DESCRIPTION SUMMARY

The Senior Major Gifts Officer serves as a key fundraising leader at The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, playing a central role in advancing a $60 million capital campaign that will shape the future of the organization and expand its global conservation impact. Working in close partnership with the Chief Development Officer and executive leadership, this position helps drive strategy, performance, and accountability across the campaign while strengthening the organization’s overall fundraising capacity.

With a primary focus on the Pride of the Desert capital campaign, the Senior Major Gifts Officer is responsible for managing a portfolio of high-capacity donors and securing five, six, and seven-plus-figure gifts in support of campaign goals. This role also serves as a lead staff partner for the campaign, providing day-to-day leadership, guiding team performance, and ensuring alignment across fundraising efforts.

This is a hands-on leadership role for a relationship-driven professional who is equally comfortable setting strategy and executing it. The ideal candidate brings a strong track record of results, a collaborative leadership style, and a commitment to advancing the mission of desert conservation through impactful philanthropy.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN STRATEGY & MANAGEMENT

• Help shape and execute the overall strategy for The Living Desert’s multi-year transformational capital campaign, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and fundraising goals.
• Lead the day-to-day management of the capital campaign, including timelines, benchmarks, and donor engagement strategies.
• Develop and maintain campaign metrics, dashboards, and reports to track progress and inform strategic decisions.

MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP

• Lead and drive performance across the Capital Campaign, and work with the CDO to hold the team accountable for achieving progressively improving fundraising goals and meeting performance objectives and standards.
•  Create annual performance evaluations for the team using approved procedures.
• Plan and facilitate Capital Campaign team coordination and effectiveness through regular meetings, trainings, and annual strategic planning.

ADMINISTRATION AND BUDGET

• Oversee and manage the preparation and implementation of the division’s budget, including income and expenditures, in a timely manner to achieve departmental goals and stay within budget. 
• Conduct monthly reconciliations and reports of the Capital Campaign budget to the CDO.

FUNDRAISING

• Manage a portfolio of high-capacity prospects.
• Drive fundraising performance by closing five, six, and seven-plus-figure major gifts contributing to overall campaign success, achieving the $60 million goal.
• Partner with Board members and volunteers to build and leverage relationships.
• Conduct private tours for prospects and major donors.

MISC.

• Contribute to desert conservation through the reduction of waste, water, and energy use, and inspiring guests and team members to take conservation actions.
• Maintain accurate donor records in DonorPerfect and ensure timely documentation of donor interactions.

SPECIFIC SKILLS

• Principles and practices of effective fund development strategies.
• Strong verbal and written skills to communicate clearly and persuasively.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills with the talent and the personality to work collaboratively, accept responsibility, and motivate colleagues, volunteers and donors.
• Ability to work with others in a team setting.
• Willingness to form professional networking relationships with others.
• Perform duties with a high degree of independence, integrity, and ethical standards.
• Ability to work in a hands-on department environment.
• Exceptional organizational skills.
• Ability to read reports, gather and analyze data and compile information for written reports. Knowledge of DonorPerfect a plus.
• Personal computers, hardware, and software programs including Word, Outlook, Excel, and fundraising software (preference given to DonorPerfect).
• Budgeting processes and ability to work within an established budget.

EDUCATION AND PREREQUISITES

Bachelor’s degree preferred and minimum five+ years’ experience in development work or comparable sales/marketing experience. Prior experience in annual giving, event management and donor relations are highly desirable. Will substitute applicable experience for part or all of the education requirement.

WHY THIS ROLE IS UNIQUE

• Lead a $60M capital campaign at a pivotal moment of growth
• Work directly with executive leadership and Board members
• Play a visible leadership role in shaping the future of a nationally recognized zoo and conservation organization
• Opportunity to live and work in the Coachella Valley