Bonnie Downing is vice president of development and head of the Development Division at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, a position she has held since 1989. Ms. Downing is responsible for the fund-raising activities of the Museum, including membership, special events, major gifts, corporate sponsorships and contributions, foundation and government grants, and capital campaigns.
During her tenure at the Museum, Ms. Downing has overseen fund-raising in excess of $100 million. Major capital campaigns have funded construction of the Hall of Life, Prehistoric Journey, and Space Odyssey exhibitions, as well as the Leprino Family Atrium and renovation of Gates Planetarium. During her tenure, membership has grown from 22,000 to nearly 40,000 member households.
Ms. Downing holds a B.A. from Wheaton College (Norton, Mass.) and M.A. in political science from the University of Colorado at Boulder. She served for several years as a field reviewer for the Institute for Museum and Library Services, as a development committee member for the American Association of Museums, and in leadership positions for the Colorado Chapter of the Association of Fund-raising Professionals. She currently serves on community boards including the 10th Mountain Division Hut Association, Fourteener Initiative, and Junior League of Denver, of which she is a past president.
