Annual Giving Officer - Full Time

Are you looking to join a highly regarded advancement team in Indianapolis? If you are a results-driven, polished professional possessing creativity, vision, enthusiasm, and a strong drive to succeed, then the Indianapolis Zoo is looking for you to join our herd as an Annual Giving Officer.

The Indianapolis Zoo is seeking an experienced, results-oriented Annual Giving Officer to participate as a key member of an Institutional Advancement team that creates and implements strategies to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward grant and foundation support.

This role is responsible for managing revenue streams responsible for generating operating income through annual donations from individuals and corporations. Revenue streams include individual giving and corporate giving.

During the last half-century, the Indianapolis Zoo developed into a global leader in animal conservation and one of the top tourist destinations in Indiana, welcoming more than one million visitors annually. As one of the largest zoos in the country that receives no direct tax funding, our fundraising team plays an integral role in our organization's success. These talented and dedicated professionals support the Zoo's efforts to save wild things and wild places around the world and close to home.

Ideal candidates are committed to the Zoo's mission to protect nature and inspire others to care for our world. The successful candidate must have at least a minimum of five (5) years of professional work experience, along with basic knowledge of philanthropy functions and institutional advancement functions in not-for-profit organizations. This role will require the ability to work in a team-oriented environment to fulfill fundraising goals. This is a full-time, forty (40) hour per week position (typically Monday-Friday schedule), that will require some flexibility to work weekends and evenings for peak event demands.

Responsibilities and requirements include (but are not limited to):

• A minimum of five (5) years fundraising experience in a not-for-profit setting.
• Ability to multi-task; handle stressful situations and deadline pressures.
• Willingness to work flexible hours, including off-hours around IA activities.
• Solicits individual and corporate gifts by conducting a measurable number of personal visits and managing direct mail appeals. Renews all general donor and Nussbaum donors ($1,350 and above) and works with Membership Department on renewing current Conservation Club ($400 and above) donors and prospecting Members and Conservation Club donors.
• Responsible for the management of the individual and corporate giving revenue process. Manages the process for new donor prospecting, Nussbaum and general donor renewals (in tandem with the director and other gift officers), reporting and tracking of monthly individual and corporate giving revenue goals and lapsed donor management.
• Works in tandem with the Corporate Sponsorships Specialist and Sr. Public Events Manager to ensure that communication with corporations includes opportunities for corporate annual gifts in addition to sponsorship opportunities.
• Prepares an annual analysis of the individual and corporate giving programs that determines the overall strengths and weaknesses. Makes recommendations for program growth based on this analysis.
• Works as the staff liaison to the Indy Zoo Council, the Zoo's young professional group. Plans and attends meetings and works to build their connection to the Zoo and its mission.
• Prepares business plans including goals, objectives, strategies and budget for all individual giving and corporate giving programs. Administers the business plan, including monitoring objectives, while operating within the parameters of the department budget.
• Creates cost-effective, successful campaign materials including direct mail pieces, letterhead and brochures.
• Maintains continuous relationships with prospects and donors via top-notch stewardship practices.
• Manages dedicated portfolio of 100 donors and prospects and coordinate and strategize personal moves management of major gift donors and proactive prospects. Works to involve other IA staff as donors' interest or capacity warrants.
• Works with Director and other IA staff to actively identify and pursue new donor prospects for the Zoo.
• Plans and works with IA staff on proposals, events, individual or corporate contacts that relate to annual, major, capital, endowment, special projects, and restricted gifts.

To apply:

• Interested candidates must apply online to the Indianapolis Zoo's website.
• Interested candidates must include a resume, cover letter, and salary requirements to be considered.

Employment at the Indianapolis Zoo is contingent upon the successful completion of pre-employment testing including a background check, motor vehicle check (if applicable) and a drug test.