CALIFORNIA OCEAN SCIENCE TRUST
DIRECTOR OF PHILANTHROPY

 
 

THIS POSITION IS REMOTE AND REQUIRES CALIFORNIA RESIDENCY. THE ROLE REQUIRES OCCASIONAL TRAVEL FOR TEAM MEETINGS AND TRAVEL AS NECESSARY FOR DONOR MEETINGS.

ABOUT CALIFORNIA OCEAN SCIENCE TRUST (OST)
Ocean Science Trust strengthens the bridge between scientific research and sound ocean management. Created by state legislation, OST supports and brings world-class science and innovation together with state and federal policymakers to accelerate progress toward a healthy and resilient coast and ocean.

OST’s strength lies in its nimble response to state priorities and horizon-scanning to foster science solutions to the challenges facing coastal communities and ocean ecosystems in California. On evolving topics as diverse as climate adaptation, plastic pollution, renewable energy, and aquaculture, OST leverages public and private funding to forge novel interdisciplinary science partnerships, encourage science co-production with communities, and build research capacity focused on California’s priorities. It brings solution-focused science guidance to executive branch agencies and delivers independent science services to the California State Legislature and their staff.

Through its unique landscape position with built-in accountability to the state, bolstered by an agile and innovative culture, OST is looking to the future and reaffirming the value proposition of a vibrant relationship between science and decision-makers. With a strong financial foundation, increasingly high-profile engagements, and state partnership and support, OST is poised to strategically expand and holistically live up to the promise of its founding legislation.

OST is headquartered in Sacramento, and the 10-person staff (plus additional Science-Policy fellows) work remotely and are based throughout California. OST has a proven commitment to staff retention and professional development, and to effective remote team collaboration with an inclusive, welcoming culture. Some travel within California will be required.

For more information, please visit www.oceansciencetrust.org.

OPPORTUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

  • Salary Range: $160,000 - $175,000

  • OST offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that supports employees’ health, financial well-being, and work–life balance. Benefits include robust healthcare coverage, retirement savings with an employer match, generous paid time off and holidays (including a paid year-end office closure), and a monthly cell phone and internet stipend. Combined with family-friendly, flexible schedules, the total package is designed to support employees in balancing meaningful work with their lives outside of work.

YOU ARE… an entrepreneurial and results-oriented leader whose passion for Ocean Science Trust’s science mission is matched by political savvy and strong tactical leadership, outstanding interpersonal skills, strategic decision-making in the face of complex challenges, and a proven track record of fundraising and external relations.

POSITION OVERVIEW
In a newly visioned position for the organization, the Director of Philanthropy will lead the design and implementation of a forward-looking revenue/resource growth strategy for Ocean Science Trust to both build organizational sustainability and expand our mission impact in drawing funding to actionable, solutions-oriented ocean science in California. 

Ocean Science Trust operates at the nexus of science, government, and society, and holds the responsibility to serve as trusted science advisors on coast and ocean issues in California. The Director of Philanthropy is motivated by partnerships and the durable outcomes that can be realized when the public and private sectors co-invest in creating science solutions to coastal and ocean challenges. Political savvy and the ability to build nonpartisan and cross-sectoral trusted relationships will be essential to success. The Director of Philanthropy will bring an understanding of how science and technology function in the public and private sectors, and how the landscape of science funding is shifting, especially in the environmental, ocean, climate, and higher education fields. 

With a new 2026-2030 strategic direction and growing organizational standing and visibility in the ocean science-policy sector, Ocean Science Trust is positioned to evolve from exclusive focus on small grant- and contract-funded nonprofit activities to also function as a financial trust, with competency in stewarding public and private resources for mission advancement. As the U.S. national science funding landscape faces ongoing turbulence and academic science itself faces a reckoning of identity and purpose, this is an exciting and critical moment to leverage our position in the state and our west coast regional partnerships and pursue new strategies for growing investments in ocean and coastal science and technology. The Director of Philanthropy is an entrepreneurial and highly strategic operator who can identify, scope, and pursue opportunities to build the ocean science research funds stewarded by Ocean Science Trust. Currently OST has a $13.5M investment portfolio providing foundational core support and the opportunity for strategic expansion in new public-private partnerships. We seek a Director of Philanthropy who understands the cultures and motivations of the public and private sectors to be able to align interests and grow joint investments.  

