About Chicago Children’s Museum
Since 1982, Chicago Children’s Museum (CCM) has been committed to improving children’s lives by creating a community where play and learning connect. CCM’s staff is a dedicated group of curious individuals who embrace a commitment to lifelong learning and the incorporation of a playful approach to our work. Every employee is empowered to reach their potential and be recognized for the impact they have on our organization, visitors, and the community we serve.
CCM engages children and adults across 60,000 square feet of permanent and changing exhibits, art installations, working studios, and spaces for programming, performances, and public gatherings. Beyond our walls, CCM is embedded in Chicago Public Schools in the form of 32 Curiosity Classrooms and maintains six Playful Learning Landscapes across the city. These projects, along with countless other programs and initiatives, deepen the museum’s impact and cement its commitment to thoughtful partnership with Chicago’s many communities. Through its access initiatives, CCM welcomes anywhere between 15-30% of visitors for free or at a steep discount annually.

Chicago Children’s Museum’s Core Values:

• Children are People: We value their experiences, center their perspectives, and honor their needs.
• Collaboration: We work together in the pursuit of excellence.
• Belonging: All lived experiences are welcomed, respected, and appreciated.
• Curiosity: We learn from process, not perfection.
• Delight: Joyful experiences are for everyone.
• Enthusiasm: Enthusiasm is a craft and everyday practice.

About the Job
Chicago Children’s Museum is seeking a Vice President of Development who is responsible for the strategic leadership and management of all aspects of CCM’s fundraising programs, including operating, capital, legacy, and endowment. The VP of Development will report to the President & CEO and work closely with the Board of Directors, Associates Board members, key volunteers, and museum staff to meet and grow CCM’s current contributed revenue, along with leading any future campaigns. The VP of Development will manage a talented team to advance the mission of CCM through philanthropy, and will create challenging, yet achievable, performance goals and metrics that ensure the activities of the department are aligned with museum priorities, as well as the team’s ability to achieve annual and long-range fundraising goals. The VP of Development will lead by example, always exhibiting the highest standards of professional conduct, deep knowledge of industry, best practices, superior time management, communication skills, proven ability to motivate and inspire a team to achieve and surpass goals, and a commitment to treating all colleagues and internal and external customers with respect, collegiality, and fairness.

Principal Job Duties and Responsibilities:

Fundraising Leadership and Strategy

• Lead, manage, train, and motivate the development team, the Board of Directors, Associates Board members, and key volunteers, to meet and exceed all operations, endowment, and capital campaign contributed revenue goals;
• Work closely with the President & CEO, as well as members of the senior management team, to develop a strategic giving plan to strengthen and expand existing support in all areas, including major gifts, sponsorships, and grants;
• Work closely with respective direct reports to build, implement, steward, grow, and oversee a robust mix of successful and innovative fundraising programs from diverse sources, each with clearly defined revenue goals, including:
  • Foundation grants
  • Individual giving, including major gifts, annual fund support, direct mail campaigns, e-philanthropy, etc.
  • Corporate giving, including capital and general operating sponsorships and Corporate Membership
  • Government grants
  • Fundraising events including our annual gala
• Keep abreast of current best practices in the development profession and evaluate new and emerging ideas for potential implementation;
• Work closely with the senior management team to maintain a full understanding of the Museum’s programs and exhibits to communicate effectively to donors their impact and significance;
• Work closely with marketing department to optimize and promote the contributed revenue stream and align communication, across all channels (written, print, digital, social, and in-museum) for consistent voice and strategy;
• Cultivate and solicit a portfolio of leadership-giving donors alone, with Board members, and/or the President & CEO; and
• Develop and manage the activities of the Board of Directors, including stewarding them as donors and serving as staff liaison related to nominating, governance, and fundraising, with the support of the Board Liaison.

Department Operations

• Provide leadership, mentoring and coaching to the development team and set a standard for the team to emulate in terms of thoughtful time management, establishing effective processes and procedures, cross-departmental collaboration and implementation, leading to consistent achievement of annual goals;
• Manage the development department revenue and expenses to optimize Chicago Children’s Museum’s fundraising opportunities; and
• Work closely with CFO to ensure that fundraising policies, processes, and reporting align with Chicago Children’s Museum’s overall financial policies.
  Museum Leadership
• As a member of the museum’s senior leadership team, fully participate in the strategic oversight and decision-making of the museum’s overall functions to ensure fiscal responsibility, a positive culture, collaborative relationships, and effective delivery of our mission;
• Participate in cross-departmental teams including Management Committee, Experience Oversight Team, and any other relevant project teams;
• Support the museum’s work in belonging, inclusion, and accessibility for all and ensure that these principles are upheld in all work with our Board members, fellow staff, visitors, community, and other external partners; and
• Demonstrated enthusiasm for learning and mastering new skills on an ongoing basis; willing to be informed/certified/trained through institution-offered courses.