MISSION

The Bulletin equips the public, policymakers, and scientists with the information needed to reduce man-made threats to our existence.

BACKGROUND

The Bulletin, an independent, nonprofit 501 (c) (3) organization, is a media organization at its core. It is non-partisan and solutions oriented. Applying intellectual rigor to the conversation, the Bulletin does not shrink from alarming truths.

The website, iconic Doomsday Clock, and regular events help advance actionable ideas at a time when technology is outpacing our ability to control it. The Bulletin gathers a diverse array of the most informed and influential voices tracking man-made threats and brings innovative thinking to a global audience. The Bulletin maintains worldwide surveillance on the evolution of already-identified threats as well as emerging dangers that may not be on their readers’ radar.

The Bulletin is committed to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. The profound challenges of our moment cannot be met without increasing the diversity of background and perspective of the organization.

When established 75 years ago, the Bulletin focused on the rising nuclear threat and created the internationally recognized Doomsday Clock. Today, as threats to human existence continue to grow, the Bulletin focuses on three main areas: 1) nuclear risk, 2) climate change, and 3) disruptive technologies, including biosecurity and artificial intelligence. As influential as the Bulletin has been in raising global awareness of the nuclear threat, it is becoming equally renowned for building visibility of the risks of climate change and disruptive technologies. Evidence of this is the recent March 29, 2023 New York Times article highlighting the threat of AI with an open letter signed by 1000 tech leaders, researchers and others including the Bulletin’s President/CEO. In Sept. 2022, the Bulletin launched a year-long taskforce composed of globally recognized experts to generate new thinking on responsible high-risk pathogen research. An international conference will be held in April 2023 in Geneva to share findings and amplify the conversation on a worldwide stage. A recent climate inspired Bulletin art exhibit entitled Human/Nature was featured in the BBC and local media. What connects these activities is a driving belief that because humans created these threats, we can control them.

The Bulletin has many audiences: the general public, policymakers, and the scientists. The community is international, with half of website visitors coming from outside the United States. Half of its audience is younger than 35 and seventy percent is younger than 45. In 2022, the Bulletin drew 12 million-page views, and its total visitors continue to grow on a strong upward trajectory.

The Bulletin is governed by a 17 member Board of Directors comprised of leaders in their respective fields. Its Science and Security Board serves as a powerful advisory board supporting its work. A third group, the Board of Sponsors, was established in December 1948 by Albert Einstein with J. Robert Oppenheimer as its first chair. Board of Sponsors members, which have counted 40 Nobel laureates over the years, are recruited by their peers from the world’s most accomplished science and security leaders to reinforce the importance of the Bulletin’s activities and publications. There are 25 full and part time staff organized into editorial, program, administrative, operations and fundraising teams.

OPPORTUNITY

Over the past six years, under the leadership of the President & CEO, the Bulletin has grown from a $1.25M budget and a staff eight full-time and three part-time staff to a more than $4M budget of which about $2M is generated through philanthropy and a staff of 16 full-time and 9 part-time. Currently, about 40% of the funding is from individual donors, 40% foundations, and 20% earned revenue. The desire is to grow to a $5M organization and ultimately to double the budget in the next five years. While an ambitious goal, there is a tremendous potential with expanded programming, in terms of issue areas such as building awareness around AI and biological risk, as well as events, conferences and other activities.

Primarily known for its magazine and website, the Bulletin, is now a much larger presence on social media, including Facebook, Twitter and other information sharing platforms. Additionally, the leadership of the Bulletin has become more visible at key convenings and conferences as well as creating and organizing such activities. The growth strategy has revolved around sourcing more people like current newsletter subscribers who have a demonstrated interest in the Bulletin’s work and the potential to become more engaged donors.

The Board is deeply engaged in the work of the Bulletin and is looking for guided opportunities to transition into a more active fundraising board. The CAO will work with the newly created Advancement committee and full Board to identify how to best leverage all that the Board can bring to the organization. Across all areas of its leadership, the Bulletin is seeking board members from diverse backgrounds, professional experiences, geographical locations, and age cohorts to ensure that the Bulletin’s leadership represents the broader community it aspires to attract.

The Bulletin’s signature event, Conversations Before Midnight, now in its seventh year, is proving an extremely successful engagement opportunity. It is growing in attendance and bringing in significant philanthropic support. Another key event is the annual setting of the Doomsday Clock which touches millions of people annually. The Bulletin relies on five categories of support: individual, corporate, foundation, magazine revenue, and in-kind support from its contributors and stakeholders. There is more the Bulletin can do on all these fronts to attract resources, but the greatest growth is likely to come from individuals, and this is where the Bulletin must continue to target its efforts.

The Bulletin has a robust database of subscribers and donors that is ready for further development. Last year, the Bulletin engaged a fundraising consulting firm to conduct an audit of the advancement function. The headline from that assessment was a significant opportunity to build a major gifts program, which requires building the internal capacity of the advancement team to do so.

With the Bulletin’s focus on its current five key issue areas, segmenting and communicating with donors around individual areas of interest is needed. The Board is ready and willing to support advancement efforts but recognizes that they need to be coached and guided in order to be effective.

The outgoing CAO built a fundraising infrastructure including bringing on new staff to support advancement efforts and served as strong voice for philanthropy throughout the organization. Her planned transition presents the opportunity for a seasoned advancement professional to build on the foundation that has been created and take the organization to new levels of reach and impact.

Position Description

Reporting to the President/CEO, the Chief Advancement Officer (“CAO)”) leads and manages all aspects of the Bulletin’s advancement program, to include creation and implementation of a new development plan, engaging a core set of loyal donors, and expanding the existing donor base to include new individual, corporate, and foundation supporters. The CAO will also supervise existing Advancement staff that includes an advancement services manager and coordinator as well as a part-time grant development consultant and a recently retained part-time Director of Individual Giving. Ultimately the CAO will build a larger team that includes at least two major gifts officers. Additionally, the CAO will work with the Board and President/CEO to build capacity for a robust major gifts program.

