Major Gifts Officer

TITLE: Major Gifts Officer

SALARY & FLSA: $80,168.40 - $ per year; FLSA exempt

OPENING DATE: 07/20/2026

CLOSING DATE: 07/31/2026 - This position may close early if a sufficient number of qualified applications are received.

JOB TYPE: Regular, Full-Time

UNION: Non-Represented

OPENINGS: 1

LOCATION: Hybrid (on grounds 2-3 days/week and remainder work remotely)

DEPARTMENT: Development

More than 1.3 million people visit Woodland Park Zoo each year. We connect people with wildlife and remind them of what’s at stake in our changing world. Our job is to motivate people to take action and provide them with the tools needed to join us in saving endangered species. Working for the zoo means upholding our mission, “To save wildlife and inspire everyone to make conservation a priority in their lives.”

As our new Major Gifts Officer, we know you will be successful in this role because you are:

• Relationship Builder: You are an expert in relationship building with donors and prospects through highly customized interactions. You can translate those conversations into clear, actionable cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans. You can identify and qualify new donor prospects using research tools, donor information and professional networks.
• An Effective Communicator: You are excited to communicate and advocate for the zoo’s mission, priorities, and funding needs with donors and community partners. As our Major Gift Officer, you are excited to partner with zoo board members, volunteers and staff, and to support holistic zoo fundraising efforts at events as appropriate.
• Able to Manage Major Gift Proposals: You are eager to 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 individual giving team on proposals and gift documentation as appropriate. You are excited to develop comprehensive moves management plans in support of the zoo’s annual fundraising goals and objectives.
• A Portfolio Manager: You can actively manage a portfolio of philanthropic prospects, focusing on identifying, cultivating, soliciting and stewarding donors who have the capacity to make major gifts. You are ready to record, with timeliness and precision, information about prospects and donors, strategies and next steps using Salesforce, as well as manage portfolio per the zoo’s prospect management guidelines and policies aimed at advancing best practices in portfolio management.

• Actively 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 an liaison between Development and other departments at the zoo as assigned.
• Support holistic zoo fundraising efforts at events as appropriate.
• Assist…