Position: Associate, Individual Giving
Department: Development
Reports to: Director, Individual Giving
Position Managed: N/A
Location: Bronx Zoo
Scope: Bronx Zoo
Position Type: Full Time
About Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)
WCS stands for wildlife and wild places. As the world’s premier wildlife conservation
organization, WCS has a long track record of achieving innovative, impactful results at scale. We run field programs spanning 60 countries and the entire ocean. We build on a uniquefoundation: Our reach is global; we discover through best-in-class science; we protect throughwork on the ground with local and indigenous people; we inspire through our world-class zoos,aquarium, and education programs; and we leverage our resources through partnerships andpowerful policy influence. Our more than 4,000 diverse, passionately committed team membersin New York City and around the world work collectively to achieve our conservation mission.
Job Summary:
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is looking for an Associate to join the Individual Giving fundraising team. As an integral member of the Individual Giving team at WCS, you will provide critical support to gift officers in their efforts to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward existing donors and prospects for gifts to WCS. This position reports to the Director, Individual Giving and supports the New York (NY) based Major Gifts team. The ideal candidate will be a team-oriented individual with a mind for process, excellent attention to detail, and strong writing and communication skills. We are looking for a proactive individual with an interest in WCS’s global mission who is excited to dive into a fast-paced development environment and begin adding value immediately.
Major Responsibilities:
The individual’s main responsibilities will be in supporting the NY based Major Gifts team by executing the processes that ensure successful cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of WCS donors. Responsibilities include:- Support 3-4 Major Gifts relationship managers’ portfolios. With direction from each relationship manager, track, monitor, and prompt actions related to prospecting, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. This includes data entry, preparing status reports, tracking all opportunities, flagging upcoming actions, and coordinating moves management.
- Schedule Major Gifts team-wide meetings with the Donor Communications team and proactively manage the calendar of deliverables for the entire Major Gifts team to ensure efficiency in content creation.
- Work with the Operations team to process gifts and acknowledgement letters. Assume primary responsibility for drafting donation "thank you letters" from fundraisers and senior staff.
- Serve as point of contact for general donor calls and questions for the Major Gifts team, including providing information about WCS to donors and recommending next steps to NY Director.
- Serve as point of contact for all internal (Global Resources and WCS) inquiries for the Major Gifts team, including liaising with the Research team to request information/materials and the Donor Engagement team on invitation list reviews.
- Stay updated on database procedures and attend all required training sessions.
- Assist and support fundraising events, donor meetings, and zoo tours. This includes preparing briefings and biographies pre-event and coordinating comprehensive follow-up strategies post-event. At times, this may include greeting donors for tours and leading tours. For this responsibility, a Driver’s License is required.
- Reconcile departmental budget, track spending, and submit expense and reimbursement requests.
- Support departmental mailings (Annual Report, Calendars).
- Perform other administrative duties as needed.
Internal Qualification Requirements1-2 years of experience in an office environment or significant internship
Previous experience supporting a fundraising or development team preferred
Excellent writing, organizational, and interpersonal skills
Willingness and interest in learning new systems and improving processes
A team player, willing to collaborate and support all members of Development
A Bachelors or Associate Degree preferred
Valid Driver’s License
Experience with Salesforce or another relevant development and donor software
Physical Demands:
The physical demands include but are not limited to the use of a Keyboard, 10-key, Mouse, and Telephone Use, Handwriting, Sitting, Standing, Crouching, Kneeling, Bending, Walking, Stair Climbing, Driving, and Lifting up to 20lbs.
Workplace Conditions and Environment:
The workplace conditions and environment of the role include working indoors, closely with others, and/or alone, and occasional exposure to excess noise.
Equal Employment Opportunity Disclaimer:
WCS is an equal opportunity employer, and the organization complies with all employment and labor laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination in hiring and ensures that candidates from all backgrounds are fairly and consistently considered during the recruitment process. We are dedicated to hiring and engaging in a diverse workforce. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment and looking for future team members who share that same value. The organization provides equal employment opportunities for all qualified candidates. The organization does not discriminate for employment based on gender, race/ethnicity, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, caste, genetic information or any other covered status or characteristic protected by laws and regulations/and similar categories.
It is everyone’s responsibility to ensure that we do not tolerate discrimination or harassment based upon a person’s membership in one of these protected categories in areas such as recruitment, selection, job assignment, supervision, training, promotions, promotions, job grading, transfers, termination, compensation, benefits, educational opportunities, WCS sponsored recreational activities and facilities. The organization complies with the spirit and intent of relevant local laws and WCS’s employment policies. Note that the salary offer will reflect the selected candidate’s individual experiences, skills and qualifications, internal equity, work location and country of work.
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