Reports to: Executive Vice President (EVP)
Location: Novato, Marin County, California
Position Overview
The Buck Institute seeks a strategic, externally oriented Chief Philanthropy Officer (CPO) to lead its philanthropic enterprise and position the organization for its next phase of growth. Reporting to the Executive Vice President and serving on the executive leadership team, the CPO will define and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy aligned with Buck’s scientific mission, institutional priorities, and long-term growth and campaign ambitions.
This is a rare opportunity to shape philanthropy at a globally recognized biomedical research institute at the forefront of longevity science. With strong scientific momentum and increasing visibility in a rapidly expanding field, Buck is well positioned to significantly grow philanthropic investment. The CPO will serve as the Institute’s senior fundraising executive and a trusted partner to the EVP, CEO, Board of Trustees, faculty, and senior leadership.
The successful candidate will bring the vision, discipline, and fundraising expertise to expand major and transformational giving, deepen donor relationships, strengthen institutional fundraising capacity, and help position Buck for its next phase of institutional growth.
The Role
The Chief Philanthropy Officer will lead Buck’s fundraising function, with full responsibility for donor strategy, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and long-term relationship management across the Institute’s most important philanthropic partners.
This leader will set direction, establish priorities, and ensure fundraising efforts are disciplined, coordinated, and aligned with institutional goals. The CPO will oversee a small development team and work closely with leadership, faculty, communications, and finance to deliver a unified and high-impact donor experience.
The role requires both strategic leadership and direct engagement with high-capacity donors and partners, including individuals, foundations, and institutional funders.
Key Priorities
Philanthropy Strategy & Institutional Growth
- Define and lead a multi-year philanthropic strategy aligned with Buck’s mission, research priorities, and future campaign ambitions.
- Assess current fundraising capacity and identify opportunities to expand unrestricted, restricted, current-use, and planned giving.
- Build a clear roadmap for future campaign readiness, including case development, donor segmentation, and internal alignment.
- Serve as the senior philanthropy advisor to the EVP and CEO, translating institutional priorities into actionable fundraising strategies.
- Contribute to executive leadership discussions on institutional planning and growth strategy.
Major & Transformational Giving
- Personally manage and grow a portfolio of high-capacity donors and prospects.
- Identify, cultivate, and secure significant philanthropic commitments from individuals, foundations, and strategic partners.
- Develop tailored cases for support that connect donor interests with Buck’s scientific mission and long-term impact.
- Lead high-touch engagement strategies that strengthen donor relationships, retention, and lifetime value.
- Partner with leadership on key solicitations and stewardship of top philanthropic relationships.
Board, Faculty & Stakeholder Engagement
- Partner with the Board of Trustees to strengthen their engagement in philanthropy, including donor identification, cultivation, and stewardship.
- Develop structured approaches to board participation in fundraising efforts and relationship activation.
- Work closely with faculty and research leaders to translate scientific priorities into compelling philanthropic opportunities.
- Coach internal stakeholders on donor engagement and ensure aligned messaging across leadership interactions.
Team Leadership & Fundraising Infrastructure
- Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing philanthropy team.
- Establish clear roles, performance expectations, and accountability frameworks.
- Oversee development operations including forecasting, portfolio management, reporting, and metrics.
- Strengthen systems and processes to support disciplined fundraising execution and future growth.
- Foster close collaboration across philanthropy, communications, finance, and research leadership.
External Visibility & Institutional Positioning
- Serve as a senior external representative of the Buck Institute in donor, partner, and community settings.
- Strengthen Buck’s visibility within philanthropic and scientific networks.
- Help build a culture of philanthropy across the organization, reinforcing its role as a strategic driver of mission advancement.
- Contribute to institutional readiness for a future capital campaign.
- Partner closely with marketing and communications to develop and execute donor-facing communications and engagement strategies that strengthen cultivation, stewardship, and philanthropic impact.