Find & Apply For Fundraising / Development Specialist Jobs in Naperville, Illinois

DuPage Children's Museum Position Description Position Title:

Development Officer Status:

Full-time, exempt, medical benefits eligible

Reports To:

Executive Vice President of Institutional Advancement Pay Range:

$55,000 - $70,000 annually About DuPage Children's Museum DuPage Children's Museum (DCM) nurtures joyful discovery and learning through hands-on experiences that integrate science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM). Serving more than 300,000 children and caregivers annually, DCM is a nationally recognized leader in playful learning and community engagement. Our vision is that all children thrive through access to extraordinary learning experiences. Position Summary The Development Officer plays a key role in advancing the mission of DCM by building and stewarding relationships with individual, corporate, and community supporters. This position is responsible for implementing fundraising strategies that increase philanthropic support, deepen donor engagement, and contribute to the Museum's annual and long-term fundraising goals. The Development Officer will manage a portfolio of donors and prospects, support sponsorship and fundraising initiatives, and work collaboratively across departments to strengthen relationships that drive philanthropic investment in the Museum's work. Essential Responsibilities Individual Giving Manage and grow a portfolio of individual donors and prospects. Conduct donor outreach, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities. Schedule and participate in donor meetings, tours, and engagement opportunities. Support annual giving campaigns and year-end fundraising efforts. Prepare donor correspondence, proposals, reports, and stewardship materials. Maintain accurate donor records and activity tracking within the CRM. Corporate and Community Partnerships Identify, cultivate, and solicit corporate sponsorships and partnerships. Support sponsorship sales for Museum events, programs, exhibits, and special initiatives. Develop customized partnership opportunities aligned with organizational and corporate goals. Build relationships with local businesses, chambers of commerce, and community organizations. Events and Stewardship Assist with fundraising and donor engagement events, including sponsorship fulfillment and donor cultivation activities. Support planning and execution of special events and campaigns. Coordinate donor recognition and stewardship activities to ensure meaningful engagement. Prospect Research and Pipeline Development Conduct prospect research to identify new donors and funding opportunities. Support efforts to expand the DCM's donor base and philanthropic pipeline. Collaboration and Administration Collaborate with DCM leadership, board members, and volunteers to advance fundraising priorities. Participate in donor strategy meetings and departmental planning. Track fundraising metrics and contribute to development reports and dashboards. Ensure adherence to fundraising best practices and donor confidentiality standards. Qualifications Required Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience. 2-5 years of experience in fundraising, sales, business development, marketing, nonprofit management, or related fields. Strong relationship-building and communication skills. Excellent written and verbal communication abilities. Ability to manage multiple priorities and work independently. Experience using CRM or donor database systems. Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Workspace. Preferred Experience in nonprofit fundraising or philanthropy. Knowledge of corporate sponsorships and donor stewardship. Experience with donor databases such as Altru or Raiser's Edge. Familiarity with the Naperville and greater DuPage County community. Key Competencies Relationship Building Communication and Storytelling Donor-Centered Fundraising Initiative and Accountability Organization and Attention to Detail Collaboration and Teamwork Strategic Thinking Customer Service Orientation Physical Requirements Ability to attend occasional evening and weekend events. Ability to move throughout DCM facilities and community locations as needed.

Benefits:

DuPage Children's Museum (DCM) offers paid time off, an Employee Assistance Program, free family membership to the museum, and a 403b plan. For full-time employees (those scheduled to work 30 hours or more per calendar week) in regular (nonseasonal) positions, DCM offers an extensive medical and ancillary benefit package to include:

• Medical insurance through BlueCross BlueShield to include two PPO options and an HMO option. Coverage options are employee only, employee and child(ren), employee and spouse/domestic partner, and full family. Deduction cost sharing with each coverage option.
• Dental insurance through BlueCross BlueShield. Coverage options are employee only, employee and child(ren), employee and spouse/domestic partner, and full family. Deduction cost sharing with each coverage option.
• Vision insurance through BlueCross BlueShield. Coverage options are employee only, employee and child(ren), employee and spouse/domestic partner, and full family.
• Short Term Disability insurance through UnitedHealthcare. Benefits can be up to 60% of an employee's salary (limitations exist for some preexisting conditions) and may cover day eight through week 13 of missing work and income due to an injury or illness.
• Group life insurance through UnitedHealthcare with a benefit of $25,000. This is an employee only coverage at no cost to the employee
• Supplemental life insurance through UnitedHealthcare. Coverage options for self, spouse, and child(ren) with varying coverage options. Evidence of insurability required above enrollee guaranteed minimum.
• Flexible Spending Account through Flexible Benefit Service LLC with medical, dependent care, transit, and parking enrollment options.

Pay:

$55,000.00 - $70,000.00 per year

Benefits:

403(b) Dental insurance Dependent health insurance coverage Employee assistance program Employee discount Flexible schedule Flexible spending account Health insurance Life insurance Paid time off Referral program Vision insurance

Work Location:

In person