Zoological Association of America

Position Summary

The Moorpark College Foundation seeks an experienced and strategic Development Officer to lead fundraising and philanthropic engagement for the Moorpark College Teaching Zoo (TZMC).

The Development Officer will design and execute a comprehensive development strategy to secure philanthropic support for animal care, conservation initiatives, educational programming, and strategic growth of the Teaching Zoo. The position will manage a portfolio of individual, corporate, and foundation donors and will be responsible for identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding relationships that advance the Zoo’s mission and institutional priorities.

A significant focus of the position will be the management of major capital campaign initiatives, aligning the Teaching Zoo’s operational and academic program needs with broader institutional priorities. The Development Officer will work closely with college leadership, the Animal Care and Training (ANCT) Program, the Moorpark College Foundation, Foundation Board members, alumni, volunteers, community partners, and other internal and external stakeholders.

This position offers an opportunity to contribute to the continued development of a distinctive academic and community resource at one of California’s leading community colleges.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Fundraising Strategy & Leadership

• Develop and implement a multi-year fundraising strategy aligned with Teaching Zoo priorities and institutional revenue goals.
• Meet annual fundraising, major gift, capital campaign, and planned-giving goals established in partnership with Foundation and college leadership.
• Develop and manage annual event budgets, revenue forecasts, and expense projections, with an emphasis on effective resource allocation and return on investment.
• Foster a collaborative culture that strengthens alignment among Zoo operations, ANCT faculty, college leadership, the Foundation, Community Advisory Board, alumni, donors, supporters, and administrative functions.
• Identify and advance opportunities for transformational philanthropic support of strategic Teaching Zoo initiatives.

Donor Development & Stewardship

• Develop and manage a strategic portfolio of individual, corporate, and foundation prospects.
• Build and maintain a strong major-gift pipeline through prospect research, identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Research and identify corporate partners whose priorities align with the Teaching Zoo\\\\\\\’s mission and strategic initiatives.
• Identify annual donors and Zoo members with the capacity and inclination to make major gifts and develop strategies to increase their engagement and giving.
• Develop donor recognition and communications programs that strengthen retention and engagement.
• Conduct presentations to high-level audiences and represent the Teaching Zoo at community events and networking opportunities.
• Steward corporate and community relationships through timely reporting, impact storytelling, site visits, and tailored engagement opportunities.

Grants & Institutional Partnerships

• Research and prepare grant proposals aligned with institutional needs and programmatic goals.
• Establish and maintain relationships with foundation and governmental funders.
• Ensure timely submission of grant reports and compliance with funding requirements.

Events & Community Engagement

• Plan and execute cultivation and fundraising events that advance donor engagement and visibility for the Teaching Zoo.
• Coordinate with internal departments and external partners to align events with strategic objectives.
• Educate and engage Zoo staff in meaningful participation in donor activities.
• Partner with Marketing & Communications to ensure consistent, mission-driven messaging and appropriate recognition of sponsors and event partners across digital, print, and on-site channels.

Collaboration & Leadership

• Collaborate with the Foundation, college leadership, communications and marketing teams, ANCT faculty and staff, and other stakeholders to integrate fundraising with institutional priorities.
• Provide support and training to the ANCT team and Foundation Board regarding fundraising roles and responsibilities.
• Build strong working relationships across academic and administrative units to advance a unified Teaching Zoo model.

Database & Reporting

• Maintain accurate donor records and gift histories in Bloomerang CRM.
• Prepare regular reports for the Executive Director, Foundation Board, and other stakeholders to evaluate fundraising performance, trends, and opportunities.
• Implement process improvements that strengthen CRM utilization, donor reporting, and development operations.

Minimum & Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor\\\\\\\’s degree required; advanced degree or Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE) certification preferred.
• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible professional fundraising experience, preferably in a zoo, museum, aquarium, cultural institution, higher education, or similar mission-driven organization.
• At least three years of leadership or management experience.
• Demonstrated success securing major gifts and managing comprehensive fundraising campaigns, including demonstrated success closing mid-level through major financial gifts.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including proposal development and presentation skills, with the ability to adapt communication style to diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated proficiency with donor CRM systems; Bloomerang experience preferred.
• Experience collaborating across departments and with diverse stakeholder groups to align fundraising, partnership, and event strategies with organizational priorities.
• Strategic thinker with a collaborative, mission-driven, and entrepreneurial mindset.

About Moorpark College

Moorpark College is part of the Ventura County Community College District and serves more than 13,000 students annually. The College is consistently ranked among the top community colleges in California and is recognized for academic excellence, innovative programs, and its commitment to student success.

Located in Ventura County, Moorpark College provides a welcoming and inclusive environment in which faculty, staff, and students are committed to making a meaningful impact through education.

About the Moorpark College Teaching Zoo

The Moorpark College Teaching Zoo is one of only two college-operated teaching zoos in the United States and is recognized as a respected leader and collaborative partner within the zoological and conservation industries.

The Teaching Zoo’s AZA and ZAA accreditations reflect its commitment to industry-leading standards in animal care, education, and operations. Its mission is to inspire conservation action by providing engaging connections with wildlife and those who care for them.

The Zoo’s Animal Care and Training (ANCT) Program is committed to developing future leaders who can meet the challenges of working safely, humanely, and intelligently with animals.

Why This Opportunity

This position sits at the intersection of philanthropy, higher education, conservation, animal care, and community engagement. The Development Officer will have the opportunity to build a comprehensive fundraising program while directly supporting an innovative academic program and a distinctive Teaching Zoo with a national profile.

The successful candidate will bring both the strategic perspective to build long-term philanthropic capacity and the relationship-building skills necessary to inspire donors, partners, alumni, and community members to invest in the future of the Teaching Zoo and its students.