Director of Major Gifts

Classification:
Exempt

Reports directly to:
Chief Philanthropy Officer

The Director of Major Gifts is a strategic fundraising leader responsible for cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major gift donors in support of the Zoo’s mission, conservation initiatives, educational programs, capital projects, animal care priorities, and strategic objectives. The position manages a team of frontline fundraisers and oversees a comprehensive major gifts program focused on securing philanthropic investments of $25,000 and above.

• Manage a personal portfolio of approximately 150 major gift donors and prospects.
• Develop and execute individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.
• Solicit and close major gifts for annual operations, capital campaigns, endowment, conservation initiatives, and educational programs.
• Collaborate with senior leadership and volunteers on major gift strategies and donor engagement.
• Prepare proposals, presentations, gift agreements, funding requests, and stewardship reports.

• Supervise, mentor, and evaluate Major Gift Officers and other assigned development staff.
• Establish performance goals and fundraising metrics for team members.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and donor-centered fundraising.
• Provide coaching on donor strategy, solicitation techniques, and relationship management.

• Oversee institutional giving strategy, including foundations, corporations, and government funding opportunities.
• Manage Manager of Grants and Major Gifts who is responsible for grant development processes including prospect research, proposal development, submission, reporting, and stewardship.
• Collaborate with program staff to develop project budgets, outcomes, and impact reports.
• Ensure compliance with grant requirements and reporting deadlines.

• Identify, develop, and market restricted funding opportunities aligned with organizational priorities.
• Partner with leadership to create donor investment opportunities related to:
  • Animal care and welfare
  • Conservation programs
  • Veterinary initiatives
  • Education programs
  • Capital projects and exhibits
  • Endowment funds
  • Species-specific support funds
• Develop case statements and naming opportunities for major philanthropic investments.
• Ensure proper tracking and stewardship of restricted gifts.

• Participate in department strategic planning and annual budget development.
• Utilize CRM systems to maintain accurate donor records, activity tracking, and forecasting.
• Analyze portfolio performance, donor retention, pipeline development, and fundraising trends.
• Prepare reports and presentations for executive leadership and board committees.
• Support comprehensive campaigns and special fundraising initiatives.

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Master’s degree, CFRE certification, or advanced fundraising training preferred.

• Minimum 7-10 years of progressively responsible fundraising experience.
• Demonstrated success securing five-, six-, and seven-figure gifts.
• Experience managing major gift portfolios.
• Experience supervising fundraising staff.
• Proven grant writing or grant management experience.
• Experience with capital campaigns, endowment fundraising, and comprehensive campaigns preferred.
• Experience in zoological, conservation, educational, cultural, healthcare, or nonprofit organizations preferred.

• Strong understanding of major gift fundraising principles and best practices.
• Expertise in donor cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and moves management.
• Knowledge of planned giving and blended gift…