Vice President of Development

Chicago Children's Museum•Chicago, IL

4d•$165,000 - $185,000

About The Position

Chicago Children’s Museum is seeking a Vice President of Development to provide strategic leadership and management for all fundraising programs, including operating, capital, legacy, and endowment fundraising. Reporting to the President & CEO, the VP works with the Board of Directors, Associates Board members, key volunteers, and museum staff to grow contributed revenue and lead future campaigns. The role manages a development team, establishes challenging but achievable goals and metrics, and ensures fundraising activity supports museum priorities and annual and long-range objectives. The VP is expected to model professional conduct, fundraising expertise, effective time management and communication, and the ability to motivate a team while treating colleagues and other stakeholders with respect, collegiality, and fairness. As a member of the museum’s senior leadership team, the VP contributes to strategic oversight and decision-making, fiscal responsibility, organizational culture, collaboration, and effective mission delivery. The position also supports belonging, inclusion, and accessibility throughout the museum’s work and relationships. This is a full-time, exempt-level position working Monday through Friday, with some early mornings, occasional weekday evenings, and weekend hours related to meetings or events. The role requires extended computer use and regular attendance at in-person cultivation meetings and events, ranging from two to three per month to two to three per week depending on the season. The salary range is $165,000–$185,000, based on skills, qualifications, and experience.

Requirements

At least ten years of professional experience leading and managing comprehensive development teams and volunteer boards for nonprofit organizations.
Proven success leading and motivating high-performing, collaborative fundraising staff and volunteers.
Demonstrated achievement in capital campaigns, major gifts, annual giving, corporate and foundation relations, sponsorship, planned gifts, special events, and in-kind contributions.
Experience building a major gifts program and growing a major-gift pipeline, with successful solicitation of six- and seven-figure gifts.
A strong professional network and knowledge of the Chicago philanthropic community; comfort serving in a public-facing role for the museum.
Experience as an essential member of a nonprofit senior leadership team, including regular interaction with high-level Board members.
Strong fiscal management skills, including fundraising and budget analysis, forecasting, planning, and measuring fundraising effectiveness.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including motivational skills and the ability to present and convey the organization’s mission to varied constituencies.
Understanding of marketing, communications, and social media; knowledge of digital media and communications strategies and digital fundraising platforms; comfort using data analysis to inform decisions and strategy.
Creativity and entrepreneurial spirit, willingness to develop innovative ideas, and experience working with and contributing to creative teams.
Ability to build and strengthen relationships with people of diverse backgrounds, ages, and circumstances.
Passionate commitment to Chicago Children’s Museum’s mission, vision, philosophy, and values.
Ability to work in a multifaceted, fast-paced, team environment; high energy, strong work ethic, sense of humor, ability to handle multiple projects, and flexibility with assignments and schedules.
Strong knowledge of fundraising technology, including prospect and donor management applications such as Raiser’s Edge/RE NXT.
Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
Bachelor’s degree or higher, or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

Lead, manage, train, and motivate the development team, Board of Directors, Associates Board members, and key volunteers to meet and exceed operating, endowment, and capital campaign revenue goals.
Partner with the President & CEO and senior management to develop a strategic giving plan that strengthens and expands support, including major gifts, sponsorships, and grants.
Oversee fundraising programs across foundation grants; individual giving, including major gifts, annual fund, direct mail, and e-philanthropy; corporate giving and sponsorships; government grants; and fundraising events, including the annual gala.
Keep current with development-sector best practices and assess emerging ideas for possible implementation.
Learn the museum’s programs and exhibits and communicate their impact and significance to donors.
Work with the marketing department to promote contributed revenue and align messaging across written, print, digital, social, and in-museum channels.
Cultivate and solicit leadership-giving donors independently and with Board members and/or the President & CEO.
Manage Board activities, steward Board members as donors, and serve as staff liaison for nominating, governance, and fundraising with support from the Board Liaison.
Mentor and coach the development team; establish effective time management, processes, procedures, cross-departmental collaboration, and implementation practices to achieve annual goals.
Manage development department revenue and expenses to optimize fundraising opportunities.
Coordinate with the CFO to align fundraising policies, processes, and reporting with the museum’s financial policies.
Participate in museum-wide strategic oversight and decision-making as a senior leadership team member.
Participate in cross-departmental groups, including the Management Committee, Experience Oversight Team, and other relevant project teams.
Support belonging, inclusion, and accessibility in work with Board members, staff, visitors, the community, and external partners.
Continue learning and mastering new skills, including taking institution-offered courses or training.