Fast Facts

The Director of Engagement at Exploratorium will focus on strategizing and executing fundraising events to enhance donor and sponsor involvement while overseeing stewardship initiatives. This role involves collaboration across departments to drive pipeline development and foster relationships within the community

Responsibilities: Key responsibilities include developing comprehensive event strategies, planning annual fundraising events, overseeing stewardship programs, managing budgets, and leading event teams while ensuring effective communication and collaboration with internal stakeholders.

Skills: Proven expertise in planning large-scale fundraising events, strong leadership and organizational skills, proficiency with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce), and excellent problem-solving abilities.

Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree with 8+ years of relevant fundraising experience, strong event planning and execution skills, excellent communication and project management abilities, and familiarity with fundraising ethics and principles.

Location: This position is based in San Francisco, CA, and requires some nighttime and weekend work.

Compensation: $116000 - $126000 / Annually

SUMMARY

The Director, Engagement is a key member of the Institutional Advancement (IA) Department responsible for developing and executing strategies that leverage events as drivers of pipeline development, fundraising, cultivation, and stewardship. This position plays a central role in advancing a coordinated approach to donor and sponsor engagement, moving prospects through a pipeline of content-driven engagement opportunities. In addition, the Director oversees stewardship strategies and initiatives designed to retain and expand donor relationships while ensuring meaningful recognition of their contributions. The Director works collaboratively across IA and other departments including Marketing, Rentals, Operations, Campus Facilities, Graphics, and Program Development. This position reports to the Chief Philanthropy Officer.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Develop and implement a comprehensive events strategy to support IA’s fundraising goals and draw further engagement from volunteers, donors, and sponsors
• Develop and lead events strategy to support major and campaign fundraising initiatives in collaboration with the Executive Director, Chief Philanthropy Officer and IA leadership    
• Oversee the development of a comprehensive stewardship program strategy and direct related events and programs including travel, receptions, dinners, and private tours
• Plan, organize, and execute the annual fundraising events including the Gala and Wonder Funday
• Develop program content, marketing and communication of events with internal teams
• Develop and manage event budgets
• Lead event staff and volunteers; recruit, train, and supervise teams
• Oversee event logistics including vendor management
• Develop and establish a collaborative and distributed work model to plan and execute 10-15 events for other IA teams; serve as lead staff or advisor on most IA events
• Create, manage and train IA team members on event planning systems including logistics, print and electronic outreach, CRM and RSVP tracking, event content planning, donor communications, vendor management, etc.
• Facilitate and/or attend department meetings to discuss fundraising strategies and recommend cultivation and solicitation activities and priorities
• Cultivate, steward, and contribute to relationship building and development goals with donors, sponsors and in-kind partners in conjunction with the Individual Giving and Corporate Engagement teams in IA
• Some night and weekend work required
• Special fundraising events projects as needed
• Perform other duties as assigned

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree and 8+ years of relevant experience in fundraising at a non-profit
• Proven experience planning and executing large-scale fundraising events
• Strong knowledge of fundraising principles, techniques and ethics; experience in devising strategies for cultivation and solicitation of donors and best practice stewardship programs
• Excellent communication skills including ability to work effectively with board members, volunteers, and community leadership
• Excellent organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects; ability to work in a high-pressure environment with frequent deadlines and balance competing priorities
• Strong leadership and team management abilities; ability to collaborate across the organization
• Ability to manage complex event budgets
• Strict attention to detail; strong problem-solving skills
• Prior Comprehensive Campaign event experience desirable
• Enthusiasm, creative and strategic thinking to develop innovative event concepts and fundraising strategies that meet the mission and the goals of the organization and the community
• Excellent computer skills (Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Google Workspace preferred); proficiency with database systems (Salesforce); demonstrated ability to evaluate, adopt, and apply new and emerging technologies

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENT

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Ability to move from place to place, use a computer terminal and telephone, lift and carry up to 25 pounds short distances

APPLICATION DEADLINE

This position is open until filled

HOW TO APPLY

This is a regular, full-time (37.5 hours per week), exempt, non-union positionthat includes benefits. The salary range for this role is $116,000 - $126,000 DOE. Please, no phone calls in regards to this job. To apply, please visit the Exploratorium job page.

The Exploratorium is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and values diversity, inclusion and respect. We welcome and strongly encourage applicants from all backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.

Exploratorium

Piers 15/17, San Francisco, CA 94111

Website: https://www.exploratorium.edu/about/jobs. No phone calls, please

The Exploratorium is committed to an inclusive workforce.