In tandem with a new strategic direction, we have launched the SeaChange Scholar Fund, a program to strengthen the bridge between academia and ocean resource management through direct financial support to graduate students. The Director of Philanthropy will lead design and execution of our efforts to grow this fund, both to enable direct disbursements to students in the near-term and towards longer-range fund sustainability goals. Currently we are seeking founding donors to build momentum and planning towards larger gifts and partnerships to meet a fundraising goal of $5M by 2030.

These next years will be an exciting period of maturation—with complex and multi-layered organizational investments and revenue sources and maturing programmatic functions and personnel structure. The Director of Philanthropy is adept at balancing near-term revenue needs and realities with the pursuit of longer-range goals to smoothly transition the organization's revenue portfolio from a grant-based model to sustained institutional sources. 

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS
The position reports to the Executive Director and is a member of OST’s leadership team, interfacing with the Board of Trustees. OST is a strongly collaborative and laterally-structured team and seeks a team player willing to balance high-level job responsibilities with providing support to program staff pursuing issue- and function-specific grant and contract funding opportunities. 

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Provide strategic leadership, planning, and oversight for the implementation, measurement, and accountability for a comprehensive resource development program that advances our mission and strategic vision

  • Forge new relationships and strategic partnerships in the private sector to build the organization’s visibility and credibility

  • Identify and pursue opportunities for public-private partnerships to grow funds stewarded by OST and in support of the organization’s role as a science innovation and workforce development funder 

  • Pursue multiple avenues for revenue generation including annual mid-level giving, individual major gifts, planned giving, and corporate and foundation support 

  • Cultivate and attract philanthropic support to increase organizational sustainability and resilience that complements the organization’s substantial earned revenue

  • Engage philanthropists and thought leaders through intimate gatherings to discuss science-informed ocean and coastal policy

  • Understand the governmental, corporate, civic, and professional affiliations that influence relationships with OST

  • Design, build and maintain the organizational infrastructure and workflows for effective moves management

  • Support, research and make recommendations to the Executive Director for potential new Board members

COMPETENCIES

  • Seven years or more experience of progressively challenging fundraising positions

  • Bachelor’s degree required, graduate degree or advanced fundraising certification preferred

  • Demonstrated success operating in a dynamic multi-faceted fundraising organization with proven ability and success in identifying, cultivating, and closing grants and gifts, and nimbly adapting strategies to respond to opportunities and current socio-political circumstances

  • Experience working alongside investment managers to build compelling fund prospectuses that balance sound fiscal stewardship with fund purposes  

  • Experience presenting to and communicating with internal and external audiences including powerful industry, policy, and philanthropy leaders

  • Excellent interpersonal skills, with ability to work as a team member within an established collaborative team structure

  • Demonstrates an understanding of and sensitivity to identity, race, and biases, and the dynamics they create in addressing the needs and priorities of diverse communities and people

  • Knowledge and use of database applications for moves management, reports, and list segmentation

  • Strong facility with CRM platforms, Google platform and Slack

  • Strong research, planning, analytical, problem solving and organization skills

  • Understanding of California, Silicon Valley and San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and other key California markets – their mindset and innovation culture

  • Superior written and verbal communication, active listening, and critical thinking skills

  • Experience in a science-based organization, a plus

  • Experience working alongside government partners or in structuring public-private partnerships, a plus

  • Experience fundraising in a university or college, a plus

  • Passion for the mission and vision of Ocean Science Trust

OCEAN SCIENCE TRUST DEI STATEMENT
Serving one of the most diverse states in the country, diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging and access are central values to our organizational philosophy and imperative to the most successful expression of our mission. We are committed to cultivating a work environment where staff from all backgrounds and identities feel a sense of belonging and can thrive.

TO APPLY
For more information, or to apply for the Director of Philanthropy position, please upload your resume and cover letter here. All applications will be kept confidential, and every applicant will receive a response.