securing exhibition sponsorships. The Development Branch works closely with museum staff in Research, History and Exhibitions and Programming, as well as senior executives of the corporation, to develop, enhance and steward relationships with past and prospective donors and sponsors to the CMCC.
The role of Development in the Aboriginal Training Program is to help develop business and administrative awareness.
General Objectives
The division will focus on providing:
- an overview of different fund-raising practices and programs in a museum environment and their relationship to the overall financial plan of the institution.
- participation in fund-raising preparations and solicitation, including strategy development, prospect research, donor solicitation, special events, stewardship programs, etc.
Specific Learning Outcomes
These objectives will be reached through assigned tasks and projects which may include the following skills or procedures.
The intern may:
- recognize which fund-raising programs/techniques are best suited to achieve particular funding objectives.
- prepare prospect profiles, solicitation proposals, gift reports, etc.
- become familiar with fund-raising reference resources and databases.
- understand the process of donor cultivation and solicitation.
- experience various phases of donor contact, including cultivation, solicitation and stewardship.