Development Associate - Museum jobs in North Carolina

Development Associate

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, programs, camps, IMAX documentaries, feature movies, and special events year-round. Marbles ranks among the top family destinations in North Carolina, welcoming close to 500,000 visitors to our campus each year for playful learning experiences. 

THE OPPORTUNITY

Marbles Kids Museum seeks a hard-working, personable, and passionate Development Associate to help advance our mission and impact through strong relationship building with donors. The Development Associate is a critical part of Marbles’ Development Team, with a primary responsibility of overseeing relationships with corporate partners and foundations. Responsibilities include managing new and existing corporate partnerships; corporate grant writing and reporting; coordinating stewardship for institutional donors; and supporting annual fundraising and stewardship events.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Corporate Sponsorships

• Cultivate and strengthen relationships with corporate stakeholders, including current sponsors, prospects, Board members, and volunteers.
• Pursue ongoing, meaningful contacts with key corporate partners and prospects through tours, meetings, and events.
• Support proposal creation, promotions, and other mission messaging directed towards corporate partners.
• Oversee activation of corporate partnership contracts, including benefits fulfillment, recognition implementation, and other stewardship efforts. 

• Work with the Development team to create and implement stewardship strategies for corporate and institutional partners, including acknowledgment letters, benefits fulfillment, and recognition implementation aligned with partnership agreements and donor benefit levels.
• Communicate partner benefits (tickets, discounts, space usage) to funding partners and the internal Marbles team.
• Manage institutional partnership contracts, including assessment of annual benefits and implementation of evaluation and reporting requirements.
• Lead planning and execution for annual corporate partner stewardship and engagement events and/or communications.

• Support proposal creation for corporate, foundation, and government partners.
• Manage grant process in partnership with other members of the Development team, including research, writing, and reporting.

• Support Imagination Ball fundraising gala by securing sponsors, supporting guest communications, and contributing to auction efforts.
• Support BIG IDEA corporate luncheon by securing sponsors, supporting guest/sponsor communications, and contributing to program planning.
• Play active role in year-round execution of stewardship and fundraising events and programs, including Imagination Ball, BIG IDEA, donor cultivation events, board-related events, and stewardship events (Giving Tuesday Breakfast, exhibit openings).
• Perform all other duties assigned by the manager.

• 3-5 years of fundraising or related experience, with a focus on relationship management.
• Proficiency with Microsoft products and familiarity with CRM software such as Tessitura, OneCause, and/or BidPal.
• Superb organizational and project management skills; ability to multi-task and prioritize workflow.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Self-motivated with the ability to work well independently and on a team.
• Collaborative and creative, with a passion for Marbles mission.

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

• 95% indoors.
• Occasional evening and weekend work is required to support Development-related and Organization-wide operations and events.

BENEFITS

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance 
• Health Savings and flexible spending accounts 
• Life and AD&D insurance 
• Short and Long-Term Disability 
• Parking and commuter benefits 
• Paid time off for 17 vacation days and 9 holidays 
• Eligible to participate in the Company’s 401k program with employer matching
• Employee Assistance Program 
• Great Marbles Perks & Discounts 
• Fitness Benefits 

Marbles Kids Museum is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type. We do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment opportunities because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, disability, genetic information or any other federal, state or local protected class.