Philanthropy Relations Officer

JOB POSTING

Philanthropy Relations Officer

Posted: Open to internal and external applicants   

Reports to: Senior Major Gifts Officer

Status: Full-time, hourly, benefitted position

Hours of work: Standard Monday–Friday workweek, 8am–5pm. Work is hybrid with at least 2 days in the office, one of which being Thursday. Occasional need for weekend or after-hours work as related to events and other projects.

Date needed:  June 2025

Posting expires: Open until filled, priority given to applications received by April 18 

Position description:  

The Seattle Aquarium is hiring a philanthropy relations officer to join our Philanthropy team. This is a newly created position, and the successful candidate will have the opportunity to build needed infrastructure that will serve the Aquarium for years to come. 

The primary responsibility of this position is to assist with cultivating and soliciting mid-level  donors to the Aquarium. The position will manage a portfolio of 150-200 people giving $1,000 - $5,000 a year to the Aquarium, or who made a gift of $10,000+ to the recently-concluded capital campaign who aren’t yet operating donors. 

The position will balance 1:1 engagement and one-to-many outreach. Key activities include developing and managing a communications calendar for their portfolio, frequent phone & email outreach, in-person meetings, leading tours, and handling donor benefit delivery as-needed. The philanthropy relations officer reports to the senior major gifts officer and works closely with the individual giving team, as well as the entire philanthropy department.

Our Philanthropy team has identified that Black, Indigenous, people of color, immigrants, farm workers, low-income people, and LGBTQ+ communities are being disproportionately impacted by environmental harm while not having access to lead the conversation on conversation and environmental education. We are on a mission to change that narrative so we are seeking a philanthropy relations officer who can inspire philanthropy that not only funds our core mission but does so with an intention to advance social and cultural justice lens and opportunities.

As part of our inclusive community value, work experience is valued the same as education degrees. A successful candidate will have a minimum of three years of growing responsibility in a combination of philanthropy, customer service, sales and/or related fields. 

Key functions: 

• Responsible for a portfolio of 150 – 200 people giving $1,000 - $5,000 cumulatively, building a donor-centric, year-round program that engages and inspires donors through intimate events, personalized mailings, appeals, reports, and behind-the-scenes opportunities.
• Build and implement a comprehensive annual engagement plan to cultivate relationships, deepen donor connections, and increase donor retention.
• Collaborate with the Major Gifts team to identify and elevate potential major donors, ensuring a seamless transition for donors ready to increase their giving levels.
• Participate in regular prospect strategy and portfolio review meetings, contributing insights and ideas to enhance fundraising strategies.
• Develop compelling narratives and personalized appeals that resonate with a diverse audience, effectively conveying the Aquarium’s mission and impact.
• Lead tours and in-person experiences to inspire donor engagement and communicate the significance of their support in conserving marine environments.
• Maintain accurate records of donor interactions and engagement strategies in Raiser’s Edge, ensuring data integrity and effective tracking of relationship-building activities.
• Analyze donor data and engagement metrics