Job Description
Job Description
Description : Position Summary :
The Director of Development plays a vital role in supporting the museum’s mission to inspire learning through play by leading efforts to build sustainable financial support. As a senior member of the team, this position oversees all aspects of fundraising operations and strategy—including individual giving, grants, corporate partnerships, and donor stewardship—and works closely with the CEO, Philanthropy Officer, and board members to engage the community in meaningful ways. The Director fosters a culture of generosity that fuels the museum’s programs, exhibits, and outreach efforts for children and families.
Essential Functions / Major Responsibilities :
Fundraising Leadership
- Develop and implement creative fundraising strategies that align with the museum’s mission to promote learning through play.
- Oversee diverse revenue streams including major gifts, monthly giving, community events, planned giving, and foundation grants.
- Cultivate relationships with donors, sponsors, and supporters who share a passion for early childhood development, education, and creativity.
- Maintain a personal portfolio of donors and actively participate in solicitation and stewardship efforts.
Grant & Proposal Management
Supervise the grant writer to develop and manage proposals that support educational programming and outreach initiatives.Coordinate internal input for proposals and reporting, ensuring alignment with program needs. Seek grant opportunities that reflect the museum’s values of accessibility, inclusion, and playful learning.Support communication with funders regarding deadlines, outcomes, and requests for information. Ensure timely reporting and alignment with funders' expectations and compliance requirements.Team Oversight
Provide leadership and guidance to development team members, promoting a collaborative and mission-driven work environment.Assign and monitor projects, encourage professional growth, and conduct regular performance evaluations.Support innovative approaches to donor engagement, storytelling, and campaign execution.Donor Engagement & Stewardship
Partner with the Philanthropy Officer to create donor experiences that reflect the playful spirit of the museum.Organize fundraising events, VIP events and behind-the-scenes experiences that highlight the impact of giving.Oversee accurate donor records, acknowledgment processes, and engagement metrics.Executive Collaboration & Board Engagement
Collaborate with the CEO, CFOO, CXO, and board on strategic initiatives and fundraising priorities.Prepare dashboards, campaign updates, and donor impact summaries for leadership review. Track key metrics related to donor activity, grant performance, and revenue goals.Support the board development committee and assist in ambassador engagement strategies.Budget Oversight
Manage the development budget, ensuring efficient use of resources and alignment with strategic priorities.Requirements :
Position Requirements :
Demonstrated success in securing gifts and building lasting donor relationships. Ability to engage active listening skills and problem-solving mentality to help create a win-win for the donor and the museum.Ability to think entrepreneurially and strategically regarding the identification and qualification of new potential donors.Ability to independently move prospects through the donor cycle from discovery / qualification to cultivation to solicitation to stewardship.Ability to work within complex data management systems and to maintain timely and appropriate donor records.Ability to maintain confidentiality and to operate with decorum and professionalism.Ability to work responsibly within a set budget.Strong interpersonal skills with a passion for promoting learning, play, and community enrichment.High-level organizational and communication abilities, with a hands-on approach to problem-solving.Education and / or Experience :
Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in nonprofit leadership, education, or arts management preferred. CFRE certification a plus.Minimum of 10 years of fundraising experience, ideally within a museum or children-focused nonprofit with 5-8 years of experience at a manager level or above.Familiarity with donor database systems and CRM platforms; experience with DonorPerfect a plus.Experience in children’s education, arts, or cultural programming preferred.Experience managing staff and implementing donor-centered development practices.Familiarity with DEAI principles in fundraising and development preferred.Bilingual or multilingual skills preferred.Supervisory Responsibility :
Development department staff & contract grant writer.
Work Environment :
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee works in a typical interactive exhibit environment with moderate noise levels.
Physical Demands :
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Regularly required to sit for long periods of time and occasionally lift and or move up to 25 pounds.Independent body mobility to access a standard office environment with shelves and drawers of varying heights.Vision sufficient to read a computer screen, 12 point and finer printed text, and handwritten documents.Manual dexterity to operate a computer keyboard on a daily basis.Speak and hear sufficiently to communicate clearly in person, over the telephone, and in small groups.Mental stamina for problem solving and dealing with stressful situations; prioritizing multiple tasks; interpreting and applying oral / written instructions.No ongoing and consistent extraordinary physical effort or strain involved in this position.This is a full-time position, onsite (not remote) in Everett, WA. The pay is $98,000-115,000 per year depending on experience. Please include a cover letter with your application. Review of applications will begin on Monday, August 11th , and the position will remain open until filled. Candidates must submit their application by August 10th.
Benefits : All full-time employees receive accrued sick time, vacation time, anniversary appreciation day, medical / vision / dental insurance, Life AD&D, FSA, IRA, EAP, free museum membership, discounts, and other museum perks!
