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Vice President, Development
Georgia Aquarium
Administration
Atlanta, GA, USA · Atlanta, GA, USA · United States
Posted on Mar 21, 2025
Position Title: Vice President, Development
Department: Development - 1410
Classification: Exempt
Direct Report: Chief Marketing & Experience Officer
Position Summary
The Vice President, Development, will create and manage fundraising programs and institutional advancement for the nonprofit Georgia Aquarium. The Vice President will lead the strategy, implementation, and execution of the organization's fundraising programs (including grants, planned giving, annual giving, capital campaigns, events, etc.), identify and cultivate donor prospects, and steer development communications and outreach efforts (working with the Aquarium’s marketing and communications team) that serve its fundraising goals. This position will manage and mentor a team of fundraising professionals to achieve annual budgeted goals while working with senior leadership to build a culture of philanthropy. The Vice President will serve as the Aquarium’s representative at community events and with community organizations as needed.
Responsibilities:
- Provide strategy and leadership for fundraising efforts, including capital campaigns, annual giving, major gifts, planned giving, events, direct-marketing campaigns, etc.
- Provide leadership and guidance for campaign operational strategy, management and processes, including timelines, objectives and metrics.
- Ensure prospective donors have opportunities to engage with the Aquarium in an innovative and meaningful way.
- Create and lead efforts around cultivation, solicitation and stewardship events, visits, calls, letters, etc.
- Devise and implement a comprehensive strategy to solicit prospects based on their experiences with, and interest in, the Aquarium, and their giving capacity.
- Educate and engage key members of the Aquarium board, leadership and staff to ensure successful and impactful participation in donor activities, and to report on progress.
- Design and implement a successful capital campaign to fund the Aquarium’s ambitious growth plans.
- Identify new prospects from a variety of sources, including donor lists, prospect screening information, local publications, and conversations with existing donors and Board of Directors.
- Identify current annual donors, members and pass holders who can make major gifts; design and implement appropriate strategies.
- Generate and conduct effective and engaging in-person presentations to high-level audiences in support of Aquarium projects and programs.
- Manage donor CRM strategy, in collaboration with the Director of Consumer Engagement.
- Work closely and collaboratively with representatives from the Marketing and Sales teams to create and promote fundraising events.
- Manage the Development staff, including goal-setting, performance evaluation, mentoring and training.
- Perform other duties as required.
Qualifications:
- Passion for conservation and community engagement, with a genuine commitment to the mission of Georgia Aquarium.
- Minimum of 8 years of progressive experience in nonprofit fundraising, development, or advancement, with at least 3 years in a senior leadership role.
- Bachelor’s degree required.
- Comprehensive management skills and experience are required, including but not limited to short- and long-term planning, evaluation, directing, mentoring and motivating staff, strong oral and written communication skills, budgeting and financial management, and knowledge of nonprofit fundraising regulations and best practices.
- Proven history of cultivating and securing major gifts.
- Prior experience managing a capital campaign is a plus.
- Knowledge of and solid base in the philanthropic community in greater Atlanta and Georgia.
- Ability to work independently and as a team member.
- Ability to always maintain a professional and respectful demeanor, including during stressful situations.
- Ability to build and maintain excellent relationships with a diverse culture, both with employees and business contacts.
- Self-motivated and disciplined to regularly set and achieve work goals.
- Excellent presentation and communication skills.
Physical Demands & Work Environment:
The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color and peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
Commitment:
I commit to Georgia Aquarium, Inc. to be a part of the following:
Mission: Georgia Aquarium is a nonprofit committed to inspiring awareness and preservation of our ocean and Aquatic animals worldwide.
Vision: To be the Premier Aquarium in the World for Science, Entertainment, Education and Conservation.
Values: Respect, Teamwork, Integrity, Innovation, Leadership, Excellence, Appreciation & Inclusion