Development Manager

San Francisco Zoo & Gardens; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

San Francisco Zoo & Gardens is seeking a Development Manager to lead fundraising strategies and cultivate supporters who advance wildlife conservation, education, and capital initiatives. You will collaborate with the Development team, executive leadership, volunteers, and Zoo staff to inspire philanthropic investments in the Zoo's mission.

The role includes managing a portfolio of 80–100 major gift donors and 20 high-level prospects, expanding mid-level and planned giving, and shaping engaging

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from a four-year college or university preferred.
• Minimum five to eight years' work experience with demonstrated success in donor cultivation, solicitation and stewardship.

Responsibilities

• Develop, execute, and monitor goals and metrics for development activities and gifts.
• Create and implement donor engagement plans and sustainer strategies.
• Manage portfolio of 80-100 major gift donors and 20 high-level prospects.
• Cultivate new prospective donors through research and individualized planning.
• Coordinate with donors’ professional advisors as appropriate.
• Maintain documentation of planned gift intentions and stewardship plans.
• Ensure effective use of Raiser's Edge and MS Office and related tools.

Skills

Donor cultivation

Donor solicitation

Relationship building

Proposal development

Research donor prospects

Donor stewardship

Communication

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Raiser’s Edge

Microsoft Office

Job description

SUMMARY:

This position requires a high degree of discretion and excellent professional judgment.The Development Manager is responsible for developing and implementing fundraising strategies to connect supporters to the Zoo’s mission through financial support. The Development Manager cultivates new relationships while strengthening relationships with current supporters through growth and stewardship. Working collaboratively with the Development team, executive leadership, volunteers, and Zoo staff, the Development Manager builds meaningful relationships that inspire philanthropic investment in wildlife conservation, education, animal care, and capital initiatives.

The Development Manager is responsible for managing a portfolio of individual donors and prospects, cultivating and soliciting gifts ranging from $1,000 to $50,000+, while supporting the San Francisco Zoo & Gardens’ annual fundraising priorities and long-term philanthropic growth. This position plays a key role in identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding mid-level and major gift donors, while also helping expand the Zoo’s planned giving program.

Responsibilities include performing the following duties.

CORE EXPECTATIONS:

• Demonstrates a commitment to the Zoo’s mission statement and its values.
• Performs duties in a service-oriented manner.
• Recognizes the needs of others and treats others with respect and dignity.
• Maintains good work habits and adheres to all policies and procedures.
• Demonstrates a commitment to maintaining a work environment free from discrimination and sexual harassment and supports the Zoo’s commitment to equal employment opportunities.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

1. Develop, execute, and monitor the goals and metrics for development activities, including annual gifts, major and planned gifts, events and sponsorships.
2. Create and execute strategies to build and maintain a large sustaining base of donors including personal engagement and engagement with programs.
3. Create and manage portfolio of approximately 80-100 major gift donors and 20 high-level prospects.
4. Cultivate and engage new prospective donors through research and individualized cultivation planning.
5. Create and implement individual donor and prospect engagement plans to map out communications touchpoints and roadmap.
6. Work with Vice President of Development to schedule meaning engagement through meetings with donors in portfolio.
7. Promote the Zoo’s legacy giving society through donor outreach and educational opportunities.
8. Identify planned giving prospects within the existing donor base.
9. Conduct introductory conversations regarding bequests, beneficiary designations, charitable gift annuities, and other planned giving vehicles.
10. Coordinate with donors’ professional advisors and outside counsel as appropriate.
11. Maintain accurate documentation of planned gift intentions and stewardship plans.
12. Maximize use of computer operations and technical software applications including Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Powerpoint)
13. Ensure that the relationship management software (Raiser’s Edge) is effectively used and that there is compliance with all policies.
14. Research and create proposals, pitch decks and funding prospectus documents.
15. Organizes and files correspondence and other records.
16. Create and share tracking and reporting tools for internal collaboration.
17. Interacts with Zoo visitors courteously and offers proper attention at all times.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION:

Bachelor's degree (B. A.) from four-year college or university or equivalent preferred.

EXPERIENCE:

Minimum five - eight years work experience. Demonstrated success in donor cultivation, solicitation and stewardship.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands.The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts and outside weather conditions.The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

OTHER DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Occasionally this position may assume responsibility for non-HR functions as needed.
2. Interacts with Zoo guests courteously and offers proper attention at all times.
3. Where applicable, conducts manager and supervisory in-service training on related human resources areas.