Vice President of Development

About Marbles Kids Museum

Marbles Kids Museum is a nonprofit children’s museum and IMAX Theatre in downtown Raleigh. Since 2007, it has delivered play-based learning experiences that encourage imagination, exploration, and discovery for families, school groups, and community organizations. Its offerings include exhibits, summer camps, documentaries, feature films, and special events, and it is recognized as one of North Carolina’s leading family attractions.

The Opportunity

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys building partnerships that lead to meaningful community impact. The Vice President of Development will guide the Development Team and Development Committee while partnering closely with the CEO, Board of Directors, and Senior Leadership Team to grow contributed income and secure ongoing operating support through annual giving, major gifts, institutional grants, sponsorships, special events, and broader fundraising initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Strengthen philanthropic support through mission-driven development messaging, varied giving opportunities, and regular relationship-building with community leaders, partners, and prospects.
• Help advance the museum’s mission by developing partnerships that support programs, exhibits, events, films, outreach, and capital efforts.
• Build relationships with individual major donors through events, personal meetings, and annual appeal efforts.
• Generate new corporate support by maintaining an active outreach calendar of meetings, visits, events, and tours.
• Manage major donor relationships with attention to partner priorities, benefits, brand positioning, and employee engagement.
• Identify and evaluate opportunities for government support at the local, state, and national levels.
• Work with volunteers and team leads to deliver fundraising events that highlight the museum’s collaborative culture and raise unrestricted revenue.
• Use data analytics to improve prospect identification, engagement, and stewardship.
• Create a long-term development framework that includes a phased capital campaign, operating endowment funds, and planned giving pathways.
• Lead fundraising strategy, annual contributed income budgeting, development communications, board development, campaign planning, and government relations with executive leadership.
• Support year-round development events such as board gatherings, stewardship activities, Giving Tuesday Breakfast, volunteer events, and exhibit openings.
• Help grow contributed income by motivating and directing the Development Team, staff, and Board of Directors.
• Act as the organization’s main contact and project lead for development and campaign consulting on multi-year fundraising and renovation efforts as needed.
• Oversee the grant process with the Development team, including research, proposal writing, and reporting.
• Represent the museum at networking events to deepen relationships, increase visibility, and attract supporters.
• Serve as the primary liaison to the Development Committee by preparing agendas, leading bi-monthly meetings, coordinating materials, and following up on action items.
• Contribute to short- and long-range organizational planning as the Development representative on executive and senior leadership teams.
• Complete other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Recruit, interview, hire, and train new members of the Development team.
• Manage the day-to-day workflow of the Development team.
• Monitor performance and conduct formal performance reviews.
• Handle discipline and termination matters in line with company policy and the People Team.

Ideal Experience and Skills

• A bachelor’s degree plus 8 to 10 years of fundraising experience, including management of employees and volunteers.
• Proven success in sustaining operating support, major gifts fundraising, and grant writing, with the ability to work effectively with corporate, foundation, and individual donors across local, state, and national levels.
• Strong comfort with technology, especially donor database tools and Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Interest in and familiarity with data analytics, prospecting, and research.
• Creative and strategic thinking skills, along with resourcefulness and a willingness to take well-considered risks.
• Clear, confident communication skills for working with colleagues at all levels, guests, community leaders, and other stakeholders.
• A positive, motivating presence that helps build optimism and appreciation across teams.
• Strong project management ability with experience handling multiple budgets, plans, and concurrent projects.
• Genuine commitment to the museum’s mission of sparking imagination, discovery, and learning through play.

Physical and Work Environment

• The role involves extended periods of sitting and computer-based work.
• The position may require lifting up to 15 pounds occasionally.
• Work is primarily indoors, with about 95% of time spent inside.
• Some travel by car or as a passenger may be part of meetings.

Schedule

Occasional evening and weekend shifts are needed to support busy operations and events.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Health Savings Account and flexible spending account options.
• Life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment coverage.
• Short-term and long-term disability coverage.
• Parking benefits and a GoTriangle bus pass.
• Paid time off including 17 vacation days and 9 holidays.
• Eligibility for the company 401(k) plan with employer match after a waiting period.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Marbles employee discounts and perks.
• Fitness benefits.

Additional Information

Reasonable accommodations can be requested for the hiring process by contacting the People Team at ojohnson@marbleskidsmuseum.org or 919-857-1069.

Employment is subject to a satisfactory background check and reference verification.

The organization is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate or permit harassment based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic under federal, state, or local law.