Deb Gilpin Email & Phone Number

California, United States

• MLMP: Served on advisory team to create Museum Lab for Museum Professionals program, then served as mentor for selected participant.
• Provide support for emerging museums in areas of operations, organizational and educational philosophy, campaign planning, budget and human resources.
• Provide confidential support for museum leaders.
• Review and strengthen grant and donor proposals.
• Grant proposal reviewer for museums and arts/cultural: federal, multiple states, city.

Madison, WI, US

• Madison Children's Museum is recognized as one of the Top 15 children’s museums in the US, serving 200,000 visitors annually, budget of $5 million, assets of $19million. Winner of National Medal of Honor. Earned LEED.
• Successfully implemented OKRs across all areas (Objectives, Key Results, metrics that communicate performance, and determine improvement priorities.
• Mentored and developed staff, including strong improvement in equity and inclusion organization-wide with transparency. Significant opportunities for advancement.
• Led through significant gains in environmental sustainability across all elements: facility, staff/board operational practices, administration, visitor education and participation, plus securing funding for these plans.
• Stabilized financial performance and accounting by creating budget ownership by staff.Community Impact
• Launched Access, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiatives that increased participant use from 17 to 34%, plus deepened inclusiveness for staff and volunteers, and secured funding to implement or increase several.

Phoenix, AZ, US

• Led the opening of the 55,000 sf brand new Museum and facility in June 2008. Guided the transformation from a grass roots organization of 9 staff to the open museum with 85 employees and an annual budget of $3million.
• Took over stalled capital campaign and completed 2nd half of $23 million campaign to open museum, including three $1million gifts.
• Transitioned major capital donors into sustaining annual donors.
• Created giving circle to raise funds and engage young professional population, secured $25,000 in first year, with 100% growth in Year 2.
• Developed and launched “Raise the Climber” fundraising campaign and leveraged a $1mil+ in-kind gift to successfully fund and build a 3-story Climbing Sculpture valued at nearly $2million.
• Oversaw creation of rental program that generated 10% of operating revenue in 2nd year.Marketing, Public Relations, Communications

Phoenix, Arizona, US

Major city museum with hands-on, interactive exhibits designed for school-age children. Serving 350,000 visitors annually from throughout the state, as well as a large tourist component. Known for blockbuster exhibitions including the Titanic, and Body Worlds.Responsible for newly combined departments during a time of organizational downsizing and major.

• Campus includes two age-focused museums designed to provide hands-on, multidisciplinary experiences that foster fundamental learning skills. The 3,500 sf Children's Discovery Museum opened in 1982 followed by the 8,500.
• Led successful transition from grassroots effort into a professional organization.
• Developed operational systems and led strategic growth as the museum campus expanded.
• Tripled the operational scale to a budget of $1.2M, and 90 paid staff.
• Gained reputation for exceptional educational experiences, sound business practices, and active community involvement.
• Open-ended exhibit designs and successful partnerships garnered international awards and recognition.

Financial Management, business operations

Education record

Bachelor Of Science (B.Sc.), Psychology