Senior Giving Officer, Foundation Philanthropy

POSITION SUMMARY: 
Reporting to the Associate Director of Corporate & Foundation Philanthropy, the Senior Giving Officer, Foundation Philanthropy, will work with a portfolio of foundation donors and prospects and spend a majority of their time cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding large grants in support of Academy exhibits and programs in scientific research, education, and sustainability. The person in this position will develop team strategy and establish relationships with new and existing donors resulting in large, multi-year gifts. This is a full-time position.

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 on Earth. 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.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Work independently to create compelling proposals for Academy-wide programs; write proposal templates and reports; submit applications and reports on online grant making platforms; research and write proposal attachments for foundation funders
• Develop strategy for competitive proposal submissions with Academy and team leadership, program staff, and Trustees as required
• Build and maintain a portfolio of foundation donors with a focus on gifts in the $100,000 to $1,000,000+ range
• Engage donors and prospects through in-person meetings, phone meetings, letters of inquiry, site visits, cold calls, and emails with and without Trustee assistance
• Fulfill outstanding reports and stewardship activities in a timely manner, including site visits and reports; work with program and/or project staff to collect information and data on programmatic outcomes
• Compose letters and other communication materials to donors and prospects
• Maintain accurate and timely records of all interactions with prospects and donors using fundraising software
• Serve as a content expert on Academy projects, such as environmental issues, sustainability solutions, education, and related special projects
• Provide event support (periodically on evenings and weekends)
• Follow all Academy safety regulations
• Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS:
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. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

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

• Bachelor’s degree (B.A. or B.S.)
• Six years or more of fundraising experience in a complex, non-profit setting
• Demonstrated track record of success in securing annual foundation grants in the $100,000-$1,000,000+ range
• Competency with MS Office, word processing, database (Tessitura), and spreadsheet functions
• Experience in/exposure to individual and institutional giving practices and techniques

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Excellent verbal and written communications skills, including strong proofreading skills and attention to budget details
• Strong collaborator with the ability to lead and inspire others in a teamwork environment but also work independently in an effective and productive manner
• Demonstrated interest and expertise in scientific concepts related to biodiversity, sustainability, and the natural world preferred
• Ability to interact well with people at all levels, particularly Trustees, executives, donors, and program staff
• Strong work ethic, good judgment, excellent organizational and time management skills, flexibility, sense of humor, and able to manage multiple tasks and projects

LANGUAGE SKILLS: 
Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups or individuals. Bilingual (spoken and/or written) in Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, or other non-English language preferred.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS & WORK ENVIRONMENT: 
The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, sit, walk, and reach with hands and arms, and talk or hear. Must be able to lift 25 lbs. Must be able to perform repetitive motions 80% of the time.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:  
Please submit your cover letter and resume online at our Careers page. Note that the recruitment timeline for positions vary and depend on many factors, so it is impossible to accurately predict when a position will close. We appreciate your patience during this process. No phone calls please.

The California Academy of Sciences will consider for employment 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).

The California Academy of Sciences is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to ensure that all employees and applicants receive equal consideration and treatment, regardless of race, color, creed, gender (including gender identity or gender expression), religion, marital or domestic partner status, age, national origin or ancestry, physical, mental or medical disability, sex, sexual orientation, citizenship, military service status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law or local ordinance.

The California Academy of Sciences is a non-smoking facility. There is also no smoking in Golden Gate Park.