Exhibit Designer - Museum jobs in Olympia, WA

Description

Located on Olympia’s East Bay waterfront, Hands On Children’s Museum (HOCM) is the leading play-based, early learning institution in Southwest Washington and the most visited children’s museum in the Pacific Northwest, hosting over 300,000 guests annually. The Museum’s mission is to stimulate curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking through fun, interactive learning experiences. HOCM’s award-winning education programs include camps, workshops, an onsite preschool, parenting classes, field trips, community outreach, and family support programs. 

Hands On is a regional treasure featuring a state-of-the-art LEED Gold facility with 150 indoor exhibits, a half-acre Outdoor Discovery Center and nature play space, Art Studio, MakeSpace for tinkering and inventing, café, and gift shop. Focused on the arts and early STEAM learning experiences, the Museum encourages children to build, garden, cook, create, and get their hands dirty. Frequently voted a “Best Place” in regional and statewide competitions, the Museum attracts visitors from every state and 20 countries each year. 

Who we are looking for:

Are you a nimble and flexible worker who is as comfortable talking to a donor as you are keeping detailed database records, writing a meaningful acknowledgment letter, or coordinating board meeting logistics? We’re looking for a dedicated, organized, and detail-oriented Development & Gift Coordinator who believes in the value of inspiring young children to love to learn. The core schedule for this F/T position is Monday through Friday on-site at the Museum with flexibility around museum events on occasional evenings and weekends. In this role, you will act as the main point of contact for donors, board members, museum partners, and stakeholder inquiries as well as ensuring the daily flow of the development operations department.  This position will receive and acknowledge Museum gifts, perform daily gift entry and maintenance tasks, and ensure timely and personal gift acknowledgments. Your role works to ensure the accuracy and accountability of the HOCM constituent and donor database and is responsible for maintaining data integrity in processing information and retrieval.

Some of what you will be working on:

Daily Development Administration

· Acts as the main point of contact for board members and donor inquiries and facilitates communications among the internal development team and stakeholders.

· Works in collaboration with development and database leadership, Events Manager, and communications team.

· Schedules and coordinates board and development meetings, including materials, room, and food arrangements.

· Assists development team with communications to donors and sponsors.

· Coordinates and communicates verbally and in writing with HOCM departments and staff.

Donor Database & Acknowledgement Process

· Perform data entry tasks with a high degree of accuracy, within donor management CRM (Blackbaud’s Altru). Tasks include recording gifts and ensuring proper coding of fundraising designations, preparing and sending gift acknowledgment receipts, and updating donor records to accurately reflect giving. 

· Enter daily checks, credit cards, EFT, recurring gifts, and in-kind payments from HOCM Donors. Run monthly credit card stored processes.

· Communicate with HOCM donors via phone and email to ensure giving intentions are honored and account information is accurate.

· Prepare and send pledge invoices and renewal reminders. 

· Manages acknowledgment process by selecting or drafting appropriate letters for each donor, promptly getting letters to signers, proofreading for accuracy, and tracking that each donor is appropriately thanked. Prepare and send donor direct mail, digital, and email acknowledgments in accordance with HOCM acknowledgment procedures.

· Perform maintenance of database records including name and address updates, account suppressions, notes, payment schedules, and other account updates.

· Run reports and ad hoc queries and participate in monthly and annual reconciliation processes.

Special Event Support

· Set up and maintain special event software (Greater Giving) for online auction and fundraising gala.

· Support annual fundraising gala including event registration, auction item procurement, and processing, as well as event reconciliation and closeout.

· Assist Event Manager with other Museum events as needed and perform other duties, as assigned.

Requirements

Measuring Success:

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• A high level of commitment to quality, detailed work. 
• An understanding of how this role and effective communication with Museum supporters is essential in building long-term, positive relationships.
• An understanding of the importance of timely, detailed records and communications.
• Flexibility and willingness to adapt to the demands of the day and shifting priorities.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

· Minimum two years of development, donor database experience, and/or administrative support experience in a non-profit or education setting. 

· Demonstrated experience providing excellent customer service and communication skills, both verbal and written. Ability to work with staff, donors, and volunteers

· Strong time management and organizational skills.

· Highly detail-oriented and ability to follow established procedures and seek additional information when needed.

· Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

· Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality.

· Ability to maintain focus in a fast-paced work environment with frequent interruptions.

· Experience with CRM database applications, Altru or Blackbaud preferred.

· Proficiency in the latest Microsoft word processing and spreadsheet applications.

· Proficiency in mail merge using Microsoft Word and Excel applications.

· Fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Must provide proof of vaccination upon hire and prior to the job start date.

Inclusion & Access at HOCM 

Founded on the belief that all children deserve respect and the opportunity to learn, HOCM offers a robust suite of 30 different Free and Reduced-fee Access Programs, which serve about 40% of its annual visitors. HOCM’s vision is to inspire all children to love to learn regardless of ethnicity, ability, gender, or income. It strives to serve as the region’s premier provider of interactive art and science education, fostering foundational skills for success in school and in life. 

One of HOCM’s guiding values is that communities are enriched when diverse groups work creatively together to educate children. Hands On partners with dozens of organizations including schools, social service agencies, Tribes, medical professionals, and nonprofits, as well as regional artists and educators to deliver programming and broaden the Museum’s impact. 

Workplace Values

Achieving our mission requires great people who actively demonstrate our core values.

When applying, please submit a cover letter, resume, and 3 professional references.

Compensation & Benefits: As a leading non-profit, we offer competitive compensation, medical, dental, and vision coverage, an Employee Assistance Plan, paid time off, paid holidays, a 401(k)-retirement plan, and special perks including museum passes and membership, discounts on preschool, camps, in the Museum Store and Café, and paid parking. Benefits vary by number of regularly scheduled hours worked, length of employment, and employment status. See the benefit details for this position here.

Hands On Children’s Museum exhibits, education programs, and employment are available to all without discrimination.