Director of Corporate Relations

Director of Corporate Relations (Full-Time)

October 2021

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW:

The mission of the Saint Louis Zoo“is to conserve animals and their habitats through animal management, research, recreation, and educational programs that encourage the support and enrich the experience of the public.”  

Our vision for the future of the Saint Louis Zoo is “ANIMALS ALWAYS – a seamlessly integrated, world-class conservation organization linking an engaged local audience and high-quality local programs to regional and international conservation efforts in the wild.”

Current funding sources for the Saint Louis Zoo include tax or public support, earned revenue and contributed income. Each year the Zoo raises millions of dollars in private philanthropic support through annual gifts, major gifts, partnership marking/sponsorship gifts, and planned gifts. All members of the 18-person Development Department work to maintain and strengthen relationships with the Zoo’s donors and prospective donors.

In October 2021 the Zoo’s Boards authorized proceeding with a major effort to raise significant funding to aid in implementing the Strategic Plan. This will aid in the development of the new WildCare Park, new and dynamic exhibits at the Zoo, and strengthening the Zoo’s endowment.  Development staff will continue to seek and secure major and planned gifts to support operations, capital, programmatic, and endowment, as well as cultivate, solicit and steward donors to the Marlin Perkins Society and through Partnership Marketing/Sponsorship efforts.

As the most visited cultural institution in the region, the Zoo has earned esteemed recognition and prestige in the eyes of area businesses and residents.  The combination of innovative education, cutting-edge science, and high-quality family entertainment places the Saint Louis Zoo among the best zoological parks in the world. Our local community is extremely proud of the fact that admission to the Saint Louis Zoo remains free and accessible to all while holding the distinction of being the first municipally-supported Zoo in the world. A new President & CEO will begin at the Zoo on January 3, 2022.

POSITION PURPOSE:

The Director of Corporate Relations, which reports to the Director of Development, will cultivate and steward the corporate, foundation, and individual donor relationships for the Saint Louis Zoo and oversee the overall corporate giving programs at the Zoo. This position also assists with the 80-member Saint Louis Zoo Association board, the nonprofit fundraising organization.

This position assists in leading the Development Department by managing the Corporate, Foundation, and Sponsorship team, and supervises two employees: the Partnership Marketing Manager and the Manager of Grants.  This team champions the Saint Louis Zoo as the premier partner for the corporate and foundation community in the St. Louis metropolitan region. They work to develop genuine relationships and creative collaborations in order to secure financial resources to advance the Zoo. The Zoo is in the quiet phase of the largest capital campaign in its history and the Director of Corporate Relations will play a key role in its success.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Work collaboratively with the Development Department team and other departments/staff to reach fundraising goals for the department and advance the Zoo and its various initiatives and campaign.
• Manage a donor portfolio of approximately 150 to 175, conduct personal visits, craft and present proposals, and secure multi-year commitments and outright gifts in support of the annual and long-term objectives of the Zoo. Includes having experience with meeting or exceeding personal goals and metrics.
• Perform donor/prospect tours and meetings as needed for stewardship and cultivation of new and existing donors.
• Coordinate leadership donor visits with executive and senior staff in addition to scheduling and personally visiting leadership donors.
• Develop, manage and implement cultivation and solicitation strategies for corporate sponsorship and grants.
• Prepare regular reports for the organization’s leadership on corporate and foundation donors.
• Arrange, conduct, and coordinate cultivation, stewardship, and recognition activities such as recognition in publications and site visits for corporate and other donors.
• Promote corporate partner understanding, awareness and support of the Zoo’s mission and programs through written and verbal communications with existing corporate donors and prospects. 
• Work directly with the Senior Vice President, External Relations and others to coordinate the recruitment and work of the Board of the Saint Louis Zoo Association, especially as related to the corporate community.
• Directly supervise two Manager level employees. Work with Partnership Marketing Manager to plan and oversee the budget; work with Director of Development to participate in department budget.
• Oversee the Partnership Marketing Manager for the sponsorship fundraising for the Zoo’s largest fundraising events, ZOOFARI and A Zoo Ado. As well as cause-related marketing efforts. This includes working with the event committee, writing and mailing solicitations for all underwriting levels, writing exclusive sponsorship proposals, meeting with donors, and all fulfillment of sponsor benefits. Review and approve sponsor contracts.
• Work collaboratively with and in support of volunteers, other development and Zoo staff to cultivate and solicit donors to institutional priorities.
• Work and strategize with the Manager of Grants to oversee foundation giving for the organization, including local and state foundations, family foundations, and some federal and public funding sources.
• Develop/Maintain/Grow relationships with community leaders, and corporate, foundation and individual donors, introducing them to the Zoo’s mission and funding opportunities; aiding in writing proposals and grants.
• Exemplify the Zoo’s Three Keys of Animals Always, People Matter, and Operational Excellence, and Core Values of Community, Creativity, Openness, Integrity and Life-Work Balance.   
• Join and attend professional groups and educational sessions as needed; keep abreast of current trends in philanthropy.
• All other duties deemed necessary as requested by the Director of Development.

Qualifications:

• The successful candidate must be thoroughly committed to the mission of the Saint Louis Zoo.
• Bachelor’s degree required. CFRE preferred.
• Minimum of 8 to 10 years’ fundraising/development experience preferred.
• Background in supervising employees and working collaboratively with volunteers.
• Ability to work with a diverse group of volunteers and donors.
• Excellent leadership skills, including clear judgment, collaboration and motivation, strategic planning, and delegation.
• Strong organizational skills, and written and verbal presentation skills.
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks and work independently.
• Ability and willingness to work flexible hours, including some evening events and weekend obligations.
• Software proficiency including the Windows platform, Microsoft Office suite, and web browsers, and Raiser’s Edge knowledge preferred. Maintain accuracy and tracking of activities in the database.
• COVID-19 vaccinations are required for this position.
• All successful candidates for this position will be required to submit to a criminal background check and drug test. 

To apply for this position, please visit:

https://careers.hiretrue.com/stlzoo

No paper applications will be accepted.

Equal Opportunity Employer