Director of Development | Temple, TX

Texas Association of Museums; Austin (TX); Hybrid; USD 32,000 - 39,000; Part time

Job summary

The Temple Children's Museum seeks a Director of Development to plan and lead fundraising, donor relations, and community engagement in partnership with the Executive Director and Board. This role manages annual giving, sponsorships, grants, events, volunteers, outreach, and partnerships to strengthen financial sustainability and visitor engagement.

Responsibilities include developing the Development Plan, securing sponsorships, managing donor pipelines, coordinating events such as Party With a

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management, communications, marketing, business, public relations, or a related field preferred. Equivalent professional experience will be considered.
• Minimum of three years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, development, event management, or related field.
• Experience securing sponsorships and cultivating donor relationships.
• Proven success planning and executing fundraising events.
• Experience working with volunteers, committees, and community partners.
• Familiarity with donor databases and CRM systems preferred.

Responsibilities

• Report directly to the Executive Director and work with the Board to advance fundraising, community engagement, and strategic priorities.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate the museum's Development Plan with annual giving, sponsorships, donor stewardship, events, and revenue goals.
• Develop and execute strategies to achieve fundraising objectives through individual giving, sponsorships, foundations, grants, and partnerships.
• Build and retain relationships with donors, major gift prospects, corporate sponsors, foundations, and community partners.
• Lead donor research to identify new funding opportunities and maintain an active pipeline.
• Lead Annual Giving Campaign, coordinate donor recognition and communications.
• Develop sponsorship packages, secure sponsorships, and cultivate long-term partnerships.
• Provide strategic leadership for fundraising events, timelines, budgets, and volunteer coordination.
• Represent the museum at community events to increase visibility and fundraising initiatives.
• Develop partnerships with schools, businesses, and civic organizations to expand support.
• Collaborate with staff to promote campaigns, memberships, outreach, and events.
• Assist with planning capital campaigns and major fundraising initiatives.
• Prepare development budgets, analyze performance, and report to the ED and Board.
• Maintain donor records and ensure tax documentation; safeguard confidentiality.
• Support marketing and communications strategies for fundraising and visibility.
• Recruit, train, and recognize volunteers for fundraising activities.
• Stay current on nonprofit fundraising best practices and museum operations.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Executive Director.
• Develop and establish a recognizable fundraising brand and identity.

Skills

Donor relations

Fundraising

Event planning

Communication

Project management

CRM systems

Microsoft Office

Google Workspace

Donor databases

Evenings/weekends

Education

Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management

Job description

Status: Part-Time, Exempt, 25 hours per week with 15 hours in office and 10 hours hybrid.

Pay: $35,000 per year plus 5% of all successfully written grants.

