Skip to main content

This job has expired

Chief Development Officer

Brooklyn Children's Museum (www.brooklynkids.org) is the world's first children's museum and a pioneer in the field of informal learning. Rooted in its vibrant Brooklyn community, the Museum’s early childhood programs and exhibits engage visitors through play-based learning at the intersection of culture, the arts, and science. The Museum serves 300,000 children and adults annually.

 

Position Summary

Reporting to the CEO, the Chief Development Officer (CDO) designs and executes a fundraising strategy that supports the Museum’s general operations and capital initiatives. The portfolio includes institutional and government fundraising; corporate membership; individual giving; and the Museum’s annual benefit; as well as space rentals, birthday parties and related earned income initiatives. This position works closely with the Board of Trustees, and contributes to strategy and planning for exhibitions and capital fundraising.

 

The role oversees roughly $1 million in private fundraising from individuals, family foundations, and fundraising events, and supports multi-million dollar exhibitions and capital fundraising. The position supervises two full-time staff members, a Manager of Individual Giving & Membership and a Development and Communications Coordinator, as well as consultants who assist with strategy, the Museum’s Spring Gala, capital fundraising, and institutional giving.

 

A member of the senior leadership team, the CDO works closely with the executive team and programming departments to identify priorities and develop funding strategies. The CDO also supports floor staff and works with visitors as needed.

 

Roles and responsibilities include:

  • Develop departmental goals and strategies, and create revenue and expense budgets
  • Working with staff and leadership, create and execute strategies to meet and exceed annual goals
  • Supervise and set priorities for consulting staff in scheduling, tracking, and writing proposals for major institutional gifts, and developing strong supplementary materials for these proposals
  • Grow BCM’s corporate membership program by identifying, cultivating and soliciting corporate membership gifts, and developing compelling materials to support this work
  • Identify, cultivate and solicit prospects for operating, programmatic, and capital support
  • Oversee space rental and birthday party programs to generate earned revenue
  • Manage the fundraising committee of the board of trustees and develop board materials
  • Oversee the Museum’s annual Spring Gala, which raises approximately $450,000, and oversee consulting staff for the event
  • In partnership with the Manager of Individual Giving, conduct annual appeals and maintain a portfolio of family foundation support
  • Create and improve systems and process to support fundraising operations
  • Organize cultivation events and maintain donor stewardship/communication schedules
  • Other duties as needed

 

Preferred Qualifications

  • 5-7 years of fundraising experience, preferably in a museum or other non-profit educational organization. New York City candidates familiar with Brooklyn preferred
  • Proven success in engaging individual donors, working with trustees, and securing institutional support. Experience in managing fundraising events preferred
  • Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills
  • Collegial, collaborative and flexible, and enjoys working with people in an external role.
  • High attention to detail and understanding of best practices in donor cultivation
  • Knowledge of Altru or other Blackbaud donor databases preferred
  • Demonstrated management ability, with excellent communication, writing and team leadership, operations and interpersonal skills
  • Commitment to and interest in BCM’s mission
  • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university

 

Compensation & Schedule

Salary in the $120,000 range, commensurate with experience; excellent benefits and vacation time, including health, dental and vision insurance.

 

BCM values an equitable, flexible and family-supportive environment. Senior staff at Brooklyn Children’s Museum work in the office three days per week, on Wednesdays, Thursdays and one weekend day (either Saturday or Sunday). Candidates should be available to work a weekend day, and willing to support floor staff on that day. Staff may choose to take a comp day on Monday, Tuesday, or Friday. Two days per week can be worked in the office or remotely. On occasion, staff members are expected to attend meetings and events at times they are not normally scheduled to be in the office, including evenings.

 

To apply

Applicants should send a cover letter and resume as one PDF to careers@brooklynkids.org with “Director of Development” in the subject title.

 

We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. BCM encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, disability, and veteran status.

 

Get job alerts

Create a job alert and receive personalized job recommendations straight to your inbox.

Create alert