California Academy of Sciences
Strategic Advancement Manager
California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, California, United States, 94199
About the California Academy of Sciences
The California Academy of Sciences is a globally renowned scientific and cultural institution located in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. Home to a planetarium, aquarium, research center, and natural history museum—all under one living roof—our mission is to regenerate the natural world through science, learning, and collaboration. Our collections span plants, animals, fossils, and cultural artifacts from across the globe and throughout history. We are a diverse team of biodiversity scientists, educators, storytellers, designers, and communicators who work to advance knowledge and inspire action through science and storytelling. When you join the Academy, you become part of a mission-driven community that values curiosity, collaboration, and innovation.
About the Opportunity
Reporting to the Chief Advancement Officer, the Strategic Advancement Manager is a full-time position working closely with members of the Advancement Team and other Academy Departments. The role leads coordinated engagement, stewardship, and fundraising strategies across the team for donors and prospects and collaborates with Advancement leadership to launch strategic fundraising or operational initiatives. The position provides fundraising guidance to Advancement staff by championing strategies, tools, and resources for frontline fundraisers and serves as the Advancement team’s project manager, coordinating efforts across departments.
Organizational Culture
Join a team dedicated to the Academy’s mission, values, and strategic plan initiatives—Hope for Reefs, Thriving California, and Islands 2030—that leverage biodiversity science, environmental learning, and collaborative engagement. We are committed to diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion in all aspects of operations. This position is based in San Francisco, with onsite work expected 2-3 times per week. It is part of a bargaining unit. Candidates must have up-to-date COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of employment, subject to exemptions permitted by law.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategy Program Leadership and Integration
– Provide thought partnership with fundraising staff to develop donor-specific strategies for cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship; support portfolio management and Academy priorities. Advise on solicitation planning, prepare meeting briefs and materials, and follow up on donor meetings and solicitations. Coordinate with the Executive Director’s Office on bespoke itineraries for meetings or site visits and debrief fundraising strategy meetings. In collaboration with Advancement Communications, create and maintain fundraising proposal materials and funding opportunity menus for strategic initiatives and donor solicitations. Develop and maintain donor stewardship policies with Advancement leadership to strengthen personalized donor relationships. Coordinate with Donor Events and the Donor Experience team to ensure consistent tracking of donor interactions. Lead and organize Advancement and cross-departmental strategy meetings and information sharing. Manage stewardship reports and understand grant terms to partner with Relationship Managers, program reps, and Communications to ensure timely delivery. Lead conversations to connect Strategic Initiative Academy Partners with fundraising staff to leverage opportunities and engage donors. Develop and implement personalized donor engagement and stewardship strategies to increase retention. Project Management, Data Analysis, and System Development
– Collaborate with Finance on fundraising budgets and reporting tools; influence moves management and prospect tracking systems in Tessitura. Work with Advancement Operations to ensure efficient tracking systems; support letters and acknowledgments; and coordinate with Research and Operations to build a cohesive donor pipeline. Maintain strong working relationships with Advancement colleagues and Academy partners to update division-wide fundraising plans and tags in Tessitura. Portfolio Management and Solicitation Activation
– Review and manage next steps with portfolios and six-figure+ donors; grow donor pyramid and ensure regular touchpoints across cycles. Other
– Follow safety regulations; ability to work evenings/weekends for donor events; perform other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS
A successful candidate will have a combination of education and/or experience: At least five years of increasing responsibility in donor strategy or related field. Experience leading and influencing fundraising decisions on a medium to large Development Team. Relationship and moves management experience in a fast-paced fundraising environment. Experience using a Donor Database; Tessitura is preferred. Preferred Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities
– Strong foundation in fundraising and donor stewardship; data analysis, prospect identification, solicitation design, working with volunteer leadership, and staff training; ability to prioritize and manage multiple priorities; excellent communication and interpersonal skills; initiative with sound judgment; collaborative and diplomatic; proficiency with Google and MS Office; highly organized and detail-oriented.
Compensation and Benefits
The hourly range for this position is $82,202 - $85,530. Final compensation will reflect qualifications and experience. The Academy offers a total compensation package with base salary and comprehensive benefits. Details discussed during the interview process.
Schedule
Schedule: Full-Time, 40 hours per week.
PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
Reasonable accommodations may be made. The role requires standing, sitting, computer use, and communication via phone/online meetings; repetitive motions may be required.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Please upload your resume and complete the brief online application.