Position Summary

The Director of Development is responsible for planning, implementing, and managing the Temple Children's Museum's fundraising, donor relations, and community engagement efforts in partnership with the Executive Director and Board of Directors. This position oversees the museum's development operations, including sponsorships, annual giving, grants, donor cultivation, special events, volunteer coordination, outreach initiatives, and strategic community partnerships. The Director of Development works collaboratively with the Executive Director and Board to develop and execute fundraising strategies that support the museum's mission, strengthen community relationships, increase financial sustainability, and enhance visitor and volunteer engagement.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Report directly to the Executive Director and work in partnership with the Executive Director and Board of Directors to advance the Temple Children's Museum's fundraising, community engagement, and strategic priorities.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate the museum's annual Development Plan, including annual giving, sponsorships, donor stewardship, fundraising events, community engagement initiatives, and measurable revenue goals.
• Develop and execute strategies to achieve annual fundraising objectives through individual giving, corporate sponsorships, foundation support, grants, annual campaigns, and strategic community partnerships.
• Build, cultivate, solicit, steward, and retain relationships with individual donors, major gift prospects, corporate sponsors, foundations, community organizations, and other funding partners.
• Conduct donor and prospect research to identify new funding opportunities and maintain an active pipeline of prospective donors and sponsors.
• Lead the museum's Annual Giving Campaign and coordinate donor recognition, stewardship activities, gift acknowledgments, and ongoing communication with supporters.
• Develop sponsorship packages, secure new sponsorships, fulfill sponsor benefits, and cultivate long‑term partnerships that support the museum's mission.
• Provide strategic leadership for the museum's fundraising and community engagement events, including Party With a Purpose, Play With a Purpose, and future fundraising initiatives by establishing fundraising goals, coordinating sponsorship solicitation, developing event timelines and budgets, supporting donor cultivation, coordinating volunteers and community partners, and evaluating event outcomes for continuous improvement.
• Represent the museum at community events, networking opportunities, civic organizations, and partnership meetings to increase visibility, strengthen community relationships, and promote fundraising initiatives.
• Develop and maintain partnerships with schools, childcare providers, businesses, civic organizations, foundations, and community leaders to expand awareness and support of the museum.
• Collaborate with museum staff and volunteers to promote fundraising campaigns, membership initiatives, outreach programs, donor engagement activities, and community events.
• Assist with the planning and implementation of future capital campaigns and other major fundraising initiatives as directed.
• Prepare annual development budgets, monitor fundraising revenue and expenses, analyze fundraising performance, and provide regular reports and recommendations to the Executive Director and Board of Directors.
• Maintain accurate donor records, ensure timely gift acknowledgments and tax documentation, and safeguard the confidentiality of donor information.
• Collaborate with the Executive Director on marketing, public relations, social media, and communication strategies that support fundraising, community engagement, and organizational visibility.
• Recruit, train, coordinate, and recognize volunteers who support fundraising events, outreach activities, and community engagement initiatives.
• Support museum operations and special initiatives by assisting with visitor engagement, educational programs, outreach activities, and special events when needed to ensure a positive guest experience.
• Stay current on best practices in nonprofit fundraising, philanthropy, donor relations, sponsorship development, community engagement, and museum operations to continually strengthen the museum's development program.
• Perform other development, fundraising, community engagement, and organizational responsibilities as assigned by the Executive Director.
• Develop and establish a recognizable fundraising brand that strengthens donor awareness, builds community trust, and creates a consistent identity for the museum’s philanthropic efforts.

Qualifications

Education

Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management, communications, marketing, business, public relations, or a related field preferred. Equivalent professional experience will be considered.

Experience

• Minimum of three years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, development, event management, or related field.
• Experience securing sponsorships and cultivating donor relationships.
• Proven success planning and executing fundraising events.
• Experience working with volunteers, committees, and community partners.
• Familiarity with donor databases and CRM systems preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Excellent interpersonal and relationship‑building skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication abilities.
• Exceptional organizational and project management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Strong attention to detail and follow‑through.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating with staff and volunteers.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Workspace.
• Experience with fundraising software, event management platforms, and donor databases is preferred.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends for events and community functions.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift up to 30 pounds.
• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods during events.
• Ability to set up and break down event materials.
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation preferred.

Desired Characteristics

The ideal candidate is:

• Passionate about the Temple Children's Museum's mission and serving children and families.
• A confident relationship builder who enjoys connecting with donors and community leaders.
• Creative, energetic, and solutions‑oriented.
• Comfortable asking for financial support and cultivating philanthropic relationships.
• Highly organized with excellent time‑management skills.
• Self‑motivated and able to work in a fast‑paced nonprofit environment.
• Committed to fostering a culture of generosity, collaboration, and community impact.

Success Measures

Success in this role will be demonstrated by:

• Growth in annual giving and overall fundraising revenue.
• Increased sponsorship and corporate partnership support.
• Successful execution of Party and Play With A Purpose and other fundraising events.
• Increased donor retention and stewardship.
• Expansion of community partnerships and engagement opportunities.
• Achievement of annual development goals established by the Executive Director and Board of Directors.

This position is ideal for a relationship‑driven fundraiser who enjoys connecting with people, organizing impactful events, and helping advance the mission of the Temple Children's Museum through philanthropy and community partnerships.