The World Science Festival offers an unparalleled opportunity for an entrepreneurial and creative individual to contribute to a dynamic and growing media organization. The Manager of Institutional Giving will be responsible for building a portfolio of private foundation, corporate foundation and government agency funders to support the organization’s near and long-term growth.

Responsibilities:

• Design, implement, and manage a comprehensive, proactive development plan focused on expanding and enhancing foundation, corporate foundation and government agency relationships and financial support
• Identify, evaluate, cultivate major philanthropic commitments to support the mission and goals of WSF
• Actively engage in creating opportunities to increase the visibility and awareness of the WSF in the relevant donor communities
• Through active and ongoing research, identify emerging philanthropic trends and areas of common interest between donors, donor prospects and the WSF
• Identify opportunities for donors and donor prospects to interact with the Festival and key staff and Board members
• Develop competitive proposals for donor prospects and leverage diverse donor goals and interests in conjunction with the goals of the WSF
• Develop and maintain a high quality stewardship process for active prospects and donors
• Monitor proposal deadlines, prepare and edit proposals, and manage submissions of proposals, and interim and final reports

Requirements:

• Knowledge of cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies and techniques, particularly in the area of institutional fundraising required
• Proven track record in raising large gifts, and developing strategies to obtain such gifts
• Demonstrated ability in grant and proposal writing
• Demonstrated knowledge of methods, practices and procedures for obtaining information about the giving programs of institutional donors
• Self-motivation and discipline to regularly set and achieve work goals
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal and networking skills, with large groups as well as with individuals, are essential
• Demonstrated record of success in generating significant commitments from foundations, and government agencies
• Experience in STEM and STEAM funded initiatives preferred
• Must possess a high level of independence in accomplishing the responsibilities of the position
• A minimum 5-7+ years demonstrated successful institutional fundraising or equivalent experience preferably in the arts, sciences and/or higher education (or a comparably complex organization), and a bachelor’s degree, are required
• Preference will be given to candidates with institutional fundraising experience, particularly with organizations as outlined above
• Must possess a passion for the arts, science, and education and be inspired by the possibility for cross-fertilization among these spheres

About the Organization:

The World Science Festival is a production of the Science Festival Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization headquartered in New York City. The Foundation’s mission is to cultivate a general public informed by science, inspired by its wonder, convinced of its value, and prepared to engage with its implications for the future. The Board includes Alan Alda, the actor/author/director; Ann Ziff, managing director and co-chairman of the Board of the Metropolitan Opera and a vice chairman on the Board of Directors of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Inc.; Lee Bollinger, the President of Columbia University; Brian Greene, Professor of Physics and Professor of Mathematics at Columbia University, and author of The Elegant Universe; Tracy Day, CEO and Co-founder of The World Science Festival, who is a four-time National News Emmy award-winning journalist; and Judith Cox, the President of the Science Festival Foundation, who was Deputy Director of The Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation and instrumental in its New York and international operations.

The World Science Festival’s signature event is an annual celebration and exploration of science that launched in 2008. Hailed a “new cultural institution,” by the New York Times, the Festival has featured such luminaries as: Stephen Hawking, E.O. Wilson, Sir Paul Nurse, Harold Varmus, Daniel Dennett, Eric Lander, Steven Chu, Richard Leakey, Sylvia Earle, Yo-Yo Ma, Oliver Sacks, Mary-Claire King, Chuck Close, Philip Glass, Charlie Kaufman, Glenn Close, Anna Deavere Smith, Bobby McFerrin, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Liev Schreiber, John Lithgow, Bill T. Jones, Charlie Rose, John Hockenberry, Elizabeth Vargas and Walter Isaacson. The first four Festivals attracted over half a million visitors, and millions more have viewed the programs online. The World Science Festival has recently commenced year-round live programming in New York City, nationally and internationally.

The World Science Festival offers a competitive benefits package, and salary commensurate with experience and track record. The position can be based in the NYC headquarters or Washington DC.

Please email resume with a cover letter and salary requirements to:

jobs@worldsciencefestival.com
with “Manager of Institutional Giving” in the subject line.

No phone calls please.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without unlawful discrimination based on race, creed, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status or sexual orientation. The Science Festival Foundation is an equal employment opportunity employer.