BAY AREA DISCOVERY MUSEUM
DIRECTOR OF INSTITUTIONAL GIVING

 
 

THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE MUST RESIDE FULL-TIME IN THE BAY AREA AND WILL WORK FROM THE BAY AREA DISCOVERY MUSEUM OFFICE IN SAUSALITO, CA TWO DAYS PER WEEK.

ABOUT BAY AREA DISCOVERY MUSEUM

The Bay Area Discovery Museum (the museum) creates playful learning experiences that inspire a passion for discovery in every child. Located within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in Sausalito, CA, the museum has been providing opportunities for playful learning and discovery for children ages 0‐8, along with their parents, caregivers, and educators, for over 30 years. 

The museum believes that children grow and thrive through playful learning, and when children and families thrive, our communities thrive. The museum accomplishes its mission onsite at its state-of-the-art facility by engaging science, technology, engineering, art, and math (“STEAM”) in its exhibits and programs for children, their caregivers, and educators. Offsite, the museum partners with schools, libraries, and community organizations to bring playful learning experiences to children throughout the Bay Area, prioritizing those in low-income communities. Additionally, the museum supports educators with professional development and free curriculum resources that leverages its expertise in early childhood hands-on playful learning. 

The museum serves: 

  • 350,000 children, caregivers, and educators each year, including nearly 100,000 children through free or reduced-cost programs  

  • Over 11,000 member families  

  • 26,000 children and educators through school and community programs  

  • 587 schools and 215 libraries through all nine Bay Area counties  

OPPORTUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

  • Salary range is $105,000 - $120,000/year

Benefits include:

  • 100% employer-paid medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance for “employee only” premiums

  • Paid vacation starting at three weeks per year, and an additional three (3) days of floating holidays

  • Paid sick leave, starting with 40 hours front loaded and a max yearly accrual of 80 hours per year

  • Eight (8) observed and paid holidays

  • Reciprocal admission benefits at other museums, regular all-staff celebrations, professional development training, and more

  • A high-energy, results-oriented, creative and fun environment

  • Opportunity for each employee to make a unique impact on more than 350,000 museum visitors and community members through the museum’s research-backed school and community programs each year 

Hybrid position

  • Full-time hybrid position 

  • At least two days onsite per week (Tuesdays and Thursdays)

  • Occasional weekend and evening hours, as needed 

YOU ARE:

  • Fearless, imaginative, and a creative storyteller

  • Passionate about raising money for children

  • Strategic, self-directed and collaborative

  • Confident and mission-minded

  • Committed to elevating the priority of early childhood education through leadership and direct investment 

POSITION OVERVIEW

Reporting to the Director of Development, the Director of Institutional Giving (“Director”) leads an existing portfolio of foundation, corporate, and government funders and is responsible for approximately $1M in annual revenue. The Director is responsible for the strategy and implementation of annual fundraising plans for existing and new potential institutional funders, including strategic identification and cultivation, proposal development and execution, and reporting and stewardship. 

Institutional funders are important advocates for and investors in the museum. These funders support unrestricted operating funds, capital projects, robust STEAM education programs, and reduced-cost access initiatives. These programs enable the museum to provide children with the high-quality, research-backed early playful learning experiences needed to be successful in school and in life.

It is an exciting time to join the museum and work with an incredible portfolio of engaged, dynamic funders who make the museum’s work possible. The museum is currently in year three of a new strategic plan, Lead with Joy, which establishes a clear vision and priorities. As part of the strategic plan, the museum has set ambitious impact goals, aiming to serve 500,000 people annually by 2027 (a 44% increase from 2022), with at least 20% benefiting from free or reduced-cost access to our programs. The Director will play an important role in achieving these ambitions, inspiring and engaging funders through exciting and impactful outreach initiatives. 

This is a new position.

