Development Coordinator - Great Lakes Children's Museum

Posted on 9/17/26

Reports To: Executive Director

Position Type: Part-Time, Approximately 20 Hours per Week, with flexibility in scheduling

Compensation: $30 per hour

Location: Great Lakes Children’s Museum, Traverse City, Michigan

Position Summary

The Great Lakes Children’s Museum is seeking an energetic, relationship-focused Development Coordinator to strengthen the Museum’s fundraising program and build lasting relationships with donors, sponsors, foundations, and community partners.

This is an exciting time to join the Museum. Attendance and programs are growing, our community reach is expanding, and we are planning for the Museum’s next chapter—including a future permanent home. Building the philanthropic support necessary to realize that vision will be a major organizational priority in the years ahead.

Working closely with the Executive Director, Board of Trustees, and Advancement Committee, the Development Coordinator will help implement the Museum’s Development Plan, strengthen annual fundraising efforts, cultivate current supporters, identify new prospects, and prepare the organization for a future capital campaign.

At the heart of this position is relationship building. The ideal candidate enjoys meeting people, learning what inspires them, connecting their interests with meaningful opportunities, and building relationships that grow over time.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced fundraising, development, sales, or relationship-management professional seeking flexible, mission-driven work and the opportunity to help shape the future of an important Northern Michigan community resource.

Primary Responsibilities

Donor Cultivation & Stewardship

• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward individual donors and prospects. 
• Build meaningful, long-term relationships with current and prospective supporters.
• Develop consistent donor stewardship and follow-up practices.
• Assist the Executive Director and board members with donor outreach, meetings, and solicitations.
• Help identify opportunities to deepen donor engagement with the Museum.

Annual Giving

• Support implementation of the Museum’s annual fundraising plan.
• Help develop annual appeals and other donor campaigns.
• Work with the Marketing & Communications Coordinator to develop compelling donor communications and impact stories.
• Identify opportunities to increase annual giving and donor retention.
• Help strengthen pathways for members, visitors, volunteers, and community supporters to become donors.

Corporate & Foundation Support

• Identify and cultivate new corporate sponsorship opportunities.
• Build relationships with business and community leaders.
• Support sponsorship proposals, renewals, recognition, and stewardship. Prospect Development
• Build and maintain an active pipeline of individual, corporate, and foundation prospects.
• Conduct prospect research and help identify potential connections to the Museum.
• Track cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities.
• Ensure timely follow-up with prospects and donors.

Future Capital Campaign

• Assist the Executive Director, board, consultants, and volunteers in preparing for future capital campaign activities.
• Help identify and cultivate prospective major donors and campaign leaders.
• Support donor meetings, presentations, cultivation events, and campaign communications.
• Work with the Marketing & Communications Coordinator to develop compelling materials that communicate the Museum’s vision and community impact.

Qualifications

• Experience in nonprofit fundraising, development, sales, business development, major gifts, or relationship management.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain professional relationships.
• Comfortable initiating conversations and building relationships with donors, business leaders, and community partners.
• Excellent organizational, follow-through, and project management skills.
• Self-motivated and able to work independently while collaborating closely with staff, volunteers, and board members.
• Ability to manage confidential donor and organizational information appropriately.
• Passion for the Museum’s mission and commitment to creating opportunities for children and families.

Success Measures

During the first year, the Development Coordinator will:

• Strengthen relationships with current donors and sponsors.
• Establish consistent donor cultivation and stewardship practices.
• Expand the Museum’s pipeline of prospective donors, sponsors, and funders.
• Increase donor engagement and retention.
• Support growth in annual giving.
• Secure new corporate sponsorships and philanthropic support.
• Increase board participation in relationship-building and fundraising.
• Help establish a strong donor pipeline and development foundation for a future capital campaign.

Why Join the Great Lakes Children’s Museum?

The Great Lakes Children’s Museum is entering an exciting period of growth and possibility. We are expanding programs, reaching more families, strengthening community partnerships, and imagining what the Museum's next generation can become.

This position offers the opportunity to build relationships that can have a lasting impact—not simply raising funds for today, but helping create the resources and community support necessary to build the Museum’s future.

If you enjoy connecting people with meaningful opportunities, building relationships, and inspiring investment in children and families, we invite you to help build the Great Lakes Children’s Museum’s next chapter.