Advancement Officer

The Advancement Officer solicits philanthropic gifts from individuals, foundations, and corporations to support the Cleveland Zoological Society and priority initiatives of the Zoo.  This position entails the full range of development activities: identify, cultivate, solicit and steward a portfolio of donors and prospects, including face-to-face interactions, frequent one-on-one meetings on the Zoo campus, and travel for donor meetings in the Northeast Ohio region.

About Cleveland Zoological Society

Founded in 1957, the Cleveland Zoological Society is an independent, nonprofit 501(c)3 whose mission is to raise Cleveland Metroparks Zoo's philanthropic support. As the Zoo’s nonprofit advocate and partner, the Zoo Society is committed to raising awareness of the Zoo as a community priority and civic asset, securing private support for the Zoo and its programs, and giving visitors, members, and donors great value for their investment. The Zoo Society serves the largest membership base in Northeast Ohio (40,000 households), raises significant support for education, conservation, capital improvements, and advocates for the Zoo as a leading regional priority.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Participate in all aspects of gift cycle by identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding each donor through the use of email, phone calls, meetings, tours, events, mailings, etc.: (1) contact potential donors; (2) develop appropriate cultivation strategies; (3) in an appropriate and timely fashion, move prospects toward solicitation and gift closure; (4) make solicitations when appropriate; (5) steward donors after gifts are made; and (6) generate regular donor contact reports and accurately track moves in Raiser’s Edge database
• Actively manage a portfolio of 125-200 major gift prospects with a giving potential of $1,000 and up; develop and implement cultivation and solicitation strategies for each
• Upgrade higher-end annual donors into more significant engagement and support through upgraded annual support, multi-year gifts, major gifts, programmatic gifts, memorial, and planned gifts
• Enhance individual and organization support for CZS’s operations (ZooFund/Pride) as well as all paid fundraising events
• Seek support for Zoo programs including Conservation, Animal Care, and Education as well as capital campaigns, if applicable
• Develop or update programs and pitch strategies to stabilize and grow engagement, particularly in honor/memorial, planned giving, and the upper-end of an annual fund or program donors
• Work with Campaign and Special Projects Officer to research new foundation prospects; assist with grant and proposal writing as needed, as well as communications for campaign-related proposals and events
• Perform data entry, including entering actions and keeping accurate records of interactions with donors; also manage proposal entry and gift tracking
• Attend and assist with all events as directed by the Director of Advancement or Marketing and Special Events
• Assist with recruitment and stewardship of Board Directors; attend or interact with Board Committees as requested by the Director of Advancement.
• Propose plans for improving donor engagement (i.e. updated Planned Giving Program, mid-level donor engagement strategies, renewing 2020 donor gifts through methodical communication in 2021), and remain knowledgeable of stewardship and cultivation events and opportunities at other NEO cultural institutions and Ohio zoos
• Keep current on fundraising research, best practice, and giving trends
• Special projects or other related duties as assigned

Qualifications, Education, and Experience

• Bachelor's Degree and five (5+) years of experience
• Thorough working knowledge of relationship-based fundraising procedures and philosophies; demonstrated passion for interacting with donors and tangible experience soliciting, closing, and stewarding gifts at significant levels
• Self-starter and highly motivated with demonstrated ability to coordinate and follow assignments through to completion
• Work respectfully across all management units and donor constituencies
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information
• Extremely detail-oriented and resourceful; must produce polished and highly accurate work
• High proficiency with data entry, Microsoft Office, and standard computing software
• Excellent negotiation, analytical, organizational, time management, and interpersonal skills
• High standards of excellence and commitment to honesty and accuracy
• Commitment to the mission, values, goals, and success of the Cleveland Zoological Society

Working Conditions

Work is performed in an office setting located at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.  Occasional work outside normal business hours, including early mornings, evenings, and weekends.  Manages work in an office environment with frequent meetings outside the office. (Note: Under current COVID-19 protocols, most work is being conducted remotely.)

Physical Requirements

Regularly sits at desk or workstation.  Frequently moves around the facility to coordinate work.  Reasonable accommodations can be made to employees with qualified disabilities who can perform the essential functions of the job, so long as there is no undue hardship created upon the organization or other employees within the organization.

Supervision Received

This position requires limited supervision. The Advancement Officer maintains discretion and independent judgment to ensure strategic advancement goals are met.

Please submit all resumes to imaginehr2@gmail.com