Leadership Gifts Officer; CAS

This is a unique opportunity for a development professional with demonstrated success in individual major gifts fundraising to join an expanding development team at a renowned scientific institution. The California Academy of Sciences is an aquarium, planetarium, rainforest, and natural history museum in the heart of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park—and a powerful voice for biodiversity research and exploration, environmental education, and sustainability across the globe.

The Leadership Gifts Officer, a new position, will provide strategic leadership in identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding individual donors who support the Academy with major and planned gifts of $25,000 and above, contributing to the overall Leadership Philanthropy team goal of $11 million in annual unrestricted and restricted support. This position solicits significant gifts for the Academy’s core programs as well as global, cross-functional, and forward-thinking restricted gifts that advance research and science education in the Bay Area and beyond.

This position reports to the Associate Director of Leadership Philanthropy.

The California Academy of Sciences welcomes people of all backgrounds, identities, and beliefs to join us in achieving our mission to explore, explain, and sustain life. We place diversity, equity, and inclusion at the heart of our recruiting efforts and strive to build a culture centered on mutual respect, equal treatment, and the opportunity to succeed.

• Manage an existing portfolio and grow it to 100+ donors and prospects, helping our donors accomplish their philanthropic goals through a relationship with the Academy and through a partnership with key Academy team members
• Help develop and execute a strategic plan for cultivating donors with an annual giving range of $25,000 and above and increase the revenue generated from annual and multi-year major and planned giving solicitations
• Identify, cultivate and steward major gift prospects with an identified gift level of $25,000 and up. Working with the Development Division’s Senior Researcher, qualify prospects and determine whether appropriate for major gifts
• Guided and aided by activity metrics, prioritize one-on-one meetings with prospects and donors and coordinate staff and volunteer leadership in the cultivation and solicitation of major gift prospects
• Cultivate targeted prospects through special events, tours, visits, and other engagement opportunities; implement strategic follow-up working with volunteers, trustees, and staff
• Draft and edit proposals and reports for potential and existing donors, working closely with the Development Communications Specialist as needed
• Integrate the major gifts program with other fundraising goals and strategic initiatives, including working with the planned giving staff on blended gifts
• Assist other team members on key projects or efforts that contribute to the organization’s larger regional and national development goals
• Participate in marketing strategies including website updates, e-news, and other special donor publications and communication vehicles to promote major and planned gifts
• Effectively represent and articulate Academy programs and strategic priorities and communicate a compelling case for support to donors, prospects, partners, and others
• Follow Academy safety rules and regulations
• Other duties and special projects as assigned

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required or preferred. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

A qualified candidate will possess a combination of the following education and/or equivalent experience:

• Bachelor's degree (B.A. or S.)
• Minimum of 3-5 years of demonstrated success in nonprofit fundraising, preferably in a cultural, sciences, and/or cause-based institution
• Demonstrated track record of success in major and/or planned gifts fundraising
• Experience in/exposure to donor relations, special…