Director of Individual and Planned Giving

Help Build the Future of Play

At the Bay Area Discovery Museum, we believe childhood is one of the most important investments a community can make. Every day, thousands of children and families come to our campus at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge to explore, create, imagine, and discover. Through joyful, play-based learning experiences, we help children build the curiosity, confidence, and skills they need to thrive in school and in life. 

We're looking for an experienced and entrepreneurial fundraiser to help make that possible.

Position Summary

The Director of Individual and Planned Giving serves as the museum’s lead in major gifts fundraiser, responsible for securing philanthropic support from individual donors and advancing a culture of philanthropy across the organization. The role manages a portfolio of major donor and prospective donor relationships, with primary responsibility for raising annual operating support while partnering on capital, endowment, and planned giving initiatives. Working closely with the Chief Philanthropy Officer, CEO, Trustees, and senior leaders, the Director develops and executes strategies that deepen donor engagement, expand philanthropic investment, and position the museum for long-term sustainability and growth. The role also will develop and launch the museum’s planned giving program and help build the pipeline of future transformational donors.

This hybrid position requires a minimum of two days per week onsite in Sausalito. The role also requires flexibility to work occasional evenings and weekends as needed.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

Major Gifts & Individual Philanthropy Leadership (65%)

• Develop and execute strategies to achieve annual individual giving revenue goals, with primary responsibility for securing annual operating support.
• Manage a portfolio of approximately 100 major donor and prospective donor relationships.
• Lead all aspects of the donor cycle, including identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and renewal.
• Partner with the Chief Philanthropy Officer, CEO, Trustees, and senior leaders to develop and execute donor engagement and solicitation strategies.
• Conduct regular donor visits and solicitations to strengthen relationships and increase philanthropic investment.
• Secure and steward leadership annual gifts in support of the museum’s mission and strategic priorities.
• Serve as a visible ambassador for the museum with donors, prospects, volunteers, and community leaders.
• Ensure exceptional donor stewardship through timely, thoughtful, and personalized engagement.

Capital, Endowment & Planned Giving (20%)

• Partner with the Chief Philanthropy Officer and CEO to develop and execute strategies for capital, endowment, and other transformational fundraising initiatives.
• Support prospect identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship for major capital and endowment donors.
• Develop donor-facing fundraising materials, proposals, case statements, and presentations.
• Lead the research, design, launch, and ongoing implementation of the museum’s planned giving program.
• Build awareness and engagement around legacy giving opportunities while establishing systems, materials, and stewardship practices.

Fundraising Strategy & Development Operations (15%)

• Partner with the Chief Philanthropy Officer to strengthen the museum’s major gifts program, prospect pipeline, and donor engagement strategies.
• Conduct prospect research and analysis to identify new individual giving opportunities.
• Track and report on fundraising activity, pipeline development, donor engagement, and progress toward revenue goals.
• Stay informed about institutional priorities and funding opportunities to align donor interests with museum needs.
• Collaborate across the organization to advance a culture of philanthropy and donor-centered engagement.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible fundraising experience with a demonstrated track record of securing major gifts.
• Experience managing donor portfolios and moving prospects through the full gift cycle.
• Knowledge of major gifts fundraising best practices; experience with capital, endowment, or planned giving is preferred.
• Excellent relationship building, communication, and presentation skills.
• Knowledge of, and connections, to the Bay Area business and philanthropic communities.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Experience working with senior volunteers, board members, and executive leaders.
• Commitment to the mission, values, and culture of the museum.

Benefits

• 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision for employee only premiums
• Life and long-term disability insurance
• Paid time off starting at 3 weeks, on an accrual basis. 
• 10 days of sick leave (Five frontloaded, and the other five accrued throughout the year)
• Eight (8) paid holidays and three (3) floating holidays.
• Paid parental leave 
• Discounts at museum café and store, and on museum programs
• All staff celebrations
• Reciprocal admission benefits at other museums
• Professional development training

Physical Requirements

• Ability to perform physical activities such as bending, kneeling, walking, and picking up items for 2-3 hours at a time. 
• Ability to stand for up to 8 hours and carry up to 50 lbs. for short distances/periods. 
• Ability to work indoors and outdoors in varying types of weather.

The physical demands 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.

Work Environment

This role is primarily based in an indoor office environment with standard office equipment and technology. May work in remote locations, both indoors and outdoors, including travel in a vehicle to and from remote sites. May be exposed to varying types of weather when traveling to and from remote sites.

The specific statements shown in each section of this job description are not intended to be all-inclusive. They represent typical elements and criteria necessary to perform the job successfully. The Bay Area Discovery Museum reserves the right to modify and expand job responsibilities and duties over time.

About Us

At the Bay Area Discovery Museum, we believe that providing children with the high-quality early learning experiences they need to be successful is the best investment we can make as a society.  

Whether at the museum, online, or in the community, we provide experiences that spark children’s natural curiosity for the world around them, while building their creative problem-solving skills and STEM content knowledge. Both on-site and off-site, we facilitate research-backed learning experiences that are fun and engaging for children and families. At our one-of-a-kind location at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge, this includes hands-on exhibits, rich STEM and art programming, an on-site preschool, and camps and classes. Off-site, our museum educators bring hands-on STEM programming to students and families at schools and libraries in all nine Bay Area counties.  

We believe that these research-backed on-site and off-site experiences should be made available to all children and families and offer a variety of access initiatives toward this goal. We are currently working our way back up to our pre-pandemic numbers: 

• 350,000 visitors each year, including nearly 80,000 with free or reduced admission   
• 10,000 member families   
• 33,000 children through our school and community programs   
• 587 schools and 215 libraries through all nine Bay Area counties   

The Bay Area Discovery Museum is committed to being welcoming and inclusive. We are continuously working toward the goal of reflecting the diversity of the Bay Area both within our organization and with those we serve. 

Note to Candidates 

The Bay Area Discovery Museum is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity. We encourage those from all backgrounds to apply to allow us to build the most inclusive and creative team possible.  

Please do not remove yourself from contention before you even apply. Research shows that women and individuals from underrepresented backgrounds often apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. If much of this job description describes you, then you are highly encouraged to apply.

Due to the sensitivity and requirements of our positions, you should expect to undergo and be cleared of an employment background/criminal check if extended an offer for employment. You may also be asked to provide proof of educational degree(s), licenses, credentials, or vaccinations pertinent to the position.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The Bay Area Discovery Museum is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable law.

Disclaimer

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. The Bay Area Discovery Museum reserves the right to modify duties and responsibilities as organizational needs evolve.