Development Coordinator

Pay Rate: To maintain internal equity, we have identified the pay range for this position at the Oakland Zoo as $28.00 to $30 per hour. An offer within this pay range will be determined by the experience and qualifications of a candidate and will be our best and final compensation offer.

*Interested candidates should submit their Resume and Cover Letter by the First Review Date of March 3, 2025. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible.*

Position Summary

Oakland Zoo seeks an individual to contribute to the Development Services department, providing critical support in gift processing, donor relations, database maintenance, and day-to-day development operations. The Development Coordinator provides administrative and customer service support, and plays a supportive role in the production of donor mailings and development events. This individual will report directly to the Senior Manager of Development Services and work closely and in partnership with the full development team. This is a unique opportunity to play a critical role in Oakland Zoo’s strategic growth by being a part of a high-performing fundraising program.  

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The Oakland Zoo offers a comprehensive benefits package, including Health insurance, Dental insurance, Vision insurance, Flexible spending account, Retirement plan, Paid time off, Employee Assistance Program, and A Family Zoo Membership.

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Development Services

• Process all gifts and pledges made to Oakland Zoo from a variety of channels, including  tributes/memorials, annual fund, events, adopt an animal, campaigns, planned gifts, and other restricted or miscellaneous gifts. Enter gifts both manually and via integration tools.
• Prepare timely acknowledgements and fulfillment for the above gifts and pledges; with guidance from the team prepare acknowledgements for major gifts, pledges and grants that are received from one-time special solicitations and grant proposals.
• Reconcile batch totals with Finance in coordination with the Manager of Development Services.
• Support preparation of special reports, mailing lists and donor lists for stewardship mailings and reports, donor recognition and donor signage as needed.
• Perform ongoing data clean-up tasks under the guidance of Manager of Development Services.
• Maintain meticulous records on a variety of constituents within Raiser’s Edge, including donors, volunteers, and corporate contacts.
• Support research, prospect management and donor tracking for major gifts, board prospects, and grants.
• Maintain records of gift channels, platforms, sources and subscriptions to ensure orderly gift processing.
• Serve as initial contact for departmental phone and email, responding to inquiries from donors in a timely manner and escalating/delegating inquiries to other staff as appropriate.
• Provides support for meetings with volunteer committees, staff and outside organizations by preparing materials, agendas, and minutes.
• Support development of and maintain Development Department calendar and record keeping systems.
• Support Development Department in tracking, coding and processing expenses with Finance Team.
• Participate in development events and department-wide projects and activities as required.

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• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• One or more years of experience supporting a nonprofit fundraising or membership program, with an emphasis on gift administration or donor relations.
• Well-organized, detail-oriented, and ability to work flexible hours.
• Able to set priorities, manage multiple projects and work within budget restrictions.
• Experience with the Raiser’s Edge or similar fundraising software.
• Demonstrated ability to use Microsoft Office, and database technology.
• Adept at working within collaborative and cross-functional teams, characterized by effective communications, a positive attitude and shared goals.
• Ability to organize tasks and ensure timely completion of projects with strong detail to accuracy.
• Solid understanding of fundraising principles and mechanics.
• Demonstrate superior service with donors, prospects, vendors, volunteers, and staff.
• Demonstrate knowledge of, and support for CSC-OZ’s, vision, value statements, standards, policies and procedures, operating instructions, confidentiality standards, and the code of behavior.
• Perform other related duties as required and assigned.

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Work Schedule:

Employees in this position can choose between a traditional 5x8 schedule (five eight-hour shifts per week) or a 4x10 schedule (four ten-hour shifts per week). Weekend, evening, and holiday availability may sometimes be required based on operational needs. Scheduling details will be discussed during the hiring process.

Bonus if you have:

• Associate or Bachelor’s degree and/or college course and professional training in fundraising development and/or non-profits

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Knowledge/Skills/Qualities - May be representative, but not all-inclusive, of those knowledge, skills and abilities commonly associated with this position.

• Collaboration – builds trusting relationships with both internal and external stakeholders across our organization and community-wide and approaches differences of opinion with curiosity and humility.
• Communication – communicates respectfully and effectively with stakeholders across identities, both verbally and in writing
• Dependability – demonstrates trustworthiness and reliability, including while working with little or no direct supervision
• Inclusive Culture - fosters a culture of mutual respect, transparency, collaboration and belonging which allows all employees to feel appreciated, included, and valued.
• Passion – wholeheartedly believes in, represents, and models Oakland Zoo’s mission and PRIDE values at all times.
• Relationship-Building - able to build and maintain trusting relationships and mutually beneficial partnerships with internal and external stakeholders
• Solution-oriented – utilizes an open-minded and strengths-based approach to finding solutions for complex challenges.
• Sustainability – oriented toward the mission and values of the Oakland Zoo and able to put those into practice by finding creative and resourceful ways to develop sustainable practices within your role and department.
• Wildlife Aware - understands mission to support the conservation and welfare of animals at The Zoo, locally and globally. This is demonstrated by a willingness/passion to reflect this mission in all actions and to continue to learn how to take action for wildlife.

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