Vice President of Development

Vice President of Development

Marbles Kids Museum is a vibrant, nonprofit children’s museum and IMAX Theatre located in the heart of downtown Raleigh. Marbles has been sparking imagination, discovery, and learning through play since opening its doors in 2007. Marbles serves a diverse population of families, school groups, and community organizations through award-winning play-based exhibits, summer camps, IMAX documentaries, feature movies, and special events year-round. Today Marbles ranks among the top family destinations in North Carolina providing learning experiences for children with creative programs, and larger-than-life movies.  
 
The Opportunity

Every partnership helps spark imagination, learning, and meaningful community impact. If you thrive on building relationships that create lasting change, this opportunity is for you! The Vice President of Development is responsible for providing direct oversight to the Development Team and the Development Committee while working in collaboration with the CEO, Board of Directors, and Senior Leadership Team to maximize contributed income and generate sustained operating support through annual giving, major gifts, institutional grants, sponsorships, special events, and strategic fundraising campaigns. 
 

Essential Job Responsibilities  

• Inspire a new level of philanthropy at Marbles with compelling mission-focused development communications, a diverse line-up of investment levels and opportunities, and a robust schedule of personal interactions with community leaders, partners, and prospects. 
• Advance the mission of Marbles by cultivating partnerships to fund initiative-based programs, exhibits, events, movies, outreach, and capital projects. 
• Cultivate individual major donors through events and face-to-face interactions reinforced by annual appeals. 
• Solicit significant new corporate partnerships through an active schedule of prospective outreach, meetings, events, and tours. 
• Oversee relationships with major donors prioritizing partner needs and benefits in addition to brand management and employee engagement. 
• Research and explore new government partnerships at the local, state, and national level. 
• Engage volunteers and team leaders to execute annual fundraising events that build on Marbles’ reputation as a creative and collaborative institution while connecting the community with our mission and raising significant unrestricted funding. 
• Maximize Marbles data analytics for prospecting, engagement, and stewardship. 
• Grow long-term financial stability at Marbles by establishing a comprehensive development program that includes a multi-phase capital campaign, endowment funds for operating, and planned giving platform for future needs. 
• Lead strategic initiatives including annual contributed income budgeting, fundraising communications, board development, long-term campaign strategy, and government relations in collaboration with the CEO and Senior Leadership Team. 
• Lead and contribute to year-round Development-related events, including board gatherings, stewardship events, Giving Tuesday Breakfast, volunteer events and exhibit openings.  
• Expand contributed income by engaging, inspiring, and directing the Development Team, Team Marbles, and Board of Directors 
• Serve as Marbles’ primary point of contact and project lead for development and campaign consultancy through multi-year fundraising and renovation projects as needed. 
• Oversee grant process in partnership with other members of the Development team, including research, writing, and reporting. 
• Represent the organization at community networking events to cultivate relationships, increase visibility, and engage prospective donors and supporters. 
• Serve as primary liaison to the Marbles Development Committee, including planning and facilitating bi-monthly meetings, developing agendas and materials, managing follow up and supporting Committee members in fulfilling their roles.  
• Responsible for strategic, short and long-term planning of the organization as a Development Team representative on the Executive and Senior Leadership Teams. 
• Perform all other duties assigned by the manager. 

Supervisory Responsibilities 

• Recruit, interview, hire, and train new Development team members. 
• Oversee the daily workflow of the Development Team. 
• Oversee performance and conduct performance evaluations for the Development Team. 
• Handles discipline and termination of team members in accordance with company policy and the People Team. 

Ideal Experience and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree with 8- 10 years of experience in fundraising, including employee and volunteer management. 
• Demonstrated success in generating sustained operating support, major gifts fundraising, and grants writing, with knowledge and ability to connect with local, state and national corporate, foundation, and individual donors.  
• Proficient in technology, particularly in donor database systems and Microsoft Office programs, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. 
• Awareness and interest in data analytics, prospecting, and research. 
• History of creative and strategic thinking, with a track record of resourcefulness and calculated risk taking. 
• Proven ability to communicate confidently and effectively with teammates across all levels of the organization, guests, community leaders and other key stakeholders. 
• Proven ability to inspire a contagious spirit of optimism and gratitude. 
• Successful project manager, with proven ability to create and manage multiple budgets, plans, and projects simultaneously. 
• Genuine interest in advancing Marbles mission and vision of sparking imagination, discovery and learning through play.  

Physical Demands 

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer. 
• Must be able to lift 15 pounds at times. 

Work Environment 

• 95% indoors. 
• Some driving or being driven as part of meetings. 

Schedule 

• Occasional evenings and weekend shifts are required to support busy operations and events.