Chief Advancement Officer

Spirit League; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 325,000 - 350,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

5 weeks vacation

Medical, Vision, Dental Insurance

403b

Job summary

The California Academy of Sciences seeks a Chief Advancement Officer to guide a large, mission-driven advancement division and energize fundraising across programs, campaigns, and endowment. This is a hands-on leadership role partnering with scientists, educators, and Board members to activate philanthropy in a changing museum landscape.

Based in San Francisco with hybrid work four days a week, the role demands strategic vision, relationship-building across the Bay Area philanthropic community,

Qualifications

• Leadership experience in fundraising and campaign management.
• Experience working with scientists, educators, and governance bodies.
• Proven success in building, guiding, and retaining high-performing teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead fundraising strategy and revenue growth across annual fund, capital campaigns, planned giving, and endowment.
• Manage relationships with the Board and Advancement Committee; activate donors and partners.
• Oversee development operations, data, and donor relations systems.

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degrees/certifications

Job description

THIS POSITION IS HYBRID. THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE WILL BE IN THE SAN FRANCISCO OFFICE FOUR DAYS A WEEK.

ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

Founded in 1853, the California Academy of Sciences (the Academy) is a globally renowned, AZA-accredited non-profit scientific and cultural institution located in the heart of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. Home to a world-class planetarium, aquarium, rainforest, research institute, and natural history museum—all under one living roof—the Academy’s mission is to regenerate the natural world through science, learning, and collaboration.

The Academy’s living collection reflects Earth’s vast biodiversity, consisting of nearly 60,000 animals representing over 800 species. Its research collections are the largest west of the Mississippi, spanning nearly 46 million plants, animals, fossils, and cultural artifacts from across the globe and throughout history. Its diverse team includes leading biodiversity scientists, educators, storytellers, designers, and communicators who are passionate about advancing knowledge and catalyzing action through science and storytelling.

Organizational Culture

The California Academy of Sciences invites new staff members to join as part of a mission-driven community that values curiosity, collaboration, and innovation, and celebrates its accomplishments together. Staff share a commitment to executing a new strategic plan that will strengthen the organization's financial foundations, cultivate a vibrant internal culture, and foster smart growth to secure the Academy’s future.

The Academy is looking for candidates who excel in their field and take pride in their work. Candidates may come from a number of different backgrounds and experiences and are encouraged to apply whether or not you believe you meet every competency for the position.

OPPORTUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• Salary Range: $325,000 - $350,000
• Benefits include:
  • 5 weeks of vacation, in addition to holidays, sick time, and floating holidays
  • Medical, Vision, Dental Insurance
  • 403b

YOU ARE

• An enthusiastic, activating doer with strong personal follow-through
  An enterprise thinker who partners naturally across science, education, communications, and governance
  A leader who embodies a growth mindset, with proven experience demonstrating success
  A talented, respected, and gifted storyteller
  A thoughtful and generous leader who supports and promotes their team
  Deeply rooted in Bay Area philanthropy

POSITION OVERVIEW

The California Academy of Sciences seeks a Chief Advancement Officer to lead a division at an inflection point. The Academy is a scientifically rigorous, globally respected institution moving through a period of real change, including two rounds of layoffs, a newly ratified collective bargaining agreement, and a period of heightened external scrutiny. Despite these challenges, the internal culture and momentum are improving and reflect enthusiasm for the future. This is a hands‑on role for a builder who can stabilize and re‑energize a large, talented division and forge real partnerships with scientists, educators, and Board members who are eager to be activated as partners in philanthropy.

Looking ahead, the Academy is building towards a comprehensive campaign spanning capital, operating, and endowment priorities. The incoming Chief of Advancement will help shape this campaign's scope and sequencing from the ground up, in close partnership with the Executive Director and Board.

The Academy is concurrently conducting a search for its next Executive Director. The Chief of Advancement hire is expected to serve as a compatible, strong, activating fundraising partner to the incoming Executive Director, especially in the early days of that transition.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIP

The Chief Advancement Officer reports to the Executive Director and serves as a member of the Senior Leadership Team. The role oversees a division of approximately 18‑20 staff organized across leadership giving, corporate & foundation partnerships, donor events, planned giving, and development operations.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Fundraising Strategy & Revenue Growth

