Major Gifts Officer

Association of Fundraising Professionals; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) seeks a Major Gifts Officer to cultivate and secure significant gifts, contributing to our $160M+ annual fundraising goal. You will manage a high-value portfolio, build strategies with Trustees, and expand donor relationships across global programs.

Based in New York City on a hybrid schedule at the Bronx Zoo, you will engage donors, craft compelling proposals, and collaborate with leadership to drive impact.

Qualifications

• 4+ years frontline fundraising with success in closing 6-figure gifts.
• Ability to interface with senior donors and staff to build long-term relationships.
• Excellent writing, editing, and interpersonal skills.
• Advanced fundraising practices and high-level solicitation strategies.
• Commitment to DEI and to WCS mission values.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of 150-250 high-net-worth individuals with tailored cultivation plans.
• Meet and brief donors, make funding requests and steward relationships.
• Collaborate with Trustees, leadership, and program staff on donor strategies.
• Develop proposals, reports and donor communications with the team.
• Attend events (galas, lectures) including evenings/weekends as needed.
• Use Salesforce to track activities and maintain donor records.

Skills

Fundraising

Donor relations

Proposal writing

Communication

Sales strategy

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

Position: Major Gifts Officer

Reports to: Director, Individual Giving

Position Managed: N/A

Location: Hybrid/ Bronx Zoo, New York City

Department: Development

Position Type: Full-Time

About Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)

WCS saves wildlife and wild places worldwide. We are the only organization that combines on-the-ground field conservation programs in more than 55 countries with the world's largest network of urban wildlife parks, based in New York City.

WCS's five wildlife parks, led by our flagship Bronx Zoo, have educated and inspired over 425 million visitors since 1899. Each year, WCS welcomes about 3.5 million visitors to the Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo, Queens Zoo, and New York Aquarium - opening people's eyes to the wonders of the natural world, while setting the gold standard for animal care and well being.

WCS has a long track record of achieving innovative, impactful results at scale. Our scientists, veterinarians, and conservation experts have helped recover bison, tigers, gorillas, whales, coral reefs, and more. In the past century, we have helped governments create more than 430 protected areas around the world on land and sea, and we currently work with national governments and local communities to manage and monitor several hundred protected areas.

Job Summary

As a Major Gifts Officer (MGO), you will join a team of development professionals responsible for cultivating and securing significant major gifts to support the organization's fundraising goals, contributing to and growing $160M+ in annual department revenue.

Reporting to the Director, Individual Giving, you will steward gifts beginning at $25,000, with the goal of growing a portfolio focused on gifts at the $100,000+ level. This includes identifying, cultivating, and soliciting individuals, family foundations, and other philanthropic entities in support of WCS's mission, leading the entire donor relationship cycle. You will manage a high-value portfolio of donors with capacity to give at the five-, six-, and seven-figure+ levels, working directly with WCS Trustees and leadership around the world. If you are a highly motivated fundraising leader who has a passion for our mission and a track record of developing and executing strategies to solicit close to 6 and 7 figure gifts, we'd love to meet you.

Major Responsibilities

Your responsibilities will include but not be limited to:

• Manage a portfolio of 150-250 high-net worth individuals, including current donors and prospects. Develop bespoke cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans for each. Create and execute personalized strategies to successfully cultivate, solicit, and stewardship each prospect to support the WCS mission at their maximum capacity.
• Demonstrate exceptional stewardship of new and established donors, including developing personalized outreach plans for individuals. Continually assess portfolio health and make recommendations for donor moves to the Director, Individual Giving.
• Regularly meet with donors and prospects, including introducing them to WCS, briefing them on WCS and their impact, providing tours of WCS facilities, and making funding requests.
• Develop and maintain familiarity with programmatic needs, budgets, and priorities. Represent WCS's mission and and persuasively articulate WCS's impact and strategies.
• Strategically activate and coordinate efforts with WCS Trustees, leadership, program staff, and other colleagues to create donor cultivation and stewardship strategies. For example, actively participate in donor strategy sessions with WCS leadership and program staff.
• Help develop inspiring proposals, reports, letters, and other correspondence, working with our fundraising communications team and program experts around the world.
• Attend WCS events to support donors and prospects, such as Gala events, lectures, salons and dinners, and similar convenings. These events occasionally include evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Propose and implement strategies to engage new prospects. Work with the WCS Development Research Team to develop materials required for cultivation and solicitation of prospects.
• Actively participate in team meetings and collaborate with colleagues by providing feedback and suggestions to help advance donor strategies.
• With support from Development colleagues, effectively use Salesforce to track and evaluate key performance metrics and activities. Maintain an up-to-date record in Salesforce for each donor and prospect and follow best practices for data hygiene.

Job Qualifications

• 4+ years of frontline fundraising experience with demonstrable success in closing 6-figure gifts; experience closing 7-figure gifts a plus.
• Ability to work independently and interface effectively with the highest level of WCS donors and senior staff members, developing and maintaining long-term, productive relationships.
• Excellent communication, writing, attention to detail, and interpersonal skills.
• Advanced understanding of fundraising best practices and competency in developing and managing high-level solicitation strategies.
• A commitment to the highest fundraising standards and values, and an eagerness to create a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work culture.
• Passion for the mission and work of WCS.
• BS/ BA degree.
• Valid Driver's License preferred.

Physical Demands

Physical Demand Item Frequency Rating
Use of Keyboard, Sporadic 10-Key Constant
Use of Mouse (or alternative input device) Constant
Finger Manipulation (continuous 10-Key, Handwriting) Constant
Wrist Turning (Locking/Unlocking, Door Knob) Frequent
Telephone Use Frequent
Neck Motion (Left/Right, Up/Down) Constant
Sitting (can stand at will) Constant
Standing (static, working at counter) Frequent
Walking Occasional
Stair Climbing Frequent
Driving Occasional
Lifting and carrying 0-10 lbs. Occasional
Lifting and carrying 11-20 lbs. Occasional
Lifting and carrying 21-35 lbs. Occasional
Lifting and carrying 36-50 lbs. Occasional

Workplace Conditions and Environment

Physical Demand Item Frequency Rating
Work Inside Constant
Work Closely with Others Frequent
Work Alone Frequent
Exposure to Excess Noise Occasional
Weekend, Evening, Holiday Work Occasional
Participation in Meetings/Training in California Occasional
Travel to NYC Area for Staff Meetings Occasional

The MGO is a hybrid role, with time spent both working at home and at WCS's New York City office at the Bronx Zoo. The MGO must be able to flexibly schedule and attend donor and prospect meetings in the greater NYC/Tri-State area with regular frequency. This role will occasionally include national or international travel. The MGO will occasionally work evenings, weekends, and/ or holidays based on donor and event schedules.

WCS is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to hiring and supporting a diverse workforce. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment and look for future team members who share that same value. EOE/AA/M/F/Vets/Disabled