OVERVIEW
THE ORGANIZATION
Museum of the Bible (MOTB) is a privately funded 501(c)(3) museum in Washington, D.C., founded by Steve and Jackie Green and opened to the public in November 2017. Its mission is simple and bold: to “invite all people to engage with the transformative power of the Bible.” Housed in a restored 430,000-square-foot building just steps from the National Mall and a few blocks from the U.S. Capitol, the museum has welcomed more than 4 million guests in less than nine years and is the first of its kind in both mission and excellence.
MOTB operates on an annual budget of approximately $80 million, with roughly 60% coming from contributed revenue and the balance from tickets, groups, events, and other earned income. The organization employs approximately 250 people across two locations—the museum in Washington, D.C., and an office in Oklahoma City. They are led by President & CEO Dr. Carlos Campo and a Board of Directors chaired by Steve Green.
THE OPPORTUNITY
The Senior Director of Development will join a growing development team at a pivotal moment. Reporting to the Chief Development Officer, this senior leader will lead a portfolio of specialized fundraising programs, Corporate Sponsorship, Grants and Foundations, Church Engagement, and Planned Giving. With a $250 million endowment campaign ahead, the Senior Director will bring the strategic vision and seasoned leadership needed to unify these programs into a cohesive, five-star development operation, while personally managing a portfolio of high-capacity donors and closing leadership-level gifts. Ideally located near Washington DC, exceptional candidates might also live in a hub city available for regular travel.
ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION
MISSION: To invite all people to engage with the transformative power of the Bible.
MOTB fulfills their mission by demonstrating the history, narrative, and impact of the Bible through world-class exhibits, artifacts, scholarship, education, and hospitality. Whether a guest is encountering the Bible for the first time or has studied it for a lifetime, the museum offers an immersive, personal experience of the book that has shaped the world.
Museum of the Bible was established as a nonprofit in 2010 with four founding pillars: education, a permanent museum in the nation’s capital, scholarly research, and traveling exhibits. In 2012 the organization acquired the historic Washington Design Center building, construction began in 2015, and the museum opened its doors in November 2017.
Before the D.C. museum opened, MOTB’s traveling exhibitions had already been hosted at the Vatican, in Jerusalem, and in Havana and Santiago de Cuba, as well as in numerous U.S. cities and universities. Today the museum presents artifacts spanning roughly 4,000 years of history alongside immersive exhibits, live performances in its World Stage Theater, K–12 and university programs, and digital experiences that extend its reach far beyond Washington. Through its Scholars Initiative, MOTB also supports biblical research at colleges, universities, and seminaries around the world.
To its donors, MOTB is a “Light on the Hill” in Washington and to the world, holding up the banner of Scripture and truth for all to see. Its deepest hope is that every guest leaves saying, “This place changed my life,” and that churches anywhere in the world can see the museum as a place they can belong.
THE POSITION
Title: Senior Director of Development
Classification: Full-time, Exempt
Reports to: Tracy Thomas, Chief Development Officer
Direct reports: Director of Institutional Giving; Director of Planned Giving
Key peers: Senior Director of Principal & Major Gifts; Senior Director of Growth & Engagement
Travel: Approximately 30% for a D.C.-based candidate; up to 50% for a candidate based in another key market
Executive Summary
The Senior Director of Development provides strategic leadership for Museum of the Bible’s specialized philanthropic fundraising programs, including institutional giving (corporate sponsorships, grants, and foundations), church engagement, planned giving, and a personal portfolio of major donors. This leader develops and executes strategies that diversify philanthropic revenue, strengthen donor relationships, and advance the museum’s mission. Working collaboratively with the Senior Director of Principal & Major Gifts and the Senior Director of Growth & Engagement, the Senior Director ensures coordinated donor engagement across the development continuum while building a high-performing team responsible for institutional and legacy giving.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Institutional Giving
Provide strategic leadership for corporate sponsorship and foundation fundraising.
Oversee grant strategy, proposal development, stewardship, and reporting.
Expand institutional partnerships aligned with the museum’s mission.
Church Engagement
Work with the church team to develop and execute a national strategy for church engagement.
Build relationships with churches, denominations, and ministry partners—helping the Church see MOTB as a place where they belong and can be part of from anywhere in the world.
Identify opportunities for new partnerships and revenue growth.
Planned Giving
Lead the museum’s planned giving team and program.
Develop strategies to increase legacy commitments and enrollment in the Marie Green Society.
Partner with donors and their advisors to structure charitable gift plans.
Major Gift Portfolio
Manage a portfolio of high-capacity donors, meeting annual fundraising objectives set by the CEO and CDO.
Lead the qualification, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and closing of leadership-level gifts.