The CAO will ensure that all aspects of the Advancement function work collaboratively with Marketing/Communications, Finance, and other key areas of the Bulletin’s operations. The CAO will fulfill a critical role on the Bulletin’s administrative leadership team through collaboration, ethical leadership, and consensus building. As part of the Bulletin’s leadership team, the CAO contributes to the organization-wide strategies and direction and ensures development objectives are aligned with the Bulletin’s strategic plan.

The Bulletin seeks a highly skilled CAO to build, maintain and cultivate relationships with individuals, businesses and foundations and will have demonstrated success closing five-figure gifts or more. The selected candidate will demonstrate experience with moves management—from building infrastructure to implementation of planned activities.

A high priority will be supporting the Bulletin’s President/CEO and properly deploying all the organization’s development resources. The CAO is responsible for the design, oversight, execution, and growth of a comprehensive development plan. Oversight functions of the development department include budget preparation and adherence, preparation of policies and procedures, and execution of donor agreements to maintain regulatory compliance.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership and Strategy:

Lead a comprehensive, best practice development program that is aligned with the Bulletin’s values, vision and mission, and includes annual giving, major gifts, planned giving, and foundation and corporate giving strategies.
Set tangible annual fundraising goals for each program, appropriate benchmarks, and key performance measures upon which to evaluate progress and success.
Manage and supervise the Advancement team, including the Director of Individual Giving, the Advancement Services Administrator, the Advancement Services Coordinator and grant writer.
Conceptualize and support creation of effective and compelling communications, solicitations, and proposals for development opportunities.

Planning, Analysis and Administration:

Conduct analysis and review of trends to inform prospecting and relationship building strategies, management of portfolios, and oversight/evaluation of fundraising programs.
Manage the Advancement operating budget and monitor spending against a plan.
Partner with the Bulletin’s financial staff to ensure timely reconciliation and compliance with all relevant regulations and laws and adherence to the highest accountability standards and ethical principles.

Major Gifts Program Development, Stewardship and Portfolio Management:

Manage an assigned portfolio of major gift prospects and engage development staff and senior leadership team in cultivating and/or closing gifts, as appropriate.
Support the President/CEO with her assigned portfolio of prospects and donors, including partnering on major gift solicitations as appropriate, and follow-up.
Design and implement moves management activities including prospect qualification, identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.

Board Relationships:

Staff and facilitate the activities of the Advancement Committee as partners in philanthropy with a focus on major gifts. Guide them through donor/prospect relationship building and stewardship strategies.
Support the Advancement Committee chair(s) in their reporting at board meetings.

Oversight of Annual Fund:

Supervise the design, management and evaluation of the annual fund program and fundraising events.
Provide strategic leadership on event design and desired outcomes (including future solicitations) to ensure a donor-centric experience.

The Board and President/CEO are excited to work with a proactive advancement professional who leads them in their philanthropic efforts including providing and regularly reporting on, clear metrics for success. It is essential to have a collaborative leadership style and ensure that all the internal resources are being leveraged to advance the mission and work of the Bulletin.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

The Bulletin is seeking a dynamic, externally facing leader with demonstrated success in building and managing a robust fundraising program. The successful candidate will be passionate about the mission of the Bulletin and being a part of a highly motivated team.

The selected candidate will serve both as the lead on cultivation and solicitation as well as a key partner to the Board and President/CEO in their fundraising efforts. They must be an independent, strategic thinker, who is highly organized, personable, data-oriented and possesses excellent written communication skills.

The Bulletin requires candidates who demonstrate their ability to actively seek out new donor prospects, who appreciate the cultivation and stewardship process and who can successfully close major gift opportunities. The successful candidate will demonstrate a sincere interest in the mission, goals and work of the Bulletin. Skilled in goal setting and assessment, the successful candidate will be a results-oriented self-starter. The individual must have the ability to lead not only direct reports but also partner directly with the President, Board members, and senior management team who are involved in philanthropic activities.

Deep experience building comprehensive development plans relative to a budget and an organizational strategic plan; establishing and tracking KPIs/metrics, testing, and adjusting for improvement are required. Experience building a culture of philanthropy as well as knowledge of the principles and ethics of fundraising and emerging trends within the fund development profession are needed.

The person we seek should present a proven track record in building a developmental culture within the staff group. Candidates with the ability to assess and hire talent, set the vision, get buy-in on goals, and create strong teams based on high individual accountability are sought. Qualified candidates will have experience in budgeting and forecasting revenue projections and will have an understanding of nonprofit financial statements. An ability to manage complex programs and balance multiple priorities effectively is required.

The successful candidate will have stature and poise to build relationships at all levels. The ability to effectively communicate with a variety of audiences is required. We seek a creative and energetic individual who is collaborative, supportive, diplomatic, flexible, personable, and comfortable rolling up their sleeves. The successful candidate will demonstrate a willingness to participate in the life of the institution at all levels.

A minimum of 10 years of fundraising experience or equivalent relevant experience is required. BA/BS degree or equivalent is required. Evidence of continuing professional education is ideal. Computer proficiency is required, knowledge of Salesforce a plus.

Applications and nominations are being received by Noetic Search. Please submit a current resume and cover letter. For more information, visit or the .

SALARY INFORMATION

Starting salary range is $130,000-$150,000 depending on experience and qualifications. A comprehensive benefits package and hybrid work model are provided. Occasional planned travel likely.

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status.

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Chief Advancement Officer, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists