Campaign Manager

Our Story

Our lives depend on the ocean, the life support system for our blue planet.  Industrial pollution, destructive overfishing, oil spills, noise, nearshore habitat loss, and warming and acidifying waters caused by climate change are choking the ocean and endangering all life on Earth—including ours.

The ocean’s future is in our hands. At the Seattle Aquarium, our mission is Inspiring Conservation of Our Marine Environment. At this defining moment for our ocean and our planet, this mission matters more than ever. The Seattle Aquarium has a vision to make ocean conservation a global imperative, a community value, and a deeply personal priority for all— – starting here on Seattle's waterfront.

The One Ocean, One Future campaign – the most significant campaign in our history – will enable us to create the Ocean Pavilion, an iconic center for ocean advocacy that extends our ocean story from Seattle to the Indo-Pacific. The Ocean Pavilion will be the first of three phases in the Aquarium’s transformation as a leading ocean conservation institution with national and global impact.  As the first phase, creating the Ocean Pavilion will enable the Aquarium to expand our global species recovery and research efforts, put ocean conservation at the center of our city and the hearts and minds of our visitors, and build a movement of ocean advocates to shape a hopeful, flourishing future. The Seattle Aquarium seeks a Campaign Manager to help carry this important mission forward for generations to come.

The Seattle Aquarium is the ninth-largest aquarium, by attendance, in the United States, with a typical annual attendance of 850,000 visitors on-site, and including our community-outreach and beach-based programs, we reach over 1.2 million people annually. The Aquarium employs 135 full-time employees, supports more than 1,200 volunteers,

Our Vision

The Seattle Aquarium aspires, through its example, to help define the role of a great aquarium in the 21st century as a catalyst for public engagement in the wonder, science, and future vitality of the one world ocean and the Salish Sea. We intend to be a leader in each component: life sciences, interpretive exhibits, educational outreach, research, public policy, and economic impact. We strive to be an inclusive and welcoming pillar of the Puget Sound, reflecting the diversity of our region in our people and audience.

S.A.L.I.S.H Values

Adopting and promoting, internally and externally, practices that improve ocean health Awe-inspiring

Creating captivating experiences for all audiences Learning & Improving

Fostering, evaluating, and applying knowledge and discovery Inclusive Community

Recognizing that diversity is critical to achieve our mission Scientific Integrity

Ensuring our credibility with evidence-based practices Honoring Place

Using our location and history as a lens for larger understanding

Your Role 

Reporting to the Associate Director of Philanthropy, Campaign, the Campaign Manager will manage the major gifts phase of our One Ocean, One Future comprehensive campaign and future campaigns planned through 2030. This role is dynamic and vital to the ongoing success and expansion of the Seattle Aquarium, and while no two days will look alike, you should expect to focus your time and talents in the following areas:

Major Gift Phase and Campaign Committee Management (70%)

• Manage the Builders’ Circle campaign committee, which will include volunteer leadership, colleague direct fundraisers, and the Associate Director, Campaign.
• Prepare and implement quarterly Major Gifts Phase fundraising work plans, identifying metrics, activities, and milestones to help achieve the larger revenue goals of the Major Gifts Phase of the campaign, including monthly and quarterly revenue and activity goals for meaningful contact with donors and successful comprehensive/blended ask solicitations.
• Facilitate regular contact between volunteer and staff strategy team members with Builders’ Circle campaign donors and prospects, including preparing briefing and solicitation materials and scheduling visits as needed.
• Ensure appropriate donor recognition and benefits are implemented for the Major Gifts Phase.
• In collaboration with Events Manager, co-manage Major Gift Phase donor cultivation events and tours, including securing appropriate resources such as speakers, refreshments, donor materials, and coordinating invitations and RSVPs.
• Manage the Aquarium’s One Ocean, One Future campaign staging room and serve as point person on weekly, standing campaign/Ocean Pavilion presentations and hard hat tours, as well as collaborative walks and tours with Friends of Waterfront Seattle.
• Monitor and communicate donor updates to staff and volunteers to promote a culture of philanthropy and create a shared sense of success around fundraising activities and goals.
• Support the Associate Director of Philanthropy, Campaign and the Vice President, Philanthropy in preparing Major Gifts Phase reports for the Builders’ Circle committee, Campaign Cabinet, senior leadership, and the Board of Trustees, including meeting with the Campaign Sub-Committees and the Board Development Committee.
• Support the design and implementation of a post-Campaign Stewardship plan with the Associate Director of Philanthropy, Campaign.
• Manage Builders’ Circle Campaign Committee, including staffing leadership volunteers and creating and implementing the overall strategy, implementation, metrics, and tracking to meet $16m goal. Administrative work includes creating meeting agendas and materials.
• Provide follow-up with committee members on actionable items and staff those volunteers in that activity.

Donor Qualification (25%)

• Build the Aquarium’s donor pipeline by qualifying major gift level campaign prospects (between $10,000 and $499,999) for the Builders Circle.
• Conduct prospect identification and research in collaboration with the project researcher.
• Actively collaborate with the Data and Reporting Analyst to ensure that wealth screen reports inform prioritization of qualification program.
• Regularly review qualified prospects with the Associate Director, Individual Giving, and the VP of Philanthropy for portfolio assignment.

Builders Circle Operations and Gift Acknowledgements (5%)

• Work with the Database team to manage Campaign gift correspondence, including timely acknowledgements, pledge payment reminders, pledge agreements, and preparing and submitting reports to individual donors in the Builders’ Circle.
• As appropriate, follow-up with pledge commitments and past due pledges via email and phone.
• Work with Database team to prepare and update dashboards to show progress of campaign.
• In coordination with the Sr. Communications Manager and with the MarCom team, update all related campaign collateral on an ongoing basis.
• Assist with creation of the bi-yearly stewardship report.

What You Bring 

Candidates will be evaluated on the full range of their lived and learned experience and core competencies. The successful candidate will demonstrate the following:

• Interest in and curiosity about ocean conservation and marine life.
• A passion for working with racially and ethnically diverse communities, partners, and allies.
• At least 5 years of professional experience with detail-oriented project management of comprehensive campaigns, major gifts, donor prospecting and cultivation, and a broad knowledge of the principles of fundraising.
• Solid relationship building skills with both internal and external stakeholders, including the confidence and poise to work effectively with significant philanthropists, business leaders, and community leaders.
• Superior communication skills, including proven writing and editing skills, and excellent presentation and negotiation skills.
• An ability to articulate a compelling case for support, including ability to ask questions, demonstrate curiosity, and share key points thoughtfully and enthusiastically with diverse audiences.
• The drive to remain self-motivated and versatility to work in both independent and collaborative settings.
• An ability to analyze, interpret, and show trends in data.
• Knowledge of the Seattle and Northwest philanthropic landscape and/or funders that align with the Aquarium’s mission is a plus, as is experience working with legacy giving and blended gifts.

To Be Considered 

This role will remain open until filled. Candidate materials are reviewed on an on-going basis and initial interviews will begin by late February. The salary range for this role is set at $80,000 - $95,000 plus a comprehensive benefits package. This role can be performed onsite or remotely if that remote location allows at least 3 days per week onsite and as needed for site visits, team meetings, and special events. To be considered, please submit a resume and cover letter as soon as possible addressed to the hiring manager, Jannine Merkt, at: valtasgroup.recruiterbox.com/jobs. You may direct questions or make referrals to Chris Cannon or Ed Rogan at the Valtas Group.