Donor Relations Manager en Woodland Park Zoo

SALARY & FLSA: $70,470,40 - $105,705.60 per year; FLSA exempt 

The $70,470.40 annual starting pay is structured to be competitive and may extend up to the $88,088.00 midpoint of the annual range, reflecting our commitment to offering competitive compensation to qualified candidates.

OPENING DATE: 10/15/2025

CLOSING DATE: 10/20/2025  

JOB TYPE: Regular; Full-time 

UNION: Non-Represented 

OPENINGS: 1  

LOCATION: Hybrid  

DEPARTMENT: Development 

HOW DO YOU ZOO?

More than 1.3 million people visit Woodland Park Zoo each year. We connect people with wildlife and remind them of what’s at stake in our changing world. Our job is to motivate people to take action and provide them with the tools needed to join us in saving endangered species. Working for the zoo means upholding our mission, “To save wildlife and inspire everyone to make conservation a priority in their lives.” Apply today and show us how you zoo.

WHO YOU ARE

As our new Donor Relations Manager, we know you will be successful in this role because you are:

• People Manager: You know how to delegate responsibilities, work with others, and coach employees to develop their full potential. You have at least one year of supervisory experience.
• A Communication Whiz: You have exceptional interpersonal skills and can coordinate and work with both internal and external stakeholders such as other departments at the Zoo, the Jungle Party Executive Committee, event chairs, board, and volunteers.
• An Expert at Philanthropic Event Management: You are ready to project manage the overall flow of Jungle Party event fundraising, cultivation, and stewardship initiatives including overall event planning, progress to goal updates, and communications. You can lead auction procurement efforts and coordinate event communications and marketing in concert with the zoo’s Development team and other partners.
• Provide Excellent Procurement Support: You are excited to lead, track, secure and manage live and super silent auction procurement efforts with special focus on unique, fresh, and exception packages and experiences; drive collaboration and follow up of procurement activities with assigned donors through relevant, assigned frontline fundraisers. Overseeing, tracking, and helping drive annual goal in procurement, gift strategies, follow‐through with procurement related requests and planning item/experience redemptions in partnership with the Institutional Giving Team and other collaborators are tasks you’re ready to own.

YOUR PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• In partnership with Development leadership and cross-departmental partners, manage a well‐executed philanthropic events suite that advances the zoo’s cultivation, fundraising and stewardship goals and aligns with its organizational strategic plan and comprehensive campaigns when applicable.
• Project manage the overall flow of Jungle Party event fundraising, cultivation, and stewardship initiatives including overall event planning, progress to goal updates, and communications. Lead auction procurement efforts and coordinate event communications and marketing in concert with the zoo’s Development team and other partners.
• Create and manage departmental sub-budgets.
• Support and manage event chairs and the Jungle Party Executive Committee. Bolster the Jungle Party Executive Committee to build a sustainable foundation for the future by recruiting new members and creating fulfilling avenues to engage.
• Project manage all vendor contractual needs in partnership with the Events team.
• Develop and project manage timelines for Jungle Party and other event-related planning activities, such as, marketing/communications, regular status reports, fundraising milestones and creative support and communicate them transparently and widely with Development colleagues, interdepartmental collaborators and volunteers.
• Partner with the Data Services team on event-related software management, event-related data prospecting, tracking, analytics, and consistent measurement of Return on Investment.
• Lead and collaborate with interdepartmental colleagues on all fundraising event content/case for support materials and marketing/impact needs including videos, impact content, visuals, scripts, sounds, and external facing messaging.
• Collaborate with major gifts team on securing Fund our Future campaign gifts and associated stewardship.
• Manage the execution of volunteer engagement efforts.
• In partnership with Development colleagues, event chairs, board, and volunteers, drive and build effective strategies for Jungle Party audience development, table and ticket sales, reception ticket sales, sponsorships, Fund Our Future revenue, raffle items, and sales and auction package bidding.
• Lead, track, secure and manage live and super silent auction procurement efforts with special focus on unique, fresh, and exception packages and experiences; drive collaboration and follow up of procurement activities with assigned donors through relevant, assigned frontline fundraisers.
• Oversee, track, and help drive annual goal in procurement, gift strategies, follow‐through with procurement related requests (with laser focus on live and super silent auction items) and planning item/experience redemptions in partnership with the Institutional Giving Team and other collaborators.
• Collaborate on the creation of sponsorship materials, cultivation and solicitation of corporate partners, and sponsor stewardship with the Institutional Giving team.
• Collaborate with Events department on reserving venues, production set‐up and strike, catering arrangements, booking vendors, etc.
• Provide high quality customer service to existing and potential donors, internal colleagues, and vendors.
• Attend and participate in team, all‐staff, executive committee, and board meetings.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Ability to speak a language in addition to English.
• Salesforce, auction software/mobile bidding experiences.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four (4) year college or university; and six (6) or more years related experience in professional development work and/or training; and/or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Three (3) or more years of experience in fundraising event planning or catering, or equivalent project management experience. At least one (1) year of supervisory experience.
• Demonstrated computer skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Access, and Teams, and data analytics. Ability to work with customized and/or other database management tools, perform mail merges, and conduct Internet research.
• Ability to delegate responsibilities, work with others, and coach employees to develop their full potential.
• Ability to provide helpful, behaviorally specific feedback to others and engage in open and honest communication. Ability to evaluate problems and solve them in a timely manner; respond to concerns with empathy and inclusivity.
• Superior written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to synthesize information from diverse sources. Ability to adapt communication based on audience and purpose with inclusivity. Ability to disseminate information effectively to appropriate levels.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, including the ability to communicate effectively, deliver exceptional customer service to a variety of stakeholders (i.e. donors, sponsors and volunteers), both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to work well in an extremely fast‐paced, ever‐changing environment, and manage multiple projects, with competing demands while maintaining a commitment to excellence. Ability to quickly and methodically adjust priorities when needed.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team within diverse teams and environments.
• Ability to listen, give and receive feedback in a productive and professional manner. Able to translate vision into planning and implementation.
• Ability to evaluate and effectively solve problems in a timely manner, while responding to concerns with empathy and inclusivity.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team within diverse teams and environments.
• Ability to work a non‐standard/flexible schedule, which may include weekends, evenings, and holidays.

BENEFITS 

The Woodland Park Zoo offers a comprehensive benefits package for fulltime staff including: 

• Medical, dental, and vision HMO and PPO plans for you and eligible dependents 
• 11 paid holidays and 2 personal holidays   
• Accrue 12 vacation days and another 12 days of sick your first year   
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)   
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)   
• Tuition reimbursement  
• Free zoo membership that includes zoo admission and discounts after 90 days   
• 4 complimentary tickets per year plus other discounts and perks    
• Free staff parking    
• 403(b) Retirement Plan  

SELECTION PROCESS 

Application: Please include a resume and cover letter with your application through our Zoo Careers site at zoo.org/jobs. Please be sure to list or upload copies of all relevant training and certifications on your application. The zoo may review existing application pools to fill this position or use this pool to fill future vacancies.  

This opportunity is open to all candidates that meet the qualifications.  Woodland Park Zoo values diverse perspectives and life experiences. Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity. The zoo encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, 2SLGBTQ, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with diverse life experiences. Woodland Park Zoo is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in all its services. If you need accommodation in the application or interview process, please contact our recruiting team at [email protected]. 

Screening: We will review applications and select some candidates for screening calls. Final candidates will be invited for virtual or in-person interviews.  

Offer: Job offers are contingent on the verification of credentials and other information required by the employment process including the completion of a background check.