Description

JOB SUMMARY
The Director of Individual Giving leads OZS’s major gifts program, advancing philanthropic revenue through strategic relationship management, donor engagement, and missionaligned fundraising initiatives. Reporting to the Executive Director, this position develops and executes individualized cultivation and stewardship strategies for highcapacity donors.

The Director of Individual Giving serves as a strategic partner to the Executive Director, Zoo leadership, and Trustees ensuring a relationshipcentered, datainformed, and highly personalized approach to philanthropy. This role plays a critical part in strengthening donor pipelines, elevating philanthropic culture, and supporting transformational giving that advances the mission of OZS and the OKC Zoo.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Portfolio Strategy & Donor Leadership
       Design and implement individualized strategies for a portfolio of major and principal gift donors and prospects, including sevenfigure philanthropic opportunities.

       Build and manage a portfolio of 100+ highcapacity donors at the $25K+ level, ensuring personalized stewardship and consistent yearround engagement. 

       Lead strategic conversations on donor movement, portfolio health, and longterm philanthropic potential.

HighCapacity Donor Engagement
       Cultivate, solicit, and steward donors through meetings, tours, personalized briefings, and sustained relationship development. 

       Partner with the Executive Director and OKC Zoo CEO on engagement strategies for top institutional donors. 

       Represent OZS at Zoo events, donor functions, behindthescenes experiences, conservation programs, and select community engagements. 

Leadership & Volunteer Collaboration
       Engage Trustees, volunteer leaders, and senior Zoo leadership in donor strategy and cultivation efforts, preparing materials and supporting tailored engagement opportunities. 

       Serve as a philanthropic partner who advises, equips, and supports volunteer ambassadors in meaningful donor outreach.

DataInformed Fundraising Strategy
       Track and evaluate donor activity, portfolio performance, and strategy outcomes, using insights to guide decisionmaking. 

       Partner with Development Operations Manager to ensure accurate donor records, research integration, and portfolio reporting systems. 

       Maintain a database of known planned giving prospects and ensure strategies reflect longterm cultivation needs. 

Culture of Philanthropy & CrossDepartment Collaboration
       Partner with Zoo departments and OZS staff to develop experiences and materials that articulate donor impact. 

       Share best practices, encourage innovation, and support a collaborative fundraising environment.

Stewardship & Donor Experience
       Ensure highlevel, personalized stewardship for major donors, including impact reporting, tailored communications, and milestone recognition. 

       Provide leadership for select stewardship activities such as plaque unveilings, donor photography, and storytelling initiatives. 

       Partner with OZS and Zoo teams for scheduling, briefings, and event logistics to ensure seamless donor experiences. 

Events & Strategic Engagement
       Collaborate with Zoo event teams and OZS staff to support donorfocused events, including ZOObrew, Zoo Gala, 1902 Society events, and highprofile cultivation opportunities. 

       Serve as a donorfacing partner at events, host highcapacity donors, and support engagement opportunities that advance cultivation and stewardship priorities.

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS
       Bachelor’s degree. 

       Minimum of eight years of experience in fundraising or donor relations, including at least three years of direct major gift solicitation leadership.

       Proven success in securing five and sixfigure gifts and leading highlevel fundraising strategies. 

       Excellent interpersonal and relationshipmanagement skills, with high emotional intelligence.

       Strong understanding of donor cultivation cycles, philanthropic best practices, and missionaligned engagement strategies.

Preferred Qualifications

       Experience in conservation, cultural institutions, or Central Oklahoma philanthropic communities. 

       Proficiency using CRMs for research, portfolio management, and analysis.

Workplace Conditions

       Occasional evening, weekend, and holiday work required to support donor meetings and events. 

       Some travel for donor engagement and relationship development. 

       Frequent onsite interaction across Zoo and OZS departments; high level of publicfacing engagement.