Job Opportunities

PHILANTHROPY OPERATIONS MANAGER

ABOUT THE WESTERN FOLKLIFE CENTER: The Western Folklife Center (WFC) provides a platform for rural and urban communities to communicate and exchange new ideas and avenues of expression. We operate a year-round cultural center and gallery in a 34,000-square-foot historic building in Elko, Nevada, and produce the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering. Our mission is to honor and document the folk traditions of the West — and our media, educational, and community programs deepen understanding of the vitality and challenges of western life.

VISION: Explore and give voice to traditional and dynamic cultures of the American West.

MISSION: Use story and cultural expression to connect the American West to the world.

THE ROLE: The Western Folklife Center seeks a detail-oriented, organized, and mission-driven Philanthropy Operations Manager to join our small and dedicated team. This position plays a central role in sustaining WFC's contributed revenue by:

  • Managing our membership program 

  • Managing the donor database

  • Supporting the grants lifecycle

  • Providing critical support during the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, including sponsorship coordination, event logistics, and membership services

This position reports to the Executive Director  and works closely with staff across the organization, primarily the Director of Partnerships & Philanthropy.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Membership

  • Process all monthly memberships after the close of each month to ensure complete capture, and send renewals at least two months in advance of expiration dates

  • Perform monthly membership reconciliation and prepare pledge reports for the accountants following the close of each month

  • Assist members with access to WFC TV and other membership benefits

  • Support membership ticket sales and general event sales as needed

  • Staff the membership desk at the NCPG and other events

Grants

  • Maintain a grants calendar in Google Calendar tracking all WFC submission deadlines and final report due dates

  • Support the research, writing, and finalization of all grant applications and reports

  • Create and track pledges for all grants awarded; ensure accurate records in DonorPerfect

  • Monitor compliance with all grant requirements, including maintaining active SAM registration and other required federal accounts

  • Conduct research and development on new and recurring grant opportunities

Donor Database Management (Donor Perfect)

  • Enter all donations into the CRM as received and send appropriate thank you letters.

  • Create reports as needed by the Philanthropy team (weekly and monthly donations, portfolio donors, geographic lists for regional events, memberships, donor search priority donors) and the accounting team.

  • Notify leadership of new and notable first time donors 

  • Post daily gift batches after the bookkeeper has entered gifts

  • Update online donation forms as needed

  • Merge duplicate accounts and maintain clean, accurate donor records

  • Process gift acknowledgment letters after the close of each month

National Cowboy Poetry Gathering Support

  • Assist with local sponsor solicitation and help prepare sponsorship applications and forms

  • Help coordinate sponsor show assignments and determine sponsor ticket allocations

  • Maintain up-to-date spreadsheets tracking sponsor perks, benefits, and deliverables

  • Order poster tubes; coordinate volunteers to roll and package posters for distribution

  • Order frames for applicable framed poster awards

  • Coordinate VIP Show guest list for Gold-level and above members 

  • Support program book production, including Major Donors & Sponsors page, Acknowledgments, About pages, and advertising solicitation

THE PERSON: Highly qualified candidates will share WFC's commitment to its mission and bring the following skills and experience:

  • Genuine interest in and appreciation for Western culture and the mission of WFC

  • Experience in nonprofit membership administration, grants management, or development operations

  • Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple recurring deadlines reliably

  • An ability to contribute to fundraising strategy development by bringing data trends

    to discussions

  • Comfortable working with donor databases; experience with DonorPerfect a plus

  • Familiarity with grant compliance requirements, including federal systems such as SAM.gov

  • Collaborative team player who can also work independently and take initiative

  • Clear written and verbal communication skills

  • Willingness to support event logistics and on-site activities, including during the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering each January

  • Associate's or Bachelor's degree, or equivalent combination of education and experience

  • A minimum of 2–4 years of relevant nonprofit or administrative experience (Coordinator level); 4+ years for Manager level consideration

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:

  • An annual salary range of $40k-$50k with experience

  • Health insurance

  • Paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave

  • Work environment that values work-life balance

  • Offices located in Elko, Nevada; remote flexibility may be available

TO APPLY:
Please send a cover letter and resume to jobs@westernfolklife.org.

Western Folklife Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Questions? Email jobs@westernfolklife.org.