Associate Director, Leadership Philanthropy

California Academy of Sciences; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 117,000 - 122,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits

Competitive salary

Mission-driven work environment

Job summary

A renowned scientific and cultural institution in San Francisco is seeking an Associate Director for Leadership Philanthropy to oversee a significant portfolio of high-net-worth donors and manage strategic initiatives. The ideal candidate will have over 10 years of experience in major gift fundraising, exceptional communication skills, and the ability to mentor a team. This full-time position encourages collaboration within the institution and aims to regenerate the natural world through fundraising efforts.

Qualifications

• 10-plus years of major gift fundraising experience, with demonstrated success closing six-figure gifts.
• Deep knowledge of donor engagement strategy and best practices.
• Strong fluency with fundraising databases and reporting.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of ~75-100 individual donors for leadership and principal gifts.
• Personally secure and steward 6-figure+ commitments to institutional priorities.
• Directly supervise the Leadership Philanthropy Coordinator.
• Lead major donor experiences highlighting Academy science.

Skills

Major gift fundraising experience

Donor engagement strategy

Collaboration across departments

Exceptional communication skills

Mentoring or supervising teammates

Familiarity with science or conservation philanthropy

Tools

Tessitura

Job description

Associate Director, Leadership Philanthropy

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About the California Academy of Sciences

The California Academy of Sciences is a globally renowned scientific and cultural institution located in the heart of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. Home to a world-class planetarium, aquarium, research center, and natural history museum—all under one living roof—our mission is to regenerate the natural world through science, learning, and collaboration.

Our extensive collections encompass plants, animals, fossils, and cultural artifacts from around the world and throughout history. We are a diverse team of leading biodiversity scientists, educators, storytellers, designers, and communicators who work collaboratively to advance knowledge and inspire action through science and storytelling.

When you join the California Academy of Sciences, you become part of a mission-driven community that values curiosity, collaboration, and innovation. Whether you're working behind the scenes in research or engaging the public on the museum floor, your work will help connect people to the natural world and empower them to protect it.

About the Opportunity

The Associate Director, Leadership Philanthropy, plays a key leadership role on the Academy’s Advancement team. This role oversees a portfolio of high-net-worth donors while supporting strategic initiatives, internal collaboration, and data infrastructure to enhance major giving efforts. In addition to leading complex solicitations and managing key donor relationships, this role will manage the Leadership Philanthropy Coordinator.

Organizational Culture

Join a team dedicated to the Academy’s mission, vision, and values! Currently, the Academy has a new strategic plan including three initiatives – Hope for Reefs, Thriving California, and Islands 2030 – that leverage biodiversity science, environmental learning, and collaborative engagement to regenerate fragile ecosystems around the world. Learn more at https://www.calacademy.org/about-us/major-initiatives.

We hope you are inspired by what we do and are excited to contribute to our mission. The mission of the California Academy of Sciences is to regenerate the natural world through science, learning, and collaboration. The Academy is looking for candidates who do great work, and we know they may come from a number of different backgrounds and experiences. We encourage you to apply even if you do not believe you meet every qualification for the position.

This position is based in San Francisco, California.

Key Responsibilities

Portfolio Management & Fundraising

• Manage a portfolio of ~75-100 individual donors, focusing on cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of leadership and principal gifts.
• Personally secure and steward 6-figure+ commitments to advance institutional priorities, with annual contributed revenue targets.
• Plan and deliver cultivation events and experiences, from concept through execution, to deepen donor engagement—including bespoke, high-touch activations with internal stakeholders and external partners.
• Partner with the Director of LP, CAO, and SLT on select strategic initiatives or funding campaigns.

Team Management

• Directly supervise the Leadership Philanthropy Coordinator, providing coaching, project oversight, and professional development.
• Assign and prioritize tasks related to donor engagement, stewardship fulfillment, and cross-team coordination to support the LP team’s overall effectiveness.
• Ensure clear communication and collaboration between LP, streamlining internal operations to maximize fundraising efficiency.
• Guide the Leadership Coordinator’s involvement in key projects, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities and reinforcing a culture of shared accountability and continuous improvement.

Internal Leadership & Strategy

• As needed, represent the LP team in recurring meetings with Advancement colleagues and across teams at the Academy.
• Provide thought partnership and mentorship across the LP team; model best practices in donor engagement, cross-functional collaboration, and moves management.
• Partner with Advancement Operations to enhance LP reporting, implement database improvements, and guide strategic use of tools like Tessitura.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate closely with teams across the institution to design and deliver custom donor experiences that advance stewardship goals.

Donor Engagement & Stewardship

• Lead select major donor experiences, including behind-the-scenes tours, site visits, and field experiences that highlight Academy science.
• Oversee stewardship strategy for top donors in portfolio, coordinating with Donor Relations, Events, and Communications to deliver personalized and impactful touchpoints.

Qualifications

• 10-plus years of major gift fundraising experience, with demonstrated success closing six-figure gifts.
• Deep knowledge of donor engagement strategy, moves management, and best practices in nonprofit philanthropy.
• Strong fluency with fundraising databases and reporting (Tessitura preferred).
• Proven success collaborating across departments and with senior leadership.
• Exceptional communication skills and experience with high-profile donors.
• Experience supervising, mentoring, or leading teammates toward clear goals.
• Superb written and verbal communication; poised with high-profile donors and institutional leaders.
• Adept collaborator who thrives in a fast-moving, mission-driven environment.
• Familiarity with science, climate, conservation, or museum philanthropy.
• Proven ability to lead strategic initiatives, manage complex projects, and influence outcomes across multiple functional areas.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $117,000 - $122,000. Actual compensation will be commensurate with the final candidate's qualifications and experience, including skills, knowledge, relevant education, certifications and aligned with the internal peer group. We believe in fair and equitable compensation practices and are committed to providing competitive salaries within the industry and market standards. The Academy offers a total compensation package that emphasizes both base salary and comprehensive benefits based on the hours per week worked. Further details regarding compensation and benefits will be discussed during the interview process.

Schedule: Full-time, 40 hours per week

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit a resume and application through our Careers Page portal.

The California Academy of Sciences will give full consideration for employment to all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance (SF Police Code, Article 49).