Major Gifts Officer

About the role

The Major Gifts Officer plays a crucial role in the zoo's fundraising efforts, focusing on major gift solicitations and portfolio management. This position is part of the Development department and is offered as a hybrid role, requiring 2-3 days per week on-site and the rest remotely.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of philanthropic prospects, focusing on identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors who have the capacity to make major gifts.
• Build meaningful relationships with donors and prospects through highly customized interactions, primarily face-to-face, and translate those conversations into clear, actionable cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans.
• Prepare, submit, and follow through on major gift proposals, including solicitations of $10,000 or more, aligned with fundraising priorities, coordinating with the zoo’s institutional giving team on proposals and gift documentation as appropriate.
• Develop comprehensive moves management plans for all donors and prospects within the portfolio in support of the zoo’s annual fundraising goals and objectives.
• Record, with timeliness and precision, information about prospects and donors, strategies and next steps using Salesforce.
• Partner with the Planned Giving Officer to document planned gifts from donors to ensure their intentions are honored and gifts are eligible for campaign inclusion as appropriate.
• Manage portfolio per the zoo’s prospect management guidelines and policies aimed at advancing best practices in portfolio management.
• Regularly evaluate fundraising programs, assess progress toward goals, and share clear updates on outcomes and impact.
• Partner with zoo board members, volunteers, and staff to review and implement cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.
• Serve as a liaison between Development and other departments at the zoo as assigned.
• Support holistic zoo fundraising efforts at events as appropriate.
• Assist department leadership with proposals and communications with donors as requested.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college; and at least four (4) years successful frontline fundraising experience.
• Previous experience in major gift fundraising, with a strong understanding of the full donor engagement process, including identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Proven ability to build and maintain donor-centered relationships based on trust, credibility, and long-term partnership.
• Experience working toward clearly defined fundraising goals and activity metrics, with the ability to track progress, manage performance expectations, and use data to inform strategy.
• Effective critical thinking and decision-making skills, particularly in complex or evolving situations.
• Experience fundraising in zoos or aquariums.
• Ability to speak a language in addition to English.