Development & Membership Manager

Organizational Background

The New Children's Museum's (NCM) mission is to spark creativity, exploration, and a sense of belonging through interactive art experiences. Located in downtown San Diego, The New Children's Museum collaborates with contemporary artists to design and create art installations and educational programs for children.

Our vision is to be the most innovative, most loved, most inspiring, and most sustainable children's museum in the world. Our interactive art installations and hands-on art programming provide creative and educational experiences for children and families. We work with artists to reimagine our spaces so that there is always something "new" to discover when you visit. As a nonprofit institution, we rely on daily admissions, memberships, and community support to fund our daily operations.

Our commitment is to provide a welcoming space for all families. We believe that diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion are integral to fulfilling our mission and empowering children's innate creativity through hands-on exposure to art and the creative process. Please visit: https://thinkplaycreate.org/ to learn more.

Position Overview

The Development & Membership Manager is a part of NCM's Advancement Team and plays a key role in advancing the Museum's contributed revenue goals through the dual management of the Museum's individual giving program (approximately 60% of the role) and membership program (approximately 40%). This position combines donor cultivation, including overseeing a new monthly donor program, and stewardship with strategic oversight of the Museum's growing member base, ensuring a seamless experience for supporters across all levels of engagement.

The Museum currently has approximately 3,650 member households, representing more than 12,500 individuals.

This position blends relationship-based fundraising with strategic oversight of the Museum's member community, creating a seamless experience for supporters as they deepen their connection to the Museum. The ideal candidate is a thoughtful communicator and organized project manager who thrives on building relationships and turning members into lifelong donors.

Key Responsibilities

Development (≈ 60%)

• Manage and grow a portfolio of individual donors giving up to $1,000 annually, focusing on cultivating relationships, stewarding renewals, and inspiring increased engagement.
• Lead the Museum's new monthly giving program, developing strategies for recruitment, retention, and upgrade of recurring donors.
• In partnership with the Director of Development, plan and execute annual giving initiatives, including appeals, renewals, and targeted campaigns to increase individual donor participation.
• Partner with the Director of Development to identify and steward members into higher levels of giving, creating a pipeline from membership to philanthropy.
• Working closely with other members of the Advancement Team, coordinate donor communications, acknowledgments, and impact updates that foster engagement and loyalty.
• Plan and support donor and member engagement events, such as exhibition previews, receptions, donor appreciation events, the annual fundraising event, member-only events, and behind-the-scenes experiences.
• Track progress toward fundraising goals, analyze giving trends, and prepare reports for leadership and the board.
• Maintain accurate donor records and data in the Museum's CRM system (Altru).
• Coordinate use of volunteers to support NCM's advancement efforts
• Supports cross-departmental projects and contributes to organizational priorities as assigned.

• Oversee the Museum's membership program, including acquisition, renewals, retention, and benefit fulfillment.
• Develop and implement strategies to grow and diversify the membership base while improving engagement and conversion rates.
• Collaborate with Communications + Marketing and Visitor Experience teams to coordinate member promotions and sales campaigns.
• Monitor and report on membership performance compared to monthly and annual goals, providing insights and recommendations for data-driven improvements.
• Ensure exceptional customer service for members and support frontline staff in delivering a consistent and welcoming member experience.
• Evaluate and enhance membership benefits, pricing, and fulfillment processes to ensure value and alignment with the Museum's mission.

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 5-7 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, with emphasis on individual giving and/or membership management.
• Demonstrated success building relationships with donors, members, and community stakeholders.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with an ability to convey impact through storytelling.
• Proficiency with donor databases (e.g., Altru, Tessitura, or Raiser's Edge) and standard office software.
• Analytical and detail-oriented, with experience using data to inform strategy and measure progress.
• Collaborative team player with initiative, flexibility, and a customer-service mindset.
• Availability to work occasional evenings and weekends for donor, members or organizational-wide events.

• Compensation: The salary range for this position is $65,000-$75,000 and is commensurate with experience. This is a full-time position.
• Benefits:
  • Medical, dental, and vision Insurance and Flexible Spending Account
  • 403(b) retirement account, with 3% match after first year
  • 10 paid days off
  • 10 paid sick days, 2 days available to use immediately
  • 12 paid holidays, plus 3 floating holidays