Development Officer II
12 days ago
Sioux Falls
Job DescriptionSalary: $55k-$59k The Sioux Falls Zoo & Aquarium (Great Plains Zoo, Butterfly House & Aquarium) invites applicants to be a part of their Development Team as a Development Officer II. Join us during this exciting time as we bring two campuses together to build a new Butterfly Garden, Aquarium, and Education Center, and continue to create connections and inspire conservation of wild species and spaces. The Development Officer will report to the Development Director and work alongside a team of other development officers and coordinators. This position will work at our Butterfly House and Aquarium location but will require travel between there and the Great Plains Zoo. Essential Functions • Help execute assigned components of a detailed annual fund plan created by the Development Director, including clear goals, metrics for success, and strategic tactics to achieve fundraising objectives., • Develop (with Director) persuasive and compelling annual appeals to solicit donations from individuals, leveraging various communication channels such as direct mail, email, and social media. Manage the entire process from concept creation to distribution and follow-up. Analyze the performance of each mailing and apply discoveries to future mailings to help improve outcomes and the overall program., • Development Officer II will work with the Development Director to build a portfolio of 20-25 annual giving prospects/donors to manage throughout the year. This includes cultivating and maintaining relationships; helping cultivate donors through ongoing, meaningful communication, via phone, letter, email, text, and face-to-face meetings as appropriate; soliciting gifts; acknowledging contributions; expressing gratitude; ensuring donors feel valued and engaged with the organization's mission via ongoing stewardship., • From this portfolio, the Development Officer II will:, • Engage corporate sponsors for fundraising and special events like Zoofari or ZooBoo; secure monetary or in-kind sponsorships., • Engage with individual and corporate donors to foster and maintain relationships to secure financial support for SFZA and help advance them through the giving pyramid toward major gift support for the We Cant Wait, • Assist in securing corporate sponsorships for Zoofari and other fundraising or development department events., • Administer all tasks required to identify, prepare, present/submit, and manage sponsorships and partnerships., • Collaborate with all SFZA departments to determine needs that can be met through in-kind donations. Develop and manage an ongoing in-kind giving program for goods and services., • Help develop (with Director) and execute (with Campaign Coordinator) a comprehensive stewardship plan and processes, to include revision of the gift entry process. Grow the plan over time to include appropriate letters, birthday recognition, anniversary of gift recognition, annual impact report, e-newsletters, tax statements, social media (with Marketing), and email (with Marketing as needed)., • Plan and execute donor appreciation events, VIP tours, and any other stewardship and cultivation activities assigned., • Development Officer II will work with the Director to: help develop a vision for events like Zoofari and determine fundraising strategies that will help meet and exceed goals; outline catering needs, secure quotes and proposals, and manage the relationship through the event; research and determine decor needs and best way to achieve event theme/vision/look; oversee event staff, SFZA staff and scheduling, volunteer assignments and scheduling; manage registration and fundraising logistics and platforms., • Solicit and secure monetary or in-kind sponsorships for special events such as Zoofari and other special fundraising/donor development events. This includes the creation of written proposals and follow-up to engage in repeat or multi-year sponsorship commitments. This may require working with other Sioux Falls Zoo & Aquarium departments, committees, and board members for the events., • Identify and engage potential corporate sponsors for events, craft sponsorship proposals and foster relationships to secure financial support., • Regularly monitor and analyze fundraising efforts against predetermined metrics and goals. Prepare detailed reports highlighting the effectiveness of fundraising strategies and use this data to refine future fundraising plans., • Attend SFZA special events as needed or assigned. Competency • A minimum of two years of experience in fundraising/development is preferred., • Knowledge of fundraising principles, strategies, and best practices, including experience with donor identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship., • Ability to cultivate and maintain positive relationships with donors, demonstrating strong interpersonal skills, active listening, and effective communication., • Proficiency in managing donor databases, ensuring accurate and organized records, data entry, and generating reports for analysis and decision-making., • Demonstrated ability to support fundraising event logistics, including planning, coordination, volunteer management, and on-site event support., • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to create compelling communication materials, write thank-you letters, draft fundraising appeals, and effectively present information to diverse audiences., • Strong research skills to identify and evaluate prospective donors, foundations, and funding opportunities, utilizing various resources and tools to gather relevant information., • Proven ability to work collaboratively within a team environment, supporting colleagues, sharing information, and contributing to the overall success of fundraising initiatives., • Effective organizational skills, including the ability to prioritize tasks, manage multiple projects simultaneously, meet deadlines, and adapt to changing priorities in a fast-paced environment., • Must be proficient with Microsoft Office programs, including Word, Excel, Publisher, PowerPoint, and Outlook.