Meet Kris Kaiser, Director, Development Operations & Direct Response

How did you get into fundraising and development operations?

I moved to San Francisco in 2007. Previously, I worked in banking as a branch manager in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. When I arrived in San Francisco, I was temping in various positions and industries, searching for my next career path.

In early 2008, the Donor Systems Coordinator position opened up at the Academy (in the Howard Street location), and I was immediately interested. The Academy was a unique and fun place to work, and I saw a direct correlation between my customer service skills and experience. I also got to be a part of the opening of the new building in September 2008.

How has your career path and scope changed over your 15-year tenure at the Academy?

When I first joined the Academy, my role was very database-focused. As I learned other areas of fundraising, I began to understand the breadth and depth of development operations.

Development operations is a Development department's hub and central nervous system, providing intelligence and strategic fundraising opportunities for all functions, including individual giving, institutional giving, direct response, and events fundraising.

I’ve been fortunate to be a part of some very large transformational campaigns. When I joined the Academy, I worked on the $500 million Campaign for the New Academy. In 2015, the Academy launched the Engaging for Life campaign, which raised over $137 million. Most recently, I’m involved in tracking and identifying funding opportunities for the Healthy Communities, Thriving Planet campaign, a $200 million multiyear campaign rooted in the Academy’s mission and regeneration initiatives.

Fundraising for the Academy is always essential, but during the pandemic, it became one of the only funding sources coming into the Academy. During that time, we explored different tools and digital fundraising platforms, which took our Direct Response fundraising program to the next level.

What are you most excited about at the Academy?

I am most excited about community building and people feeling like they have a part to play in regeneration science, whether being inspired in the museum or reading about one of our strategic initiatives and how we’re working with communities worldwide to fight climate change. I believe that at the Academy, we are here to work with everyone around us to make the world a better place.

What has your team accomplished over the last year that you’re most proud of?

I am beyond proud of our team for launching the inaugural Academy Day on April 4, 2023. It was an all-Academy effort featuring pay-what-you-can admission, a science fair, and more. Academy Day raised over $100,000.

We implemented a multichannel plan and leveraged new tools we had never used in our fundraising efforts, including DonorSearch AI (an artificial intelligence prospecting tool). This enabled us to identify new prospects and target even higher-capacity donors.

The data on the pay-what-you-can admission suggests that we successfully reached a more diverse audience. For instance, 54% of guests were first-time visitors, and the guests overall were younger and more ethnically diverse.

I’m proud and humbled by everyone who gave their time and skills to support this inaugural day. Here’s to another successful Academy Day in 2024!

How has the year-end fundraising campaign evolved over the years? Successes? Challenges?

Many folks consider giving at the end of the year, but it’s competitive and challenging because so many nonprofits are asking for donations simultaneously. Through the years, we’ve tested different messaging and tactics with the Academy, which I’ve enjoyed, as well as transparency regarding our financial needs. What we have found is that, not surprisingly, people love our penguins!

Academy anniversary: March 8, 2008

Favorite Academy animal: Methuselah

Favorite parts of your job: Learning about new fundraising tools and strategies and working closely with so many teams across the Academy

First job: Cashier at ShopKo in Grafton, Wisconsin

Other passions: Music and animal rescue. I’ve been in bands that have toured across North America and sometimes work at the Fillmore and the Masonic, historic music venues in San Francisco. I’m also Board Chair of the Friends of San Francisco Animal Care and Control, helping to promote San Francisco’s wild and domestic animals.

Sarah Fahey is associate director, development communications, media, and engagement.