The new Delaware Children’s Museum is the result of a shared vision by many throughout the Delaware community. What began in a simple storefront years ago by a small group of dedicated parents has grown into a multi-million dollar project on the Christina River. It could not be built without the tireless efforts of our dedicated Board of Directors, generous founding partners and energetic staff.
Executive Director: Julie W. Van Blarcom is an experienced senior executive and skilled fundraiser with 30 years of management experience in Delaware and Washington, D.C. Van Blarcom's experience encompasses many sectors of the nonprofit community.
She began her professional life as a program officer for a private Baltimore grantmaking foundation, where she was responsible for allocating 35% of the grantmaking portfolio and monitoring their success. She then went on to work for the national membership association of philanthropy in Washington DC, where she managed an innovative special project designed to grow philanthropic foundations across the country. She also served as the staff liaison for the regional grantmakers association and grantmaking affinity groups. When she moved to upstate New York, Van Blarcom then established her own consulting business, specializing in fundraising and nonprofit management.
Since moving to Delaware in 1992, she has raised more than $40 million for a variety of organizations, and served as the campaign and executive directors for ArtCO (a $21 million facility fund for arts organizations in Delaware) and Opera Delaware, which under her tenure, experienced its greatest financial growth and artistic successes.
