Description

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.

As our Director of Individual and Planned Giving, you'll lead the museum's major gifts program, build meaningful relationships with donors who care deeply about early childhood education and family wellbeing, and help shape the next generation of philanthropic support for the museum. You'll partner closely with our Chief Philanthropy Officer, CEO, trustees, and volunteer leaders to secure annual support, advance capital and endowment initiatives, and launch the museum's first planned giving program.

This is an opportunity to help grow one of the Bay Area's most beloved cultural institutions at a pivotal moment in its history and to connect donors with a mission that creates lasting impact for children, families, and communities.

Please apply on our website: Recruitment| Career Center

What You'll Do

• Lead the museum's major gifts fundraising program and manage a portfolio of approximately 100 donors and prospects.
• Cultivate, solicit, and steward philanthropic investments in support of the museum's mission and strategic priorities.
• Partner with the Chief Philanthropy Officer, CEO, Trustees, and senior leaders on donor engagement and fundraising strategies.
• Support capital, endowment, and transformational fundraising initiatives.
• Develop compelling donor proposals, presentations, and cases for support.
• Launch and grow the museum's planned giving program.
• Identify and qualify new prospects while strengthening the major gifts pipeline.
• Serve as an enthusiastic ambassador for the museum within the Bay Area philanthropic community.

What We're Looking For

• A proven track record of securing major gifts and building strong donor relationships.
• At least 7 years of progressively responsible fundraising experience.
• Experience managing donor portfolios and moving prospects through the full fundraising cycle.
• Excellent relationship-building, communication, and presentation skills.
• Experience working with trustees, volunteers, and senior leaders.
• Knowledge of capital, endowment, or planned giving fundraising is a plus.
• An entrepreneurial mindset and enthusiasm for building new programs and opportunities.
• A belief in the power of play, learning, and investing in children.

Why Join Us?

The Bay Area Discovery Museum offers the opportunity to do meaningful work alongside a talented, mission-driven team. You'll help shape the future of an institution that reaches hundreds of thousands of children and families each year while working in one of the most inspiring settings in the Bay Area.