Strategic Foundations & Major Gifts Director

Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 96,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, vision, dental coverage

403(b) retirement plan with employer 3

Generous paid time off

Family DZCA Membership with discounted

Concession and retail discounts

Job summary

Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance (DZCA) seeks a Director of Foundations & Major Gifts to lead institutional giving, major gifts fundraising, and donor relations within the Philanthropy team. This role manages a diverse portfolio, develops compelling proposals, and collaborates across the organization to secure funding and advance mission impact.

You will oversee the full grant lifecycle, craft donor-centered proposals, and cultivate strategic partnerships with Trustees, leadership, and donors to

Qualifications

• 4-year degree in a related field preferred.
• Requires a minimum of five years of progressive experience in grant writing, grants management, institutional giving, and/or major gifts, with at least three years of experience leading a grants or institutional giving program within a complex nonprofit or equivalent organization strongly preferred.
• An equivalent combination of professional experience, lived experience, education, and/or specialized skills will also be considered.

Responsibilities

• Lead DZCA's institutional giving program, securing support from private, corporate, and government funders.
• Develop and submit grant proposals, funding requests, and reports aligned with organizational priorities.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with funders through cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Identify and evaluate new funding opportunities and maintain a robust institutional giving pipeline.

Skills

Grant writing

Grants management

Major gifts fundraising

Donor relations

Communication

Strategic collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Tessitura

CRM software

Job description

Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance (DZCA) seeks a Director of Foundations & Major Gifts to lead institutional giving, major gifts fundraising, and donor relations within the Philanthropy team. This role manages a diverse portfolio, develops compelling proposals, and collaborates across the organization to secure funding and advance mission impact.

You will oversee the full grant lifecycle, craft donor-centered proposals, and cultivate strategic partnerships with Trustees, leadership, and donors to