Philanthropy Director: Major Gifts & Strategic Fundraising

Connecticut Zoological Society Inc; Washington; On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Connecticut Zoological Society Inc in Bridgeport, CT, is seeking a Director of Philanthropy to lead a comprehensive fundraising program at Beardsley Zoo. You will build strategy, engage donors, and represent the Zoo externally to broaden contributed revenue.

You will partner with the CEO and Board, manage major gifts and campaigns, develop cases for support, and create systems to grow annual, planned, foundation, corporate, and event giving for long-term sustainability.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead a comprehensive, multi-year fundraising strategy aligned with the Zoo’s mission, priorities, operating needs, capital needs, conservation initiatives, education programs, animal care priorities, guest experience goals, and long-term sustainability.
• Serve as the organization’s lead development strategist, setting clear revenue goals, donor engagement priorities, timelines, performance metrics, and accountability standards.
• Personally manage a portfolio of major gift prospects, high-capacity donors, corporate partners, foundations, and other key philanthropic relationships.
• Identify, cultivate, solicit, close, and steward major gifts, sponsorships, grants, planned gifts, campaign commitments, and other significant philanthropic investments.
• Build and execute individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans for major donors and prospects.
• Develop a strong pipeline of new prospects through donor research, wealth screening, community engagement, Board referrals, existing donor relationships, corporate relationships, and strategic outreach.
• Expand current annual donors into higher giving levels through thoughtful donor segmentation, targeted engagement, and personalized solicitation strategies.
• Design and implement strategies to increase annual giving, major giving, planned giving, foundation support, corporate sponsorship, event revenue, membership revenue, and campaign participation.
• Create compelling cases for support, funding proposals, campaign materials, donor presentations, stewardship reports, impact updates, and other donor-facing communications.
• Establish clear activity metrics, including donor meetings, calls, proposals, solicitations, stewardship contacts, and revenue outcomes.
• Ensure timely and disciplined follow-up with donors, prospects, Board members, and community partners.
• Monitor fundraising performance and provide regular reports to the CEO, Board, and senior leadership on progress against goals.
• Create a culture of philanthropy across the organization by engaging leadership, staff, volunteers, and Board members in understanding and supporting development priorities.

Job description

Connecticut Zoological Society Inc in Bridgeport, CT, is seeking a Director of Philanthropy to lead a comprehensive fundraising program at Beardsley Zoo. You will build strategy, engage donors, and represent the Zoo externally to broaden contributed revenue.

You will partner with the CEO and Board, manage major gifts and campaigns, develop cases for support, and create systems to grow annual, planned, foundation, corporate, and event giving for long-term sustainability.