Director of Advancement, Capital Campaign
Position Profile
ABOUT ZOO MIAMI FOUNDATION
Zoo Miami Foundation (ZMF), is the non-profit support organization for Zoo Miami, founded in 1956. While Miami-Dade County operates the zoo, ZMF, supported by dedicated donors, forges mission-driven initiatives and enhancements. ZMF and Zoo Miami work in partnership to provide our community with access to a world-class zoo offering services that impact educational programs, conservation efforts, and capital projects.
MISSION:
To inspire people to preserve nature and motivate others to join us through community engagement, fundraising, and building relationships.
VISION:
Uniting everyone with nature to protect and restore wildlife.
POSITION OVERVIEW
The Zoo Miami Foundation is seeking a strategic and results-oriented Director of Advancement, Capital Campaign to lead the planning, implementation, and execution of the Foundation's transformational capital campaign. Working closely with the Chief Advancement Officer, campaign leadership, and volunteer committees, this position is responsible for managing campaign strategy, campaign operations, leadership gift fundraising, campaign reporting, and stakeholder engagement to successfully achieve campaign objectives.
ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES
Capital Campaign Leadership
- Lead the planning, implementation, and successful execution of the Zoo Miami Foundation's comprehensive capital campaign.
- Develop campaign strategies, timelines, benchmarks, and performance metrics to achieve campaign fundraising goals.
- Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward campaign leadership donors while preparing campaign proposals, presentations, and gift agreements aligned with campaign priorities.
Campaign Planning & Administration
- Manage campaign timelines, pledge documentation, reporting, campaign budgets, and performance metrics.
- Coordinate campaign committees, volunteer leadership, and campaign communications while ensuring alignment with campaign priorities and organizational goals.
Campaign Stewardship & Engagement
- Develop and implement campaign stewardship and recognition strategies that encourage donor satisfaction and long-term engagement.
- Coordinate campaign cultivation events, donor experiences, campaign updates, and recognition activities that strengthen relationships with campaign investors.
Collaboration & Leadership
- Work closely with the Chief Advancement Officer, executive leadership, campaign volunteers, consultants, and Board members to advance campaign objectives.
- Utilize Salesforce CRM to manage campaign activity, pledge tracking, reporting, and campaign forecasting.
- Prepare campaign progress reports and recommendations for leadership and campaign committees.
EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
The successful candidate’s background includes the following:
Education & Credentials
- Bachelor's degree; advanced degree, CFRE, or 5–7+ years of experience in capital campaigns, major gifts, nonprofit fundraising, campaign management, or high-level sales.
- Experience leading or managing comprehensive capital campaigns and securing leadership-level campaign gifts is preferred.
Experience
Strategic Capital Campaign Leadership
A Director of Advancement, Capital Campaign provides strategic leadership for the planning, development, and execution of the Zoo Miami Foundation's comprehensive capital campaign. Develops campaign strategies that align fundraising priorities with the organization's long-term vision while ensuring successful achievement of campaign milestones and fundraising goals.
Capital Campaign Planning
They lead all phases of capital campaign development, including feasibility assessments, case development, campaign planning, volunteer leadership recruitment, and execution. They manage campaign timelines, benchmarks, and reporting structures, ensuring alignment across internal teams, board members, and campaign committees. Their ability to inspire and mobilize stakeholders is central to campaign success.
Campaign Stakeholder Management
Builds strong relationships with campaign donors, Board members, campaign volunteers, consultants, and community stakeholders to advance campaign priorities and secure transformational philanthropic investments.
Team Leadership
Provides collaborative leadership by working effectively with executive leadership, campaign committees, Board members, and cross-functional teams to achieve campaign objectives and maintain organizational alignment.
Decision Making
Interprets campaign performance data, fundraising progress, and donor activity to make strategic decisions that improve campaign effectiveness while maintaining rigorous campaign reporting and data integrity.
General Physical Requirements:
- The Director of Advancement, Capital Campaign primarily works in a professional office environment and must be able to remain seated for extended periods while conducting strategic planning, donor research, and computer‑based work.
- The role requires frequent standing, walking, and movement throughout the office and during donor meetings, site visits, and events.
- The position involves regular travel within the region to meet with major donors, board members, and campaign volunteers, which may include driving or occasional air travel.
Work Environment
- Operates in a professional, mission‑driven environment that requires a high level of collaboration, strategic focus, and donor engagement.
- Much of the work is performed in an office setting, involving extensive computer use, planning, and coordination with internal teams.
- The role also requires frequent off‑site meetings with major donors, board members, and community partners, as well as participation in events, site visits, and campaign activities.
- The position involves managing multiple priorities within a fast‑paced, deadline‑oriented atmosphere, particularly during peak fundraising periods or campaign milestones.
CRITICAL COMPETENCIES FOR SUCCESS
Strategic Capital Campaign Leader
Provides strategic leadership for the planning, development, and execution of comprehensive capital campaigns. Develops campaign strategies, fundraising priorities, timelines, and performance benchmarks that align with the Zoo Miami Foundation's long-term vision while successfully achieving campaign milestones and fundraising goals.
Major Donor & Stakeholder Relationship Builder
Builds and strengthens relationships with major donors, Board members, campaign volunteers, community leaders, consultants, and philanthropic partners. Demonstrates exceptional ability to cultivate, solicit, steward, and recognize leadership-level donors while fostering long-term engagement and advancing transformational philanthropic investments.
Collaborative Leadership & Campaign Management
Works collaboratively with the Chief Advancement Officer, executive leadership, campaign committees, Board members, volunteers, and cross-functional teams to successfully execute campaign initiatives. Provides organized leadership by coordinating campaign operations, committee activities, communications, reporting, and stakeholder engagement while maintaining alignment with organizational priorities.
Strategic & Data-Driven Decision Maker
Utilizes fundraising data, Salesforce CRM, campaign reporting, donor activity, and performance metrics to guide strategic decision-making. Monitors campaign progress, forecasting, and fundraising outcomes while identifying opportunities to improve campaign effectiveness, strengthen donor engagement, and ensure the successful achievement of campaign objectives.
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