About Us

At The Huntington, we believe that having a team of diverse backgrounds and voices working together will enable us to support and promote the appreciation of the humanities, the arts, and botanical science. The Huntington is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities regardless of race, religious creed, color, national origin, disability, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal law.

The Huntington

Founded in 1919, The Huntington is a collections-based research and educational institution open to the public, housing world-class library, art, and botanical collections. Its mission is to support research and promote education in the arts, humanities, and botanical science and to display and interpret its extraordinary resources for diverse audiences.

The Culture

Here we are committed to the highest of standards in all that we do – from preserving and protecting the collections, to exhibitions, educational and scholarly programming, visitor and reader services, and beyond.  Achieving excellence across these pursuits requires a diversity of perspectives, expertise, experience, and methodologies. 

At The Huntington, our organizational Culture is shaped by the following core values: Intellectual curiosity, Collaboration, Stewardship, Belonging, and Integrity.

• Intellectual Curiosity: Knowledge, lifelong learning, and a spirit of inquiry are at the core of our mission and organizational culture.

• Collaboration: Teamwork and a collaborative attitude are important at all levels of The Huntington. We foster relationships internally among our departments and externally with organizations throughout the community.

• Stewardship: We are committed to the care and development of our collections, our financial and physical resources, our staff, and our community.

• Belonging: We strive to attract and maintain a workforce of individuals with diverse talents, backgrounds, and perspectives. Our organizational culture promotes a sense of welcome, inclusion, and connection.

• Integrity: We value respect and honesty, working to fulfill our mission with honor and ethical principles.

Job Description

About the Role  

The Associate Director, Society of Fellows, is a key member of The Huntington's Advancement team, supporting the institution's comprehensive fundraising efforts through donor engagement, membership development, stewardship, and special event management. Working closely with the Director of the Society of Fellows, this position plays a central role in cultivating meaningful relationships with donors while delivering exceptional experiences that strengthen philanthropic support for The Huntington. 

The Society of Fellows is The Huntington's premier donor membership program, comprising more than 600 households contributing annual gifts ranging from $3,000 to more than $100,000. Collectively, Society of Fellows members provide nearly $6 million each year to support the institution's core programs and mission. 

Reporting to the Director of the Society of Fellows, the Associate Director is responsible for planning and executing a robust calendar of donor events and programs that inspire engagement, recognize generosity, and cultivate prospective members. This role collaborates closely with colleagues across Advancement, Special Events, Communications, and other departments to develop programming that showcases The Huntington's collections and initiatives while advancing fundraising goals. The Associate Director also assists with special projects, supports departmental priorities, and serves in the Director's stead as needed. 

S/he/they will demonstrate a background of working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, geographic, and socioeconomic backgrounds, using a welcoming, inclusive, and accessible approach. 

Essential Duties  

• Partner with the Director to plan and execute a comprehensive calendar of Society of Fellows programming, including cultivation events for prospective members, stewardship events for current donors, and mission-focused experiences that highlight The Huntington's collections, research, and educational programs. 

• Help lead planning and coordination for The Huntington Ball, the institution's signature annual fundraising gala, working collaboratively with Advancement staff, cross-departmental partners, external event consultants, and Special Events staff to ensure a successful donor experience and fundraising outcome. 

• Coordinate all aspects of event and program execution, including program development, scheduling, promotion, invitations, ticketing, guest experience, budgeting, printed materials, mailings, and post-event evaluation. 

• Serve as a visible and engaged representative of the Society of Fellows by attending donor events, including some evenings and weekends, participating in assigned committee meetings, and acting as a primary point of contact for members and guests. 

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 150 donor households, developing strategies to strengthen relationships, increase donor retention, and secure membership upgrades. 

• Partner with the Director and Advancement colleagues to develop donor cultivation and stewardship strategies and participate in regular prospect strategy meetings. 

• Represent the Society of Fellows on cross-functional committees, including the Public Programs Council and the RAIL (Huntington Digital Asset Management) Governance Committee. 

• Collaborate with the Director to produce and distribute the weekly Society of Fellows e-newsletter through Mailchimp, highlighting upcoming events, institutional news, stories, and publications relevant to donors. 

• Develop and manage invitation lists for Society of Fellows events, monitor email communications, and help maintain accurate donor records and engagement data across relevant systems. 

• Deliver exceptional, personalized concierge service by assisting members with ticketing, private tours, event reservations, dining requests, and other donor services. 

• Assist with special projects and additional responsibilities as assigned, providing leadership support and acting on behalf of the Director when appropriate. 

• May perform other related duties as assigned 

Candidate Requirements and Experience  

Knowledge, skills, and abilities: 

The successful candidate is an organized, collaborative, and relationship-focused professional with exceptional communication and project management skills. They demonstrate the ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment, and deliver high-quality donor experiences with professionalism and attention to detail. 

Required Qualifications 

• Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience. 

• Minimum of three years of progressively responsible experience in fundraising, membership, annual giving, donor relations, special events, or a related Advancement function. 

• Demonstrated experience planning, coordinating, and evaluating donor or fundraising events. 

• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills with the ability to build and maintain positive relationships with donors, colleagues, volunteers, and external partners. 

• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while meeting deadlines. 

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint. 

• Experience working with donor databases such as Raiser's Edge, Salesforce, or comparable constituent relationship management systems. 

• Valid California driver's license.

Preferred Qualifications 

• Experience using email marketing platforms such as Mailchimp, Constant Contact, or similar tools. 

• Experience managing a portfolio of donors and conducting face-to-face donor cultivation and stewardship. 

• Demonstrated success working collaboratively across departments in a nonprofit, cultural, educational, or membership-based organization. 

Compensation & Benefits

We provide competitive compensation, generous benefits and perks for all eligible employees including:

• Pay Range: $92,000.00- $95,000.00. Commensurate with experience.

• Medical, Dental, Vision 

• 403(b) retirement plan and matching retirement plan with an outstanding employer match

• Considerable paid time off, including annual leave, sick leave, and holidays

• Discounts for staff in The Huntington Store and restaurants

• Free admission to various museums and cultural institutions

• Free passes each month to welcome family and friends to visit the grounds

The Application Process

Please submit a cover letter and CV/resume as a single PDF attachment. 

You will have the opportunity to submit additional documents on the “My Experience” section of the application.