Team & Cross-Functional Leadership
Lead, develop, and hold accountable the Director of Institutional Giving and Director of Planned Giving.
Build a collaborative, high-performing fundraising culture.
Partner with Principal & Major Gifts, Growth & Engagement, and the Office of the CDO to maximize donor engagement.
Develop annual fundraising strategies and goals; prepare executive and Board reports.
Help set strategy and benchmarks for the museum’s $250 million endowment campaign.
Represent the museum with donors, foundations, corporations, churches, and community leaders.
QUALIFICATIONS
Education & Experience
Bachelor’s degree required.
7–10 years of fundraising leadership experience, including success securing six- and seven-figure gifts.
Experience leading institutional and/or planned giving programs.
Experience managing fundraising professionals.
Likely background: Chief Development Officer of a mid-size nonprofit ($10M–$25M), or a high-performing development officer with relevant experience who is ready to rise to a larger leadership role.
Preferred: experience in museums, higher education, faith-based organizations, or national nonprofits; knowledge of charitable gift planning, grant and foundation work, and Salesforce CRM.
Character
Humble, hungry, and smart... a tenured fundraising professional with a servant’s heart.
A personal commitment to Christ and a deep love for the Bible and its transformative power.
Integrity, discretion, and a genuine love for people that donors can sense. A commitment to protect the mission of the organization.
Competence
Able to translate vision into a cohesive, multi-program strategy with clear objectives, benchmarks, and accountability.
Experience raising money alongside an actively involved founder—and building fundraising strategies that succeed independent of the founder.
Proven success in fast-paced, start-up or high-growth environments.
Excellent communication and relationship-building skills with donors, advisors, corporate and foundation leaders, and pastors. "Stand out" ability in at least one of the key areas of oversight.
Chemistry with Culture
A macro-manager who can go “micro” when needed. Sets clear objectives for the team and holds them accountable through the numbers and outcomes.
Able to adjust priorities quickly and thrive in a fast-paced, fun, high-speed environment.
Brings ideas and opinions to the table while respecting a discerning executive leadership team.
Leads change with kindness and grace as the organization adapts its structures for a new season.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
Salary: $160,000–$185,000, commensurate with experience
Benefits: Comprehensive benefits package (summary available to qualified candidates)
Vacation: Ten (10) vacation days plus two (2) personal days
Work Location: Washington, D.C. strongly preferred; candidates based in other key donor markets will be considered
Relocation: Not required
OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES
Opportunities
Build and shape a newly launched portfolio of programs—corporate sponsorship, grants and foundations, church engagement, and planned giving—into a five-star development operation.
Play a leading role in a $250 million endowment campaign that will secure the museum’s future for generations.
Serve alongside a visionary CDO and a growing development team, with access to incredible, mission-aligned donors. The CEO, an experienced fundraiser himself, sets the tone with exceptional hospitality and relational skills, setting the table for development success for the whole team.
Represent a one-of-a-kind institution with national and global reach, known as a “Light on the Hill” in the nation’s capital.
Challenges
Pace of growth: the museum is moving quickly, and this leader must bring structure and strategy without slowing momentum.
A new season: as a young institution in a period of growth and change, MOTB is adapting legacy structures for a new season, a 10-year old organization that acts like a start-up.
The number one need is to raise more money. The current directors need a strategic, experienced leader to guide a multifaceted department toward goals of next-level scale.
Success in the Role
Within the first 90 days and the first year, the Senior Director will set a cohesive strategy across their teams, develop a 24-month growth plan, and work with campaign consultants and the development team to establish benchmarks for the endowment campaign.
ABOUT THE AREA
The museum sits in Southwest D.C., one of the city’s most dynamic neighborhoods, minutes from the National Mall, the U.S. Capitol, the Smithsonian museums, and the revitalized Wharf waterfront. The capital region offers an unmatched blend of history, culture, and opportunity: world-class museums and performing arts, a thriving church community, professional sports, excellent universities, and three major airports (Reagan National, Dulles, and BWI) that make travel to donor markets easy. Residents choose from a wide range of communities—from urban neighborhoods in the District to the Northern Virginia and Maryland suburbs, many connected by Metro.
Housing costs are higher than the national average. The median home sale price across the D.C. metro area was approximately $585,000 in early 2026, with more accessible options in parts of the Maryland suburbs and higher prices in Arlington, Fairfax, and Loudoun counties.
To learn more about the work of Museum of the Bible, please visit their website, https://www.museumofthebible.org
If, after prayerfully reviewing this information, you sense this role and organization could be a good fit for you, please click on the APPLY NOW button below. If you know someone who may have an interest, please use the social media and email buttons at the top of this page, or contact:
Dr. Rich Kidd,
Managing Partner, Mission:Leadership
(757) 642‑0622