Associate Director, Leadership Philanthropy

California Academy of Sciences•San Francisco, CA

10d•$117,000 - $122,000

About The Position

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 .

Requirements

6+ 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.
Proven ability to lead strategic initiatives, manage complex projects, and influence outcomes across multiple functional areas.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with science, climate, conservation, or museum philanthropy.

Responsibilities

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