DIRECTOR OF PHILANTHROPY

San Diego Natural HistoSan Diego, CA
$0 - $80,000Hybrid

About The Position

The San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat) is seeking a Director of Philanthropy to join their team. This position will play a key role in driving The Nat’s fundraising success. The role is responsible for managing a portfolio of individual donors and prospects, cultivating meaningful relationships, and securing philanthropic support through the Leadership Circles program. In addition, the role oversees the annual fund, membership, and events, ensuring a strong and sustainable base of support. The position reports to the Senior Director of Philanthropy and is an integral member of the philanthropy team.

Requirements

  • 3-5 years professional nonprofit fundraising experience, with experience soliciting current and prospective major gifts.
  • Experience with annual fund and membership programs.
  • Background in managing staff.
  • Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, including the ability to present information in a variety of formats.
  • Demonstrated ability to resolve problems.
  • Ability to keep track of the overall picture while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail in a variety of situations.
  • Ability to work well independently and within a team environment.
  • Demonstrated organizational and time management skills.
  • Ability to complete projects accurately and completely within deadlines.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.

Nice To Haves

  • Bachelor’s degree preferred.
  • Experience with Raiser’s Edge, Altru or other constituent records management database systems is preferred.

Responsibilities

  • Manage a portfolio (85-100) of Leadership Circles donors and prospects with annual giving capacity of $1,500- $10,000.
  • Manage the Leadership Circles individual giving program to include developing materials for cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
  • Identify, cultivate, and solicit individuals for general operating support and program support to achieve 2-3% annual program revenue growth.
  • Plan and implement customized cultivation activities and stewardship events for portfolio, including reporting, meetings, tours, and other appropriate activities.
  • Write LOIs, proposals, cover letters, prepare budgets, and compile requested information to create complete solicitation packages for Leadership Circles and other individual donors.
  • Write and manage quarterly donor stewardship email.
  • Track organizational funding priorities and keep current on Museum strategic priorities and departmental programs.
  • Strategize with the philanthropy team to determine fundraising and stewardship strategies for prospective and current donors that are personal, thoughtful, and creative ways.
  • Create and manage donor recognition opportunities.
  • Send timely contact reports and gift alerts to Museum team.
  • Perform other duties and participate in special projects as needed.
  • Provide leadership and oversight for revenue and expense budgets for membership, annual fund, and events programs.
  • Analyze progress towards goals; identify opportunities for growth and adjust strategies to ensure fundraising success.
  • Utilize donor database to design segmentation strategies to strengthen donor retention and increase fundraising potential.
  • Oversee multi-channel communication and solicitation strategies across programs (newsletters, website updates, emails, letters, and social media) to deliver cohesive stewardship and fundraising messages.
  • Supervise the Membership Manager and program to include member events, retention and acquisition strategies, member stewardship and budget management.
  • Provide leadership on strategies to meet or exceed revenue budget goals and strategically grow membership program.
  • Plan and write annual fund campaigns to reach targeted segments and a larger general audience.
  • Design campaigns to secure one-time and monthly donors, with an emphasis on donor growth and retention.
  • Partner with museum’s communications team to create compelling fundraising stories across all platforms.
  • Supervise the Philanthropy Manager’s execution of annual fund production to include working with internal and external partners.
  • Supervise the Philanthropy Manager’s daily activities to include data entry/database management gift processing and acknowledgements, mail processing, and other stewardship communications.
  • Lead development and strategy of all donor events.
  • Supervise the Philanthropy Manager’s execution of donor events, including working with internal and external partners and accepting RSVPs.
  • Coordinate with the larger philanthropy department to reach goals for various donor segments.
  • Work with the museum’s facility usage team to conceptualize and plan events.

Benefits

  • health insurance
  • vacation
  • sick-time
  • 15 paid holidays
  • free admission into all of Balboa Park’s museums
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