Major Gifts Officer

About the Opportunity

The Marine Mammal Center is hiring a Major Gifts Officer at a transformational moment in its organizational history. This is a unique opportunity for a seasoned professional — you’ll play a pivotal role in advancing the Center’s bold conservation mission by managing a dynamic portfolio of generous, engaged donors capable of making high-impact gifts (ranging from $25k to $1M+). You’ll shape and fund the future of marine mammal rescue, science, and education — not only on the West Coast, but across the nation — as the Center scales its work regionally and nationally. With a front-row ticket to groundbreaking conservation initiatives and a seat at the table for a $130 million comprehensive campaign, you’ll collaborate with passionate leaders, program experts, and board members to build meaningful donor relationships, secure transformative gifts, and directly fuel the growth and sustainability of world-class programs. If you’re a relationship-driven fundraiser ready to make waves in the world of ocean conservation, this is your moment.

Responsibilities

Major Gifts: 90%

• Responsible for the identification, cultivation, and solicitation of major gifts for annual funds and special campaigns.
• Partner with the Chief Advancement Officer and Director of Development to grow the Major Gifts program.
• Collaborate with colleagues and volunteers within the Development Team to manage dynamic and smooth constituent experiences as donors move in and out of the major gifts pipeline, helping to meet or exceed departmental fundraising goals.
• Work with high-level volunteers to leverage personal and professional networks and individual skills to increase efficacy in prospecting, cultivation, and stewardship efforts.
• Work in partnership with non-Development colleagues to provide compelling donor materials, gift proposals, and experiences.
• Participate in ongoing public, donor, and volunteer relations, and organizational functions and events as needed.
• Utilize data analytics, research, and an intentional timeline to manage donor relationships, moving them towards a gift.
• Maintain up-to-date and accurate database records for assigned donors, recording all conversations, actions, and proposals for tracking and reporting purposes.
• Conduct donor research, cultivation, and solicitation to support campaigns as needed.

Organizational Impact: 5%

• Actively participate on organization-wide leadership committee(s).
• Collaborate with the Director, Senior Director, and/or Executive Team members to ensure the department is staying on track with goals.
• Support and prioritize the Center’s DEI objectives and integrate as opportunities arise.

Other Duties as Assigned: 5%

• Perform special projects and other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of major gifts experience, with a strong record of closing 5- to 6-figure gifts
• Metrics-driven approach and comfort making direct asks
• Experience qualifying prospects and working toward campaign goals
• Prioritizes donor time: calls, visits, cultivation, and qualification
• Engaging, authentic, and gregarious, must want to be out with donors
• Builds aligned, win-win, authentic relationships that reflect the Center’s mission and values
• Track record of new donor cultivation/building a major gifts pipeline
• Mission-driven with passion for ocean health
• Genuine excitement for marine science, ocean conservation, animal welfare, or related mission areas
• Can translate complex, technical concepts into donor-friendly language
• Uses storytelling to convey urgency, impact, and inspiration
• Can work independently
• Brings energy, initiative, and accountability in a changing environment
• Builds strong working relationships across departments (programs, volunteers, ops, marketing, finance, leadership, board, etc.)
• Navigates legacy relationships and team dynamics with maturity
• Positively contributes to team culture and communication
• Crafts compelling, customized donor messaging and cases for support
• Comfortable with improving systems and tracking (Salesforce Implementation)
• Can interpret scientific content and present it meaningfully to donors
• Donor data analytic skills - can interpret donor data and make data-driven decisions

Location

Our beautiful main hospital campus, featuring sweeping ocean views, is located at 2000 Bunker Road in Fort Cronkhite, Sausalito, CA 94965. Nestled in the Marin Headlands, the Center sits just minutes from the Golden Gate Bridge.

Compensation

This position offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits. Compensation is based on experience with an expected starting salary range of: ($80,000 – $130,000)

To Apply

The Marine Mammal Center has retained the services of ThinkingAhead Executive Search. Please submit your resume and expression of interest to: Dan Kuhar, Partner Recruiter at: dkuhar@thinkingahead.com

Equal Opportunity Statement

The Center is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes everyone to our team. If you need reasonable accommodation at any point in the application or interview process, please let us know.