Manager, Stewardship & Development (TZWC)

*** Core Roles and Responsibilities ***

Stewardship Strategy & Program Development

• Create and implement a best-in-class, creative, and thoughtful stewardship strategy for all segments.
• Establish consistent practices for agreements, acknowledgments, recognition, impact reporting, and donor communications.
• Develop stewardship matrix and touch point calendars to increase retention and deepen donor engagement.
• Lead the development and refinement of a mid level donor program (e.g., $5,000–$50,000), aimed at retention, revenue growth and pipeline development.
• Effectively steward lead donors to support renewal and identify major giving potential.

Revenue Generation

• Create a mid-level gift development plan that increases revenue through corporate contributions, individual gifts, and family foundations.
• Portfolio management - proactively identify, cultivate, and solicit new donors and funding opportunities in the $5,000 to $50,000 range.
• Create tailored fundraising materials, proposals, gift agreements, etc. to align the prospective funder and programming areas.
• Ensure database is accurate and up to date for all prospects and donor records, including reporting and financial tracking, ensuring targets are hit.
• Provide major gift cultivation support to the Executive Director including prospect research, donor meeting prep, and tracking pertinent donor activities.

Moves Management & Donor Pipeline Support

• Work closely with the Executive Director and Manager, Annual Giving and Engagement to implement and enhance moves management systems.
• Identify, research, and qualify donors with the potential for major gift cultivation.
• Track, document, and analyze stewardship activities within the CRM to support informed decision making.

Donor Engagement

• Serve as a frontline stewardship contact for donors, connecting by phone, email, and in person.
• Conduct stewardship visits, donor thank you calls, and impact-focused engagement opportunities (e.g., tours, behind the scenes experiences, presentations, etc.).
• Ensure a warm, consistent, and mission forward donor experience at every touchpoint.
• Professionally represent the organization at internal and external events, networking and building relationships.

Recognition & Reporting

• Oversee donor recognition across all channels in alignment with established guidelines.
• Project manage donor reports, impact updates, and customized reporting for mid level and major gift donors.
• Partner with program, animal care, operations, and communications team members to gather meaningful stories, outcomes, and impact data for stewardship materials.

Collaboration & Teamwork

• Work collaboratively with all members of the fundraising and communications teams to integrate stewardship messaging and donor-centric practices.
• Partner with the Manager, Annual Giving and Engagement to ensure accurate data capture and reporting for stewardship and moves management.
• Support events and donor engagement initiatives as needed.
• Other duties as assigned to support team objectives.

Employee Engagement & People Management

• Provides guidance, coaching, development, and recognition to team members. 
• Builds trust by resolving issues, maintaining open, collaborative and transparent communication.
• Respects and values the contribution all staff make to the success of the team and organization.
• Provides opportunities for learning and development.