Advancement Coordinator

to apply:

Candidates should send a resume and cover letter to hr@nationalchildrensmuseum.org

subject: Advancement Coordinator

National Children’s Museum is a world-class institution that aims to spark the imagination and encourage children to dream. Steps off the National Mall and Pennsylvania Avenue, National Children’s Museum celebrates the joy of childhood through science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) exhibits and programs. As an Advancement Coordinator, you will help realize this vision for hundreds of thousands of in-person and virtual visitors who engage with the Museum each year.

what you’ll do:

As an Advancement Coordinator reporting to the Vice President of Advancement, you’ll be a key member of the Advancement Team. You’ll focus on gift and grant processing, database management, proposal and report preparation, and donor communication. This position is ideal for someone who is detail-oriented, deadline-driven, and passionate about supporting mission-driven work behind the scenes, and who genuinely enjoys working with data, systems, grants, and technical database management.

Duties will include:

Advancement Operations & Donor Support

• Lead day-to-day database activities in PatronManager (SalesForce database), including accurate data entry, queries, data analysis, regular data cleanup, and helping to reconcile records with the finance team as needed.
• Process gifts and grants in a timely and accurate manner, ensuring complete documentation and supporting the production of acknowledgments and tax receipts.
• Prepare prospect research, donor briefings, and proposal materials.
• Collaborate with team members to ensure data integrity and generate useful reports for donor engagement and stewardship, as well as internal planning and decision-making.
• Provide administrative support for donor meetings and events, including preparing materials and following up after the meetings and events.

Grant Writing & Research

• Research and identify new institutional funding opportunities (foundations, corporations, government).
• Draft, edit, and submit compelling grant proposals and funding requests in collaboration with the VP of Advancement and other departments.
• Maintain and update the Museum’s institutional grant calendar to ensure timely submissions and reporting.
• Track deadlines, guidelines, and historical data on past proposals, including recommended request amounts and program alignment.
• Submit recommendations for new potential funders and provide research on foundations for future cultivation.

Team Collaboration & Special Projects

• Participate in weekly check-ins with the VP of Advancement to align on priorities and progress.
• Support Advancement and Membership-related activities as needed, especially during peak periods or in the lead-up to events.
• Deliver excellent customer service to donors and Museum members, contributing to a positive and professional experience.
• Proactively identify opportunities to improve advancement operations, suggesting process and system refinements as appropriate.

what we believe are important experiences and traits for this role:

• Bachelor’s degree;
• Previous experience in the non-profit sector, preferably at a cultural institution;
• Superior attention to detail and excellent organizational skills;
• Proficient with CRM database management (data entry, queries, data analysis)
• Expertise in spreadsheets (especially Excel/Google Sheets, including comfort with formulas, filters, and basic data analysis)
• Customer service perspective and polished interpersonal skills;
• Ability to balance multiple time-critical projects and pivot quickly;
• Team player who values a collaborative working environment;
• Strong writing skills with the ability to tailor messaging to different audiences; and
• Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States. This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship;
• Passion for the mission of National Children’s Museum.
• The ideal candidate is energized by technical database management, details and organization, and is excited about working with CRM systems and data as the core of their role.

additional helpful experience for this role:

• At least 2 years of relevant administrative and /or fundraising experience;
• Previous experience managing donor database and data; and
• Proven ability to manage large projects while maintaining attention to detail.

what we value

Our mission is to inspire children to care about and change the world. The Museum is an innovative institution that sparks curiosity and wonder and a space where children feel valued. In order to do this well, we need a team that reflects the dynamic and diverse communities that we serve and brings a variety of perspectives, abilities, and skills. We embrace that this work is critical to our mission and never finished. The more inclusive we are, the stronger our Museum.

location:

National Children’s Museum at 1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW, as well as at the Administrative Offices at 1275 Pennsylvania Ave NW. This position is eligible for remote work one day per week.

salary + benefits::

$50,000 - $52,000/annually

This is a full-time position eligible for all Museum benefits, including health insurance.

This is a full-time position, which includes all Museum employee benefits.