Director of Philanthropy

Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 115,000 - 126,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

PTO

Retirement match

Membership benefits

Professional development

Job summary

The Director of Philanthropy at Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose will oversee giving and membership programs and manage a Development Coordinator and a Corporate and Foundation Relations Manager under the Chief Development and Marketing Officer. The role targets year-over-year revenue growth toward a $5M annual fundraising goal.

Ideal candidates hold a Master’s Degree with CFRE or equivalent, 5–10 years of fundraising experience, and strong donor communication and leadership skills.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree, CFRE, or equivalent fundraising experience.
• 5–10 years of fundraising experience.
• Ability to articulate the museum’s mission and engage donors.

Responsibilities

• Oversee giving and membership programs to support a $5M fundraising goal.
• Develop, manage, and report against the department budget and goals.
• Plan and execute the annual fundraising event from strategy to stewardship.
• Build and maintain strong donor relationships with timely follow-up.
• Support senior leadership in cultivating board and leadership connections.
• Maintain technology infrastructure for development activities and donor data.

Skills

Donor relations

Major gifts

Grants & proposals

Budgets & reporting

Team leadership

Communication skills

Community relations

Education

Master’s Degree, CFRE or equivalent

Tools

Blackbaud

Job description

Job Title:Director of Philanthropy

Department:Development and Marketing

Reports to:Chief Development and Marking Officer

Status:Full Time, 100% on-site, Exempt

Salary: 115000 - 126000 per year

Position Summary

The Director of Philanthropy will oversee giving and membership for Children’s Discovery Museum under the direction of the Chief Development and Marketing Officer. They will manage a Development Coordinator and the Corporate and Foundation Relations Manager. This role will be responsible for creating and executing on year-over-year revenue growth goals contributing to a $5M annual fundraising goal.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Oversee and grow all aspects of CDM's giving and membership programs (mid-level, major gifts, planned/legacy giving, membership, grants, and corporate gifts) in service of CDM's $5M annual fundraising goal.
• Develop, manage, and report against the department's budget and fundraising goals, adjusting tactics as needed.
• Plan and execute CDM's signature annual fundraising event, from strategy and budget through logistics, volunteer/vendor coordination, and post-event stewardship.
• Build and maintain strong, long-term relationships with donors through consistent communication, timely follow-up, and proactive outreach.
• Support the Chief Development and Marketing Officer in cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding existing Board and leadership connections.
• Maintain and improve the technology infrastructure supporting development activities, including gift processing, moves management, donor data integrity, membership sales, and donor communications.
• Generate and analyze fundraising reports and revenue projections to track progress toward goals and surface actionable insights for leadership.
• Function as an active, collaborative, and contributing member of the museum team, offering cross-departmental support to help achieve museum-wide goals.
• Other duties as assigned by the Chief Development & Marketing Officer in support of CDM operations.

Qualifications

Required

• Education: Master’s Degree, CFRE, or equivalent experience.
• Experience: 5-10 years’ experience in fundraising.
• Skills & Competencies:

• Ability to articulate a deep understanding of and appreciation for the museum’s mission, purpose and role in the community
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to build and maintain effective professional relationships
• Excellent writing skills to produce compelling letters of intent, grant applications, reports, solicitation letters, and correspondence
• Knowledge of the local philanthropic community and sources of potential funding
• Ability to manage a team
• Fundraising experience, preferably in a goal oriented environment
• High ethical standards in fundraising and for handling confidential materials
• Ability to engage with children and adults in an age-appropriate, clear, and friendly manner
• Comfort using computers, tablets, and basic office applications such as GSuite and/or Microsoft Office
• Ability to learn museum-specific systems and procedures quickly
• Excellent organizational and time management skills
• Experience with CRM systems - Blackbaud tools preferred
• Ability to leverage data and develop data-informed strategies
• Self-starter who is able to manage multiple priorities simultaneously
• Passion for building a brighter future for all children

Physical Requirements

• Ability to move throughout museum spaces and event environments.
• Ability to lift and transport materials up to 25 pounds.
• Ability to stand for extended periods during events and productions.

Compensation & Benefits

CDM is committed to fair and equitable compensation in accordance with California pay transparency requirements.

• Salary DOE
• Health, dental, and vision benefits
• Paid time off and paid holidays
• Retirement plan options with employer match after one year
• Museum membership and program benefits
• Professional development opportunities

Equal Opportunity Statement

Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose is an equal opportunity employer. CDM does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, political affiliation, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

CDM is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. To request an accommodation during the application or hiring process, please contact the HR

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed. It is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, or skills required. CDM reserves the right to modify job duties at any time. Employment at CDM is at-will.