Director, Major Gift and Planned Giving

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County was the first museum in L.A. to open its doors 111 years ago and is poised for an exciting new era as it plans for the future. Having recently completed a new strategic framework, the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County—including NHMLA at Exposition Park, La Brea Tar Pits and museum in mid-Wilshire, and the William S. Hart Museum in Newhall—is looking forward to new building projects and campaigns, exhibitions, community outreach, and innovative audience engagement. 

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County values and endeavors to support diversity, equity, inclusion, and access within its organization and communities. Candidates who identify as Black, Indigenous, or a Person of Color (BIPOC), neurodiverse, gender, a person with disability, a veteran, and/or a part of the LGBTQAI+ community are welcome and encouraged to apply. 

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County is seeking a Director, Major Gift and Planned Giving for our Advancement department.  The Director, Major Gift and Planned Giving works closely with the Associate Vice President of Philanthropy,  CAO, Executive Staff, Board of Trustees and Board of Governors; assists in staffing the Advancement and Board Affairs Committees, and supports board recruitment, development, and fundraising efforts. Leads and implement NHMLAC’s Major Gifts and Planned Giving programs in support of ongoing operations and campaigns. Manage major gifts and planned giving team in identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting and stewarding of donors contributing major gifts ($25,000+) and planned gifts. Provide staffing and management support to capital/comprehensive campaigns, working with senior staff and Trustees on planning and execution, including solicitation of campaign gifts, and liaise with campaign counsel and other campaign consultants at the Natural History Museum. It is an exciting time as we embark on new journeys of becoming a museum of, for, and with L.A.

Responsibilities for this position include, but are not limited to: 

• Develops, solicits and stewards a portfolio of individual, annual and campaign donors and prospects for major and planned gifts. 

• Drives a comprehensive major gifts and planned giving effort, including leading the Major Gifts and Planned Giving  team. 

• Creates and executes customized solicitation strategies based on strategic objectives of the Museum and the interests of the donor, including the involvement of Executive Staff and members of the Board of Trustees, as appropriate. 

• Develops and manages a pipeline of Trustee prospects with the goal of regularly presenting highly qualified Board candidates for consideration by the Board Affairs Committee and the full Board of Trustees.

• Develops and executes an ongoing major gifts and planned giving engagement and stewardship program and approach that includes in-­person and phone contact, as well as electronic and print communication to maintain and deepen donor relationships. As appropriate, coordinates communication approaches with other Advancement staff and the Marketing and Communications Division.

• Stays abreast of developments and publications in research, collections and exhibits in order to convey such content to prospects and donors and develops strong relationships with Museum staff in these areas to match their content expertise and personalities to specific prospects and donors. Coordinates the scheduling of such meetings and prepares all parties as appropriate.

This position has the following requirements:     

• 3-5 years experience and demonstrated success in soliciting and closing leadership and planned gifts for a non-profit organization 

• Management experience preferred

• Communication: Demonstrated excellence in oral and written communication.

• Writing Skills: Ability to write reports, business correspondence, proposals and procedure manuals.

• Presentation Skills: Ability to effectiv