Associate, Development

Position Details

Position: Associate, Development
Department: Development
Reports to: Associate Vice President, Institutional Advancement
Location: Bronx Zoo
Scope: Bronx Zoo
Position Type: Full Time

WCS stands for wildlife and wild places. As the world’s premier wildlife conservation organization, WCS has a long track record of achieving innovative, impactful results  run field programs spanning 60 countries and the entire ocean. We build on a unique foundation:
Our reach is global; we discover through best-in-class science; we protect through work on the ground with local and indigenous people; we inspire through our world‑class zoos, aquarium, and education programs; and we leverage our resources through partnerships and powerful policy influence. Our more than 4,000 diverse, passionately committed team members in New York City and around the world work collectively to achieve our conservation mission.

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is looking for an Associate to join the fundraising team. As an integral member of the development team, you will support the Associate Vice President and the Philanthropy Director, a new position based in Europe, in identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding existing donors and prospects for gifts to WCS. This position reports to the Associate Vice President for Institutional Advancement and supports a team of frontline institutional fundraisers with a global mandate beyond the US.

The ideal candidate is a team‑oriented individual with a mind for process, excellent attention to detail, and strong writing and communication skills, eager to dive into a fast‑paced development environment and add value immediately.

• Support at least two (2) relationship managers’ portfolios, tracking and prompting actions related to prospecting, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. This includes data entry, preparing status reports, tracking opportunities, flagging actions, coordinating moves management, and drafting correspondence.
• Coordinate with and schedule meetings with internal stakeholders to proactively manage the calendar of deliverables for frontline fundraisers, ensuring efficiency in content creation.
• Provide additional support to the frontline fundraisers on the Foundation Relations team, as directed.
• Work with the Operations team to process gifts and acknowledgement letters, drafting relevant gift and grant acknowledgement letters and thank‑you emails from fundraisers and senior staff.
• Serve as point of contact for all internal inquiries for the Foundation Relations team, liaising with the Research team for information/materials and the Donor Engagement team on invitation list reviews.
• Stay updated on database procedures and attend all required training sessions.
• Assist and support fundraising events, donor meetings, and zoo tours. This includes preparing briefings and biographies pre‑event, coordinating comprehensive follow‑up strategies post‑event, and occasionally greeting donors for tours and accompanying them to represent WCS (driver’s license required).
• Reconcile Foundation Relations team’s annual budget, track spending, and submit expenses for supported frontline fundraisers and other team members.
• May require occasional travel, including internationally – less than 5% of the time.
• Perform other administrative duties as needed.

• 1‑2 years of fundraising or relevant work experience.
• Excellent writing, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Experience communicating across a variety of departments and managing multifaceted projects.
• Fine attention to detail.
• Interest in WCS mission.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office and internet‑based research.
• A Bachelor’s or Associate Degree preferred.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Experience with Salesforce or another relevant development and donor software.

The physical demands include but are not limited to the use of a keyboard, 10‑key, mouse, telephone use, handwriting, sitting, standing, crouching, kneeling, bending, walking, stair climbing, driving, and lifting up to 20 lbs.