Vice President of Development

Chicago Childrens Museum•Chicago, IL

3d•$165,000 - $185,000

About The Position

Chicago Children’s Museum (CCM) seeks 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 closely with the Board of Directors, Associates Board members, key volunteers, and museum staff to grow contributed revenue and lead future campaigns. The VP manages and develops the fundraising team, sets challenging but achievable goals and performance measures, and aligns departmental activities with museum priorities and annual and long-range fundraising goals. The role leads fundraising strategy and programs across foundation grants; individual giving, including major gifts, annual giving, direct mail, and e-philanthropy; corporate giving and sponsorships; government grants; and fundraising events, including the annual gala. The VP cultivates and solicits leadership-level donors, develops the major-gift pipeline, and builds the Board’s engagement in giving and fundraising. The position also oversees department operations and budgets, coordinates fundraising policies and reporting with the CFO, and serves on the museum’s senior leadership team, contributing to institutional strategy and decision-making. The VP supports belonging, inclusion, and accessibility across the museum’s work and relationships. The role reports to the President & CEO. It is a full-time, exempt position, generally Monday through Friday, with some early mornings, occasional weekday evenings, and weekend hours for meetings or events. The position involves extended computer work and regular in-person cultivation meetings and events, ranging seasonally from two to three per month to two to three per week. Salary is $165,000–$185,000, based on skills, qualifications, and experience.

Requirements

At least 10 years of professional experience leading and managing comprehensive development teams and volunteer boards for nonprofit organizations.
Demonstrated success leading and motivating high-performing, collaborative fundraising staff and volunteers.
Proven achievement in capital campaigns, major-gift programs, 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.
Strong professional network and knowledge of the Chicago philanthropic community.
Comfort with serving in a public-facing role on the museum’s external team.
Experience as an essential member of a nonprofit senior leadership team, including regular interactions with high-level Board members.
Strong fiscal management skills, including fundraising and budget analysis, forecasting, planning, and measuring fundraising effectiveness.
Effective communication, interpersonal, and motivational skills, including presenting 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 with data analysis and using data to inform decisions and strategy.
Creativity, entrepreneurial spirit, willingness to develop innovative ideas, and experience 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, and flexibility with assignments and schedules.
Ability to handle multiple projects at once.
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 achieve operating, endowment, and capital campaign revenue goals.
Work with the President & CEO and senior management team to develop a strategic giving plan and strengthen support across major gifts, sponsorships, and grants.
Oversee fundraising programs and revenue goals for foundation grants, individual giving, corporate giving and sponsorships, government grants, and fundraising events, including the annual gala.
Build, implement, steward, and grow fundraising programs with direct reports and evaluate emerging fundraising practices and ideas.
Learn the museum’s programs and exhibits and communicate their impact and significance to donors.
Collaborate with the marketing department to promote contributed revenue and align communications 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 matters, with support from the Board Liaison.
Mentor and coach the development team; establish effective time management, processes, procedures, and cross-departmental collaboration practices.
Manage development department revenue and expenses to optimize fundraising opportunities.
Work with the CFO to align fundraising policies, processes, and reporting with the museum’s financial policies.
Participate in senior leadership oversight and decision-making, including work on the Management Committee, Experience Oversight Team, and other relevant project teams.
Support belonging, inclusion, and accessibility in work with Board members, staff, visitors, community members, and external partners.
Continue learning and mastering skills, including participating in institution-offered courses or training.