Senior Development Officer, Planned Giving

SUMMARY

The Senior Development Officer, Planned Giving is a key member of the Institutional Advancement (IA) Department—an energetic and collaborative team of development professionals—dedicated to implementing a comprehensive planned giving program for the Exploratorium. This position is central to the organization’s long‑term goal of increasing annual income from planned gifts and expanding the community of individuals who choose to leave a legacy with the Exploratorium.

The Senior Development Officer will manage and grow a portfolio of planned giving donors and prospects, achieving both individual and team fundraising goals. The Officer will design and implement customized strategies for cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship for each prospect, while also serving as a close partner and key resource to the IA team in soliciting and securing complex planned gifts. Success in this role will require excellent communication and relationship building skills in order to develop relationships with gift planning prospects, their advisors, and families to cultivate and close complex gift plans.

Furthermore, the Senior Development Officer will build strong partnerships across the Exploratorium to advance institutional priorities and strengthen philanthropic support. The officer, deeply committed to the museum’s mission, will inspire and galvanize internal and external stakeholders to achieve philanthropic goals. This position reports to the Chief Philanthropy Officer.

• Responsible for developing and executing a strategic planned giving program that includes marketing, communication, solicitation plans, and stewardship practices to increase the number of planned gifts, bequests, and other legacy gifts while growing the endowment and annual fund
• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of donors and prospects with the potential to make major planned gifts or other legacy gifts
• Manage the process of planned and other legacy gifts, including the tracking of pledges and gifts and ensuring compliance by coordinating with legal and financial advisors and estate administrators
• Maintain accurate and complete records of donor contacts and communication
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive knowledge of planned giving vehicles and tax laws related to charitable giving
• Develop and implement marketing and educational events to inform donors and prospects about various gift offerings that will address their philanthropic and financial goals while providing support for the Exploratorium
• Collaborate with other development staff and key stakeholders across the museum to integrate planned giving into the overall fundraising strategy
• Research and develop detailed proposals to educate and inform prospective donors and their advisors as to the benefits of life income gifts
• Regularly meet with existing and prospective donors to provide updates on existing gifts and detailed proposals
• Achieve an annual fundraising goal as set collaboratively, growing annually as the Planned Giving program matures, from a personal portfolio of prospects and in collaboration with other IA professionals
• Adhere to IA Department’s established portfolio management practices to ensure consistent engagement, accurate tracking, and effective stewardship of donors and prospects
• Engage in the advancement goal‑setting process for gift planning metrics
• Perform additional duties as assigned

• Bachelor’s degree and six years of development experience with increasing responsibility in planned giving, major gifts, or related field
• Successful and demonstrated experience in devising strategies for cultivation and solicitation of major donors
• Extensive knowledge of fundraising principles, techniques and ethics; understanding of tax and estate planning laws related to charitable giving; knowledge of Bay Area philanthropic community helpful
• Experience with complex gift assets and legacy giving vehicles, including Donor Advised Funds, Charitable Lead and Remainder Trusts, and Charitable Gift Annuities
• Demonstrated ability to close major gifts ($50,000+) through leadership gifts ($1 million+) in a relationship‑based culture
• Demo…