Equal Opportunity
The California Academy of Sciences provides equal consideration and does not discriminate based on protected characteristics. See our Equal Opportunity Statement for details. IsExpired : false
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The California Academy of Sciences is a globally renowned scientific and cultural institution located in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. Home to a planetarium, aquarium, research center, and natural history museum—all under one living roof—our mission is to regenerate the natural world through science, learning, and collaboration. Our collections span plants, animals, fossils, and cultural artifacts from across the globe and throughout history. We are a diverse team of biodiversity scientists, educators, storytellers, designers, and communicators who work to advance knowledge and inspire action through science and storytelling. When you join the Academy, you become part of a mission-driven community that values curiosity, collaboration, and innovation.
About the Opportunity
Reporting to the Chief Advancement Officer, the Strategic Advancement Manager is a full-time position working closely with members of the Advancement Team and other Academy Departments. The role leads coordinated engagement, stewardship, and fundraising strategies across the team for donors and prospects and collaborates with Advancement leadership to launch strategic fundraising or operational initiatives. The position provides fundraising guidance to Advancement staff by championing strategies, tools, and resources for frontline fundraisers and serves as the Advancement team’s project manager, coordinating efforts across departments.
Organizational Culture
Join a team dedicated to the Academy’s mission, values, and strategic plan initiatives—Hope for Reefs, Thriving California, and Islands 2030—that leverage biodiversity science, environmental learning, and collaborative engagement. We are committed to diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion in all aspects of operations. This position is based in San Francisco, with onsite work expected 2-3 times per week. It is part of a bargaining unit. Candidates must have up-to-date COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of employment, subject to exemptions permitted by law.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategy Program Leadership and Integration
– Provide thought partnership with fundraising staff to develop donor-specific strategies for cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship; support portfolio management and Academy priorities. Advise on solicitation planning, prepare meeting briefs and materials, and follow up on donor meetings and solicitations. Coordinate with the Executive Director’s Office on bespoke itineraries for meetings or site visits and debrief fundraising strategy meetings. In collaboration with Advancement Communications, create and maintain fundraising proposal materials and funding opportunity menus for strategic initiatives and donor solicitations. Develop and maintain donor stewardship policies with Advancement leadership to strengthen personalized donor relationships. Coordinate with Donor Events and the Donor Experience team to ensure consistent tracking of donor interactions. Lead and organize Advancement and cross-departmental strategy meetings and information sharing. Manage stewardship reports and understand grant terms to partner with Relationship Managers, program reps, and Communications to ensure timely delivery. Lead conversations to connect Strategic Initiative Academy Partners with fundraising staff to leverage opportunities and engage donors. Develop and implement personalized donor engagement and stewardship strategies to increase retention. Project Management, Data Analysis, and System Development
– Collaborate with Finance on fundraising budgets and reporting tools; influence moves management and prospect tracking systems in Tessitura. Work with Advancement Operations to ensure efficient tracking systems; support letters and acknowledgments; and coordinate with Research and Operations to build a cohesive donor pipeline. Maintain strong working relationships with Advancement colleagues and Academy partners to update division-wide fundraising plans and tags in Tessitura. Portfolio Management and Solicitation Activation
– Review and manage next steps with portfolios and six-figure+ donors; grow donor pyramid and ensure regular touchpoints across cycles. Other
– Follow safety regulations; ability to work evenings/weekends for donor events; perform other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS
A successful candidate will have a combination of education and/or experience: At least five years of increasing responsibility in donor strategy or related field. Experience leading and influencing fundraising decisions on a medium to large Development Team. Relationship and moves management experience in a fast-paced fundraising environment. Experience using a Donor Database; Tessitura is preferred. Preferred Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities
– Strong foundation in fundraising and donor stewardship; data analysis, prospect identification, solicitation design, working with volunteer leadership, and staff training; ability to prioritize and manage multiple priorities; excellent communication and interpersonal skills; initiative with sound judgment; collaborative and diplomatic; proficiency with Google and MS Office; highly organized and detail-oriented.
Compensation and Benefits
The hourly range for this position is $82,202 - $85,530. Final compensation will reflect qualifications and experience. The Academy offers a total compensation package with base salary and comprehensive benefits. Details discussed during the interview process.
Schedule
Schedule: Full-Time, 40 hours per week.
PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
Reasonable accommodations may be made. The role requires standing, sitting, computer use, and communication via phone/online meetings; repetitive motions may be required.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Please upload your resume and complete the brief online application.
Equal Opportunity
The California Academy of Sciences provides equal consideration and does not discriminate based on protected characteristics. See our Equal Opportunity Statement for details. IsExpired : false
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