Director of Development Events
About The Position
DISCOVERY Children’s Museum, based in Las Vegas, Nevada, is dedicated to the educational enrichment of children through hands-on, interactive learning. Now celebrating its 35th year, the Museum’s mission is to foster a welcoming, vibrant, and inclusive environment where all are invited to engage in playful and educational experiences that ignite a lifelong love of learning. Position Description: The DISCOVERY Children’s Museum seeks an outgoing, detail-oriented fundraising professional to join a dynamic Development Department team leading the Museum’s signature events fundraising efforts. The Director of Development Events reports to the Vice President of Development, serving as the lead fundraiser and planner of three (3) signature events, including Magic of DISCOVERY Gala, Royal Tea, and the Golf Classic. The ideal candidate will be creative and innovative, with the ability to conceive and execute high-quality special events that meet or exceed annual goals. They will demonstrate exemplary relationship-building skills with donors and across the institution, and most importantly, possess a passion for serving children and families in our local community. The Director of Development Events will lead the strategy and execution of fundraising initiatives tied to the Museum’s event portfolio, overseeing logistics, sponsorship development, donor engagement, and in-kind partnerships. This role will also design and implement quarterly cultivation and community relations events to deepen donor connections, expand partnerships, and elevate the Museum’s visibility in the community. In addition, the Director will oversee the planning and execution of the Museum’s three signature events, guiding event committees and ensuring seamless coordination across all elements. In partnership with the Vice President of Development, this position will monitor budgets, manage sponsorship pipelines, and ensure financial goals are met while maintaining strong fiscal oversight. Additionally, the ideal candidate will be adept at CRM and website management, utilizing these tools for event tracking, donor management, reporting, and ticketing to ensure seamless execution and data-driven decision-making.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
- Minimum three to five years of non-profit experience, preferably in development or fundraising or with one to three years of event production experience
- Experience in successfully engaging volunteer leaders in fundraising
- Exceptional interpersonal, organizational and communication skills
- Identifies, cultivates, and maintains relationships with donors/sponsors
- Experience and proven ability to solicit gifts
- Performs gift processing and entry into database according to best practices
- Ensures proper stewardship and recognition
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team, including the appropriate delegation of responsibilities
- Proficient in Microsoft Office software (Word, Outlook, Excel, etc.)
- Experience with CRMs; Bloomerang preferred
- Capable of maintaining sensitive/confidential information
- Highly detail-oriented, organized, focused, and goal-oriented, with a high level of initiative and energy.
Responsibilities
- Directs planning, communication, and execution of annual event-based fundraising efforts.
- Solicit high-level sponsorships and in-kind requests for events.
- Manages accurate donor records and event documentation.
- Strategic thinking about donor engagement with the existing programs and events at the Museum as well as excellent social skills, with large groups and individuals.
- Proven skills and ability to manage multi-phase projects from inception to completion, including the ability to build consensus among team members and volunteers
- Adept at problem solving and using judgment in situations requiring independent initiative and tact
- Assist with preparing budgets and provide periodic progress reports for each project.
Benefits
- DISCOVERY pays 100% of the premium for Employee Basic Life Insurance, Medical, Dental, Long and Short Term Disability coverage
- Additional optional benefits include Vision Insurance, Critical Illness Insurance, FSA, Accident Insurance, Child and Spouse Life Insurance
- 401(k) Plan + Match
- 13 paid holidays
- Generous vacation time
- Free museum membership for you and your family
- Accrued sick time
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
Number of Employees
11-50 employees
