Position Summary

The Development Assistant as Lincoln Children’s Zoo will further the mission of this dynamic organization by providing excellent customer service-focused fundraising support. The Development Assistant is responsible for administrative operations of the development department, including donor cultivation and stewardship activities, gift processing, donor acknowledgement, and donor database management. The Development Assistant will also take a leading role in several fundraising events that take place at Lincoln Children’s Zoo, including the annual Garden Party. This position’s immediate supervisor will be the Director of Development.

This position is full-time hourly (40 hours/week, Monday to Friday, with some flexibility in working hours between 7:30am and 5:30pm). Occasional evenings/weekends for select events may be required. Lincoln Children’s Zoo offers an energetic environment with dedicated professionals whose goal is to provide firsthand interactions with nature and animals for our guests.

Duties and Responsibilities

The following reflects management’s definition of essential functions for this job but does not restrict the tasks that may be assigned. Supervisor(s) may assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time due to reasonable accommodation or other reasons.

Assist Director of Development as needed

- Assist with general clerical support for the department and organization as assigned by supervisor, including correspondence, scheduling and creating presentations
- Assist with travel arrangements, budget tracking and check requests for accounts payable as assigned
- Provide outstanding customer service to all individuals and entities who come in contact with the department and the organization
- Handle all administrative details associated with the Board of Directors, to include preparing notices, agendas, minutes, etc.
- Coordinate fundraising event planning and logistics, receptions, and other events as assigned
- Assist with mailings, phone inquiries, in-kind gift tracking and other duties as designated
- Work with staff and volunteers to solicit participation from local businesses and individuals for event and zoo sponsorships
- Maintain accurate event records for attendance, donations and in-kind support
- Process and acknowledge gifts in a timely and IRS compliant manner
- Assistant is primary point person for updating, adding and maintaining donor and prospect constituent records in the database with finance staff.
- Responsible for gift entry process. Include tracking batches and assisting in running financial reports and reconciling deposits
- Codes and tracks donations, tributes, memorial and workplace gifts
- Obtains information on membership and online transactions
- Assists with creation of donor lists and other gift queries and reports
- Filing all donation-related paperwork and maintaining organized filing systems and binders
- Ensure proper donor activity tracking the database, including contact information, major gift call reports, event attendance, moves management stages and volunteer engagement
- Manage donation acknowledgement process (sending thank you notes, honor/memorial letters)
- Answer phone and email inquiries regarding development office activities
- Maintain accurate minutes for meetings as needed, including the Board of Directors
- Track grant applications and funding as requested
- Contacts individuals, organizations, schools or agencies for outreach, networking or collaboration purposes as requested
- Manages CATZ (Children at the Zoo) ticket and membership requests and distribution
- Conduct preliminary research on prospective corporate, foundation and individual donors
- Provide regular standing reports and ad hoc reports as needed
- General database processing and data entry

Performance and Success Measures

- Success in supporting Director of Development
- Professionalism and quality of work, including interaction with guests and donors
- Turnaround time for acknowledgement letters and other stewardship activities
- Accuracy of meeting minutes, fundraising reports and database records
- Success in maintaining hard copy filing system
- Success in coordinating assignments for special events

Qualifications

- Bachelor’s degree; may be substituted by experience
- At least two years’ prior office administration experience, preferably in a fundraising/development office
- Prior experience with Raiser’s Edge or other fundraising database software preferred
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) required
- Strong organizational, problem-solving, and analytical skills
- Versatility, flexibility, and a willingness to work within constantly changing priorities with enthusiasm
- Acute attention to detail
- Strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to work both independently and as part of various teams and committees at all levels of the organization
- Commitment to excellence and high standards
- Enthusiasm, focus, creativity, and a positive outlook

Physical Requirements

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to do the following:
- Coordinate multiple tasks simultaneously
- Occasional night and weekend work
- Frequent verbal and electronic contact with others
- Rapid work pace at times, with frequent deadlines
- Ability to navigate throughout the zoo

Salary and Selection

- Will be based on experience, education and qualifications
- Lincoln Children’s Zoo is an Equal Opportunity employer