Director of Individual and Planned Giving

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Full-time Regular Sausalito, CA, US

4 days ago Requisition

Salary Range: $ To $ Annually

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.

The Director of Individual and Planned Giving serves as the museum’s lead in major gifts fundraising, 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.

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.