Development Manager at Creative Discovery Museum

JOB DESCRIPTION

Position Title: Development Manager
Date: August 27, 2025
FLSA: Exempt
Department: Development
Reports To: Vice President of Development

Institutional Summary

Creative Discovery Museum (CDM) is a nationally recognized nonprofit children's museum, serving as the gateway to downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee. Since 1995, CDM has served as a leader in hands-on, play-based learning experiences that inspire exploration, innovation, creativity, and play through the arts, sciences, and cultural understanding. CDM connects families through joyful learning and shared discovery, engaging children of all ages and abilities through museum visits, education programs, camps, and other immersive events. The Museum is committed to accessibility and inclusion, creating a safe and welcoming environment for every visitor. Team members at CDM contribute to a dynamic, mission-driven workplace rooted in our values of belonging, potential, relationships, respect, and exceptional service.

Occupational Summary

The Development Manager plays a key role in advancing the museum's mission by securing sponsorships, writing grants, and cultivating donor relationships. From managing campaigns to tracking donor engagement, the position blends creativity and strategy to grow resources, strengthen community partnerships, and ensure the museum's lasting impact on children, families, and the community.

Duties and Responsibilities

1.Identify and research potential corporate sponsors and foundation grants who are aligned with the organization's mission and values.
2.Develop sponsorship packages for museum programs and events, working with museum team members across internal departments.
3.Cultivate and solicit corporate sponsors for museum programs and events, negotiating agreements for maximum financial investment.
4.Ensure sponsorship deliverables are executed and communicated back to donors, including invoicing as needed.
5.Manage pipeline of grant opportunities, creating a shared calendar of grant deadlines for proposals and reports.
6.Write and edit competitive grant proposals, gathering information from museum team members as needed.
7.Coordinate grant reporting with program leads and evaluation staff.
8.Coordinate the creation and execution of annual fund direct response campaigns through mail, email, and social media with the VP of Development and Marketing Team.

9.Assist VP of Advancement in researching individual major donors.
10.Implement general and personalized stewardship strategies, working with development team members.
11.Ensure accurate and up-to-date donor records are maintained in the database, including gift entry.
12.Create and maintain reporting to track donor interactions, pledges, and contributions.
13.Assist the Development Team as needed with the planning and execution of fundraising and donor stewardship events.
14.Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

•Strong written communication skills, with demonstrated ability to craft compelling sponsorship proposals and grant narratives.
•Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills to engage donors, sponsors, and community partners.
•Ability to balance strategic cultivation of donors with detail-oriented execution of sponsorship deliverables and reporting.
•Proficiency in donor databases/CRM systems (Salesforce preferred or similar system) with strong attention to accuracy, data integrity, and reporting.
•Knowledge of fundraising best practices, including corporate sponsorship, grant management, annual giving, and donor stewardship.
•Strong organizational and project management skills with ability to manage multiple deadlines and priorities.
•Collaborative mindset and ability to work cross-departmentally to gather information and support proposals, campaigns, and events.
•Comfort with public-facing stewardship, donor events, and representing the museum in professional settings.
•Analytical and problem-solving skills to identify funding opportunities and maximize return on investment.
•Adaptability and initiative to take on "other duties as assigned" in a fast-paced nonprofit environment.

Education and Experience
•Bachelor's degree preferred. Relevant experience in the field at two additional years can take the place of a degree.
•Minimum of two years of experience in non-profit fundraising or four years in a similar sales-focused position.

Supervises: None

Working Conditions
Most work in a normal office environment.
Some events may take place at the museum or outside in various types of weather.

Physical Demands
Must be able to remain in a stationary position for extended periods of time, including at a desk.