Director of Advancement

Institute of Noetic Sciences•Novato, CA

4d•Remote

About The Position

The Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS) is an American nonprofit research center with a global membership based in Novato, California. It was founded in 1973 by Edgar Mitchell, Apollo 14 astronaut and sixth man to walk on the moon, after an epiphany in space convinced him that the dominant scientific paradigm was incomplete. For over fifty years, IONS has been investigating consciousness, extended human capacities, and the interconnection of mind and matter through rigorous science and experiential programs. Our work has helped once-marginalized questions become mainstream advances, from meditation and mind-body medicine to serious experimentation in, and new theoretical considerations of, the nature of nonlocal mind. We are working for a global mind change through the development of a consciousness-inclusive scientific paradigm, toward a thriving world that’s regenerative of life and spirit. As thought leaders, scientists and educators, we are inspired by the power of science to explain phenomena not previously understood, harnessing the best of the rational mind to make advances that further our collective knowledge and enhance our human experience. We are also aware of the vast historical records of wisdom practices that s peak to the mysteries and possibilities which allow us to access more of our human capacities. Our scientists apply the rigors of their respective disciplines to explore such phenomena, with a focus on understanding humanity’s inherent interconnectedness and the inner wisdom common to us all. Our programs and partnerships are designed to help share and evolve these new understandings. The mission of the Institute of Noetic Sciences is to reveal the interconnected nature of reality through scientific exploration and personal discovery. With over fifty years of continuous operations, extensive peer-reviewed publications, a laboratory, multi-million dollar endowment, and dedicated donor base, IONS is ready for a new steward of our Advancement function.

Requirements

3 to 7+ years of direct experience in a director-level position, backed by 10 to 15+ years of total progressive experience in their specific industry.
CFRE strongly preferred.
Curiosity and enthusiasm for noetic sciences and a desire to advance the intersection of scientific research and inner knowing.
Strong background in relationship-based fundraising strategy, designing annual plans, budget management, financial modeling, and data-tracking skills, with a focus on long-term initiative sustainability.
Self-driven, results-oriented, and highly disciplined with a proven ability to mentor development staff and support board members.
Demonstrates a keen sense of emotional intelligence, integrity, and absolute discretion when handling sensitive donor and constituent data.
Exceptional verbal and written presentation skills; serves as an inspiring, articulate champion for the noetic sciences externally, while bringing high diplomacy and a solution-oriented approach to internal collaboration and cross-functional planning.
Highly collaborative team player dedicated to seeking input, developing and empowering others, as part of a servant-leadership approach.
Combines the utmost professionalism with an accessible, grounded, and down-to-earth demeanor; honest and transparent in all dealings.
Brings a contagious, positive, and forward-looking attitude of abundance to a remote, mission-driven team.
Flexible and at ease operating in a dynamic environment where noetic and holistic practices are the organizational norm.
Maintains a healthy sense of humor, resilience, and balance under pressure.

Nice To Haves

CFRE strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead the development and implementation of a sophisticated, multi-year major-gifts initiative to secure the resources needed to fuel IONS' growth and achieve its strategic pillar goals.
Drive continuous improvement in fund development operations by establishing proven practices for annual giving, stewardship, planned giving, and data management.
Co-create, manage and report against a departmental budget, including revenue projections, operating expenses, and staffing costs, in close coordination with the CFO and EL, delivering on annual revenue commitments with special attention to predictive revenue modeling.
Proactively support and enhance the fundraising efforts of EL. Work with Board and Board Committees as assigned by the Executive Chair regarding fundraising efforts.
Directly supervise, mentor, and grow the advancement department staff, fostering a high-performance team culture rooted in collaboration, accountability, and mission alignment. Provide strategic leadership to scale the team’s capacity for personalized donor cultivation, stewardship, and operations as organizational needs evolve.
Inform and shape high-impact donor cultivation events and virtual initiatives to successfully convert broad public interest into sustained philanthropic support.
Ensure that advancement materials align with a master communications framework, and co-design the stewardship pathways that receive and deepen relationships with constituents as they move along the engagement funnel.
Oversee the creation of all donor-focused communications, including major gift proposals, gift acknowledgments, and stewardship reports, whether written directly or produced by Advancement department staff, adhering to IONS' verbal branding guidelines.
Working in close consultation with EL, take proactive initiative to build and maintain a close working relationship with IONS scientists and EL, surfacing funding priorities, research and global mind change initiatives that may resonate with donors, while bringing donor enthusiasm and interests back to the IONS team to inform their work.
Strategically facilitate high-level meetings, communication, and travel opportunities connecting top-tier donors with IONS leadership and scientists.
Personally identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a select portfolio of major donors and prospects, at the $25K–$1M+ tier, with the expectation of transitioning select relationships to a dedicated major gifts officer as the team grows.
Partner with Operations to design modern tracking systems and extract multi-year giving cohorts, using data insights to evaluate Constituent Acquisition Cost (CAC) against long-term Lifetime Value (LTV) across all digital, email, and event funnels.
Oversee the proactive growth of the Planned Giving Program to expand the Legacy Society membership, and supervise grant administration, research, and application processes.
Ensure database integrity by maintaining meticulously clean and secure constituent engagement, pipeline tracking, and historical giving records inside Salesforce.