Deputy Chief Philanthropy Officer

SUMMARY

Reporting to the Chief Philanthropy Officer, the Deputy Chief Philanthropy Officer (Deputy CPO) is a key strategic leader and the second most senior position in the Exploratorium’s Institutional Advancement (IA) Department. The Deputy CPO is responsible for the overall strategy, planning, and execution of contributed revenue efforts, including annual giving, major gifts, planned giving, and special fundraising initiatives in IA.

As a highly skilled and experienced fundraising strategist, the Deputy CPO works closely with the Chief Philanthropy Officer, Executive Director, Board of Trustees, and staff leadership to strengthen and expand philanthropic support for the museum. The Deputy CPO leads a skilled team and ensures that the Exploratorium’s fundraising efforts are integrated, innovative, follow industry best practices, and are aligned with institutional priorities.

The Deputy CPO collaborates with the Chief Philanthropy Officer to shape and implement the Exploratorium’s fundraising strategy, increasing overall philanthropic productivity and IA’s successful achievement of its goals. With specific emphasis on building a robust pipeline of qualified prospects following a relationship‑based approach, the Deputy establishes and maintains the highest standards of portfolio management and Advancement practices, performance metrics, and mentorship to achieve a best‑in‑class fundraising program.

• Develop and implement comprehensive fundraising strategies to achieve annual, major and planned giving goals in accordance with organizational objectives and annual department plans.
• Establish measurable goals for identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities.
• Analyze giving trends and donor data to refine approaches and forecast outcomes.

• Build, grow, and lead a team of high performing development professionals, with responsibility for effectively managing portfolios of prospects and donors, to achieve aggressive fundraising goals.
• Train and mentor staff and volunteers on best practices for major and planned giving fundraising.
• Collaborates with programmatic, curatorial, and education staff to ensure fundraising strategies align with institutional priorities.

• Identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a small portfolio of principal and major gift prospects.
• Partner with the CPO, Executive Director and Campaign Director on high‑level donor engagement, including strategy for solicitations and gift negotiations.
• Serves as a visible ambassador for the Exploratorium at donor, community, and cultural events to broaden visibility and deepen relationships.

• Oversee staff responsible for the development of a comprehensive planned giving program including marketing of planned giving opportunities (bequests, charitable trusts, life income gifts, etc.), prospecting, effective engagement of professional advisors, goal attainment, and stewardship.
• Provide guidance to staff and board members on planned giving strategies and donor conversations.
• Ensure legal, financial, and ethical standards are met in all planned giving activities.
• Ensures planned giving strategies are integrated into campaign fundraising efforts.

• Monitor and evaluate annual, major and planned giving performance against individual and team goals.
• Oversee accurate tracking of donor interactions, proposals, and gifts in the CRM system.
• Provide regular reports and insights to the CPO, Cabinet leadership, and the Board of Trustees.
• Partners with trustees to deepen philanthropic engagement and mobilize them as ambassadors and fundraisers.
• Advise on the construction of effective fundraising dashboards and reports.

• Undergraduate degree required and at least seven to ten years of progressive fundraising experience, including three to five years managing development teams in a complex nonprofit, cultural, or educational institutions
• Proven success in annual, major, and planned giving, with experience in multi‑million‑dollar comprehensive campaigns and/or special fundraising…