Alison Larson, (Grand Island Children's Museum, Courtesy)
GRAND ISLAND — The Grand Island Children’s Museum (GICM) is excited to announce the hiring of Alison Larson as the Executive Director and a partnership with the Greater Grand Island Community Foundation (GGICF). Larson will lead the nonprofit to the grand opening with administrative support from GGICF during the capital campaign. The GGICF office will also be the temporary home for Grand Island Children’s Museum business operations.
The Executive Director position is the first hire for the Grand Island Children’s Museum. Alison Larson joins the nonprofit with a financial background and leadership experience. Previously, Larson was the Senior Vice President, Marketing Director, and Investments Operations Manager at Equitable Bank. Throughout her career, she has held leadership positions in numerous nonprofit boards including Heartland United Way, Equitable Charitable Foundation, Howard County Foundation, and Big Brothers Big Sisters. In addition, she served as the Board Secretary for the Grand Island Children’s Museum from 2021 to 2023 before resigning to pursue the Executive Director position. Larson continues her community involvement by serving on the Grand Island Public School Foundation board.
“I couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity to help drive this project forward. After 25 years in the banking and financial industry in Grand Island, I understand the importance of local support,” said Grand Island Children’s Museum Executive Director Alison Larson. “I’m greatly looking forward to partnering with donors and businesses to make this STEAM-based museum a reality for our community.”
As executive director, Larson will lead GICM in its capital campaign, building development project, and daily operations. The Greater Grand Island Community Foundation team brings expertise in capital campaign management and will assist with the pledge and gift tracking. Combined, the Grand Island Children’s Museum will work to reach the capital campaign goals and match the $5 million grant awarded by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development Shovel-Ready Capital Recovery and Investment Act.
“The affiliation with the Greater Grand Island Community Foundation is almost like the icing on the cake,” said Larson. “The expertise their team brings to the administration of the capital campaign will allow the GICM board and staff time to focus on other key priorities.”
The partnership with the Greater Grand Island Community Foundation comes after years of support. GGICF convened the original Steering Committee for GICM in 2019 and served as a fiscal sponsor for GICM until 2020. In 2020, GICM became a nonprofit organization but had continued support and advisement from GGICF.
“GGICF has been a proud supporter of the Grand Island Children’s Museum from the very beginning. Alison brings the skills and connections that are needed to push this effort to the finish line, and we are excited to see GICM grow and prosper under her leadership,” said Greater Grand Island Community Foundation CEO Melissa DeLaet. “GICM is an opportunity to enhance the quality of life in Greater Grand Island, and we are honored to continue providing support to the effort.”
As the capital campaign relaunches this year, GICM will resume raising private, foundation, and grant funds. Those funds will be used to jumpstart the construction of the museum which is expected to begin later in 2024. The museum will be in the old armory building located off Old Potash Highway in Ryder Park.
“We’re grateful to be working with the City of Grand Island on the location of the museum,” Larson said. “There are so many great things about the Armory building. The building has remained largely unused over the past years and is structurally very sound. The high ceilings and layout of the building will lend itself perfectly to the hands-on learning experiences the museum intends to offer. Repurposing an existing building is very appealing as is the central location near the new Pirnie Inclusive Playground, Tornado Hill, and the baseball fields.“
These announcements come after a successful 2023 with several accomplishments by the board of directors, including:
- Received an award of a $5 million matching grant from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development Shovel-Ready Capital Recovery and Investment Act.
- Finalized the lease agreement with the City of Grand Island. The lease will begin in March 2024, but GICM will not take occupancy until June to follow the construction timeline and allow the City to move out of the building.
- Received a $7,500 Grow Your Impact Grant from the Greater Grand Island Community Foundation.
- Held several pop-up events including Railside Christmas, Art in the Park, and Bear Fair.
- Hired CMBA as architects, JREMco as project manager, and is finalizing the general contractor agreement.
- Completed a Campaign Assessment Study with the Steier Group.
- Retained 100% of the board members who were eligible to term off and are staying on for a second three-year term.
- Added five new members to the board of directors.
Donations and pledges to go towards the effort of bringing a children’s museum to Grand Island can be made through the Grand Island Children’s Museum website or by calling 308-392-3457. For more information visit www.gichildrensmuseum.org and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/gichildrensmuseum.