Description

The Director of Development is responsible for maintaining and expanding the Virginia Zoo’s funding from private and public sources. Reporting to the Assistant Executive Director, the Director of Development serves in partnership with the Executive Director and the Zoo’s leadership team and will be directly responsible for achieving fundraising goals and engaging donors in Virginia Zoo activities. The Director of Development works with a mixed and diverse portfolio of significant, major, principle, leadership society and corporate gift donors and sponsors, including Grants and Foundations who support the Zoo’s annual operating, special project, and capital planning initiatives. Key responsibilities include planning and implementing annual acquisition and renewal program, maintaining excellent donor relations and stewardship communications, engaging, and recruiting current and new fundraising volunteers and board members for annual giving and unique events, driving fundraising growth and leading a department that is efficient and resourceful.

The Director of Development is a member of the executive leadership of the Virginia Zoological Society.

This is a salaried exempt position. This position may require some evenings and weekends as needed.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Works collaboratively with the other development department direct report(s) to create and implement an annual development plan and strategy to ensure long term sustainability of the Virginia Zoological Society.
• In partnership with the Executive Director, Assistant Executive Director, and Virginia Zoological Society Board of Directors, develop cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for donors at various levels and principal gift prospects and donors.
• Manage a mixed portfolio of approximately 150+ relationships.
• Lead effort to meet expected fundraising revenue goals through a variety of campaign funding programs.
• Cultivate and steward donors through a variety of means: including but limited to tours and special events.
• Cultivate, solicit, and steward donors for special projects and capital needs, in collaboration with the Virginia Zoo’s Executive Director.
• Cultivates and secures a new set of corporate partners focused on cause-marketing, licensing, workplace giving, and employee engagement partnerships.
• Identifies new individual, corporate, foundation and grant and other giving opportunities and/or prospects. Maintains donor and contributor lists, accounts, communication, and recognition of donors.
• Works with corporate partners on sponsorship and philanthropic support; works cross departmentally to fulfill benefits.
• Collaborates with internal partners to identify and solicit planned giving with Society Members.
• Writes, submits, and manages grant proposals and reports to corporate, foundation and government funders, as needed.
• Plans, hosts, attends donor cultivation, stewardship and fundraising events that effectively communicate the purpose of the Zoo’s mission and needs.
• Works directly with 3rd Party Consultant on Capital Campaign. Shares information, suggestions, direction, advice from consultants with Executive Leadership and Campaign Volunteer Leadership.
• Attends Zoo events that involve donors and/or prospects when required.
• Responsible for development department fiscal budget for fundraising programs, including, but not limited to, the annual fund, major gifts campaign, leadership society and grants program and manages expenses.
• Sets annual monetary goals according to short-term and long-term fundraising goals and oversees all fundraising process and maintains records of receipts and disbursements of funds.
• Works in concert with the finance team to ensure accounting reconciliation.
• Educates City of Norfolk, Virginia Zoological Society, board members, and public of Zoo mission, development strategy and priorities and progress to accomplish development goals.
• Creates/produces with the help of the marketing and communications department philanthropic presentation materials or fundraising event-related mission based promotional materials.
• Works with Zoo leadership team to execute the mission, purpose, and priorities of the organization.
• Recruits, interviews, hires, trains, manage, leads, and mentors development department staff.
• Oversees the daily workflow of the department.
• Provides constructive and timely performance evaluations, discipline, and termination of employees in accordance with company policy.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong supervisory and leadership skills.
• Advance ability to lead multiple projects and meet deadlines.
• Excellent customer service skills: ability to cohesively collaborate with all levels of staff/donors.
• Ability to prioritize tasks and to delegate them when appropriate.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software.
• Expert level experience with DonorPerfect or other fundraising databases
• Commitment to maintaining a high level of confidentiality of information Virginia Zoological prospects and donors.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in related field
• Minimum of five (5) years' progressive professional experience within related field
• Strong knowledge of Southeastern Virginia’s philanthropic community
• Successful experience creating, planning, leading, and executing fundraising annual and capital fundraising campaigns.
• Experience with preparing budgets and financial reports.
• Minimum 5 years in a leadership role and managing teams.
• CFRE preferred.

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift capacity up to 15 pounds at times.
• This position is primarily on site.
• Ability to Travel 5%.

Additional Requirements:

• Must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
• Must have a valid driver’s license.

Benefits:

• 15 Paid holidays
• Generous amount of PTO
• Comprehensive health, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, and retirement plan are offered following a 60-day probationary period.
• Free Virginia Zoo Membership

At Virginia Zoological Society, we believe that diversity fuels creativity and innovation. We are committed to equal employment opportunities regardless of race, color, genetic information, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, marital status, non-job related physical or mental disability, or protected veteran status.

All Virginia Zoo Employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

The Virginia Zoo is a drug free workplace.