Fast Facts

The Exploratorium is seeking a Senior Development Officer for Planned Giving, responsible for managing and expanding the planned giving program to increase legacy gifts and partnerships. This role requires exceptional communication skills and the ability to build relationships with donors and stakeholders.

Responsibilities: Key responsibilities include developing strategic plans for planned giving, managing donor relationships, ensuring compliance with legal and financial advisors, and collaborating with the Institutional Advancement team to achieve fundraising goals.

Skills: Required skills include extensive knowledge of fundraising principles, relationship-building and communication abilities, project management, and familiarity with gift assets and complex tax laws related to charitable giving.

Qualifications: Qualified candidates should have a Bachelor’s degree and at least six years of relevant development experience, along with proven success in closing major gifts and working with cross-functional teams.

Location: This position is based in San Francisco, CA.

Compensation: $53 - $60 / Hourly

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.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• 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 communications
• 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

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• 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 
• Demonstrated ability to form and fully leverage cross-functional teams of colleagues, volunteers, and administrative leaders toward closure of transformational gifts
• Exceptional written and verbal communications skills, including public speaking and meeting facilitation; strong interpersonal and relationship building skills across a wide variety of constituents  
• Excellent organizational and project management skills 
• Ability to meet deadlines, be detailed-oriented and collaborate effectively in a team-driven environment while independently managing and prioritizing multiple projects and a robust portfolio of planned gifts
• Assist, where necessary, in the production and execution of fundraising events; willingness to work nights and weekends as needed for events
• Ability to use computer software and donor databases (Salesforce and Jira preferred)
• The highest degree of adherence to professional standards of confidentiality and discretion when managing personal and sensitive information
• Ability to engage and convey pertinent information clearly and demonstrate the impact of planned gift donations on the mission of the Exploratorium
• Adept at navigating complex gift structures involving multiple stakeholders and advisors, while representing the Exploratorium’s philanthropic goals with the highest levels of professionalism 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience fundraising in the arts, education or sciences
• Experience designing or executing communications and marketing campaigns to potential planned giving donors and/or the professional advisor community

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 work at a computer terminal for long periods of time, move from place to place, 
• Ability to use telephone and general office equipment
• Able to lift and carry up to 15 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 position that includes benefits. The salary range for this role is $53.94 to $60.00 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.