For more information, please visit https://bayareadiscoverymuseum.org.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

The Director of Institutional Giving reports to the Director of Development. This position is supported by and manages a full-time Institutional Giving Coordinator.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

  • In consultation with the Director of Development, develop and execute institutional fundraising and pipeline development strategies, focused on maximizing and growing revenue from foundations, corporations, and government entities to enable the museum’s mission and strategic priorities.

  • Manage portfolio of current funders ensuring high quality stewardship through timely, relevant, accurate, and personal communication.

  • Research, develop, and cultivate a robust pipeline of potential funders to meet the museum's future priorities and needs.

  • Compose persuasive and aligned letters of intent, grant proposals, and reports to meet specified deadlines, employing institutional resources and input from colleagues. 

  • Lead project management of complex proposals and reports; track deliverables and stakeholder input.

  • Research, design, and implement long term corporate fundraising strategy.

  • Execute current corporate fundraising initiatives including event sponsorships and corporate membership program.

  • Keep up-to-date on local and national corporate landscape to inform strategies and relationships.

  • Support Board of Trustee outreach and engagement around corporate fundraising.

  • Employ strategic matchmaking; develop an understanding of the museum’s current and future program goals and impact to align creatively with diverse funding opportunities.

  • Direct day-to-day operations of the institutional giving team, including financial oversight through monthly budget reconciliation with the Finance team.

  • Track progress towards goals, and maintain thorough and timely, project, and donor record keeping.

  • Supervise the Institutional Giving Coordinator, including delegation of tasks, prioritization, and time management; set Coordinator up for success through clear setting of expectations, coaching, and consistent and timely performance management.

  • Support government relations and advocacy with key local, state, and federal representatives and agencies in partnership with the CEO’s office.

  • Support high-level volunteers (Board, Development Committee, etc.), CEO, and colleagues on interactions with institutional donors to secure new and renewed gifts.

  • Stay abreast of current literature and practice in nonprofit philanthropy; participate in local professional activities and networking events.

  • Prepare reports and presentations for board, senior leadership, and external stakeholders.

  • Lead and participate in cross functional projects as required.

  • Additional duties as assigned.

COMPETENCIES

  • Six or more years of relevant professional experience required.

  • Bachelor’s degree preferred. 

  • Knowledge of Bay Area philanthropic community, especially in the context of education and/or cultural institutions preferred.

  • Proven success as a project manager and effective cross-functional collaborator and leader.

  • Highly motivated, flexible, resourceful, well-organized, and detail oriented.

  • Demonstrated record of achieving ambitious goals, closing new revenue, and meeting deadlines.

  • Ability to understand the needs and interests of a variety of institutional funders to develop trusted relationships.

  • Superior interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills.

  • Ability to work independently and manage time efficiently.         

  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and CRM software; experience with Asana a plus.

  • Commitment to the museum’s mission.

  • Personal and professional commitment to Diversity, Equity, Access, and Inclusion.

  • Thoughtful and open about the role of a supervisor, workplace, and a cultural institution in creating a sense of welcome and belonging for staff and visitors; purposeful about fundraising initiatives within this context. 

  • Ability to work at least one customer-facing work shift onsite per quarter, including facilitation at special events. 

  • Ability to work evenings and weekends as applicable, particularly for donor events.

  • Abides by and enforces the museum’s health and safety protocols.

EQUITY STATEMENT

The Museum is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity. We encourage those from all backgrounds to apply to allow us to build the most inclusive and creative team possible.  

Please do not remove yourself from contention before you even apply. Research shows that women and individuals from underrepresented backgrounds often apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. If much of this job description describes you, then you are highly encouraged to apply. 

TO APPLY

To apply for this position please visit this link. 

All applications and inquiries will receive a response and be kept strictly confidential.

Final candidate should expect to undergo and be cleared of an employment background/criminal check if extended an offer for employment. Candidate may also be asked to provide proof of educational degree(s), licenses, credentials, or vaccinations pertinent to the position.