Manager of Major and Planned Gifts - Full Time

Essential Responsibilities

• Help manage the Saint Louis Zoo’s planned giving program, including marketing and management of bequests, charitable gift annuities, beneficiary designations, and other non-cash and deferred gift vehicles
• Implement strategies to identify, qualify, cultivate, and solicit planned gift prospects and promote legacy giving opportunities to support the Zoo
• Manage and promote the Zoo’s Heritage Society program; identify, qualify, and welcome new members; and steward pool of unassigned members
• Create effective communications and collateral to make the case for endowment and to recognize and steward donors
• Aid with the estate settlement process
• Manage the Zoo’s Planned Giving Advisory Committee
• Support planned giving events

Endowment Building

• Implement fundraising strategies for endowment growth and long-term sustainability
• Manage recognition and stewardship of endowed fund donors
• Manage acknowledgement of endowment gifts including tributes

Major Gift Fundraising

• Manage a portfolio of 125 – 150 major and planned gift prospects and donors
• Develop and implement individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies to secure major and planned gifts ($25,000+)
• Maintain annual fundraising goals and activity metrics

Inter- and Cross- Department Collaboration

• Collaborate with and oversee functions done by administrative and gift processing staff as appropriate
• Work with Data Analyst/Prospect Researcher to identify and qualify major and planned giving prospects
• Coordinate with stewardship and Creative Services staff to develop and deliver digital and print communications
• Coordinate with Events team to plan and implement Heritage Society Breakfast and other planned giving events

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• 5+ years of experience in major and planned gift fundraising with a proven track record of success
• Excellent verbal and written communication and relationship-building skills
• Strong project management/organizational skills with attention to detail
• Professional maturity, credibility, honesty, and integrity
• Computer literate; experience working with Microsoft Office, Raiser’s Edge NXT, and Crescendo or other planned giving marketing platforms or software preferred

Key Competencies

• Relationship building
• Strategic thinking
• Donor-centered
• Financial and philanthropic acumen
• Collaborative
• Results oriented
• Organized with the ability to manage multiple priorities