• Build and lead a culture of philanthropy across the Advancement division and the institution as a whole
• Ensure direct, trusted working relationships with scientists, educators, and Board members and activate them as partners in fundraising
• Identify fundraising needs across existing programs and build attainable near- and long-term strategies spanning annual giving, capital campaigns, planned giving, special events, and endowment
• Explore new revenue streams by evaluating and refining donor solicitation, cultivation, communication, and recognition/affinity programs, as a way to keep donors informed and connected to the Academy's mission, work, and accomplishments
• Regularly evaluate and adjust fundraising strategies, leveraging internal relationships and Board members to increase revenue and participation, and recommend cultivation and solicitation visits to major donors and prospects
• Take a hands‑on, active role with major and strategic donors and maintain ongoing communication with executive leadership and the Board to ensure buy‑in to fundraising initiatives at the highest level

Portfolio Management & Board Relations

• Work closely with the Board of Directors and Advancement Committee chair and members to identify, cultivate, and shepherd board member solicitations
• Support Board members in every aspect of their philanthropic journey, including their personal commitment to the Academy and their relationships with various public and private funders and philanthropists
• Staff and prepare the Board in a strategy for increased participation and eventual campaigns
• Lead a traditional advancement portfolio, including annual fund, membership, major and principal gifts, and planned giving
• Maintain a personal portfolio of the organization's most sophisticated and generous donors
• Position the division for a comprehensive campaign

Diversification of Funding Sources

• Evaluate and grow corporate and foundation partnerships alongside individual giving, including sponsorship and IP‑partnership opportunities
• Support pursuit of government, agency, and institutional grant funding in partnership with science and program leadership
• Expand planned giving and endowment strategies to diversify the Academy's long-term funding base

Development Operations, Technology, & Data

• Oversee development operations, including the donor database/CRM, gift processing, and prospect research infrastructure
• Use data and reporting to inform fundraising strategy, track progress against goals, and support Board- and Senior Leadership Team-level decision‑making
• Evaluate current systems and processes for opportunities to improve efficiency and staff productivity

Team Leadership & Internal Management

• Recruit, coach, nurture, and retain a high-performing team; provide an environment that encourages stability as well as a growth mindset, while holding the team accountable to ambitious goals
• Provide leadership that challenges, inspires, and motivates people across the Academy's local, national, and global community
• Demonstrate a proven ability to recruit, mentor, lead, and develop a diverse staff, with a track record of building high-performing, loyal teams
• Lead with a flexible, inclusive style that adapts to different audiences and sharpens colleagues' focus
• Serve as a positive, unifying figure who leads by influence and example to build an integrated development culture across the Academy
• Demonstrate a commitment to transparency that builds trust and confidence in the advancement operation across the institution
• Manage the division's budget, staffing, and day-to-day operations
• Serve as a steady, credible, and enthusiastic voice on the Senior Leadership Team during a period of institutional change
• Foster a culture of respect, communication, and accountability within the team
• Champion the Academy's culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion, bringing commitment, ideas, and energy to diversity efforts across the workforce, donor base, and broader community

COMPETENCIES

• Mission alignment and a genuine commitment to youth, science, learning, and curiosity
• 15+ years of progressively challenging fundraising experience, including 5 or more years of senior management
• Comprehensive campaign experience
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degrees, certifications, and/or other advanced education, highly regarded
• Background in museums, conservation, science, or education‑adjacent fundraising, preferred
• Proven success soliciting and maintaining a portfolio of six- and seven-figure gifts
• Experience working within the San Francisco Bay Area philanthropic community
• A demonstrated enterprise mindset; comfort working across departments to engage and build an organizational culture of philanthropy
• Experience building trust and partnership with organizational stakeholders including scientists, educators, and governance volunteers
• Experience leading a team through organizational change or culture‑rebuilding
• Commitment to and enthusiasm for the mission and growth of the California Academy of Sciences

Leadership & Interpersonal Competencies

• Strategy Setting: Ability to grasp the opportunities and challenges of the Academy and role quickly and develop innovative, data‑informed fundraising plans
• Executing for Results: Sets clear, realistic yet challenging goals. Demonstrates tenacity and accountability in driving results and balances financial realities with innovation and calculated risk‑taking
• Leading Teams: Demonstrates true leadership - serving as a mentor while developing and nurturing a diverse staff; leads with a flexible, inclusive approach; builds an integrated development culture through influence and example
• Relationships & Influence: Communicates and presents with clarity and inspiration; builds and preserves trust and confidence among diverse constituencies; takes a consensus‑seeking but decisive approach
• Interpersonal Acumen & Character: Combines sound judgment and confidence with humility; is a supportive, active listener; embodies the Academy's ethics, integrity, and commitment to diversity and inclusion; brings high energy, charisma, and drive

EQUITY STATEMENT

The California Academy of Sciences is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The California Academy of Sciences is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of its work—from scientific research and public programming to hiring and organizational culture. The Academy actively seeks candidates from a wide range of backgrounds and lived experiences and encourages applications from individuals who are underrepresented in the nonprofit and scientific communities.