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St. Louis Aquarium Foundation

Development Director

Reports To: Executive Director of the St. Louis Aquarium

Status: Full-time

Salary: Commensurate with experience

Organization Background:

The St. Louis Aquarium Foundation is the nonprofit partner to the St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station. Our mission is to engage the community through providing access and education programs and serving as the region’s recognized voice for water stewardship. We are passionate about providing access to the Aquarium for all, sharing strategies for reducing plastic waste and taking care of the mighty Mississippi River.  

Position Summary:

The St. Louis Aquarium Foundation is seeking an enthusiastic, upbeat, conservation enthusiast to join our team as Development Director. In partnership with the Executive Director, the Development Director plans, directs, and coordinates the implementation of all development activities, including but not limited to annual appeals, direct gift solicitations, sponsorships and event management.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Support the mission of St. Louis Aquarium Foundation.
• In partnership with the Executive Director, create and implement annual development plan and strategy. Manage the Foundation’s development efforts to raise funds with yearly increases.
• Develop and execute solicitation and stewardship strategies for donors and sponsors.
• Design and deliver appeals targeting donor level memberships, introductory gifts, annual gifts, pledges, recurring gifts, and re-activation gifts.
• Create and manage fundraising events including the annual gala. 
• Create email and social media directed to donors and prospects that communicate case for support and impact of gifts.
• Communicate to Executive Director and Board of Directors activities and results.
• Cultivate and steward new and existing donors through in-person visits, personalized correspondence, special events and timely acknowledgments.  
• Working with the Development Coordinator, maintain the development database.
• Collaborate with Executive Director on donor communications, including annual appeal, annual report, newsletters, and donor impact reports.
• Work as part of the grant writing team and assist regularly with gathering information needed to secure funding and meet grant application and reporting deadlines. 
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Direct experience as a frontline fundraiser securing major gifts, cultivating individual donors and increasing support from existing donors.
• High energy, positive, “can-do” attitude, sincere affinity for the mission, flexibility, teamwork and attention to detail; high degree of initiative.
• Has a style and approach to tasks that both inspires confidence and supports effective leadership.
• Forms effective relationships with donors, board members and staff.
• Strong verbal communication skills and demonstrated ability to write clearly and persuasively.
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically and thorough understanding of strategic development best practices.
• Demonstrated ability to prospect, cultivate and manage new funding sources.
• Strong partnership-building and event planning skills.
• Excellent computer skills and knowledge of database management, preferably fundraising management software.  
• Willing to work some weekends and evenings when fundraising events occur.
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Ability to work independently while also working as a member of the Aquarium and Aquarium Foundation teams

Education & Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor degree in nonprofit management, business, communications, or a related field, or equivalent experience. 
• Minimum three years of fundraising experience with proven ability to achieve fundraising goals

Working Conditions and Requirements of the Job:

• This job requires the ability to work effectively, comfortably and respectfully with all ages and a variety of backgrounds, races and nationalities.
• The St. Louis Aquarium and the St. Louis Aquarium Foundation are equal opportunity employers and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, gender (including gender identity or gender expression), religion, marital or domestic partner status, age, physical, mental or medical disability, sexual orientation, citizenship, military service status, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by the state or federal law or local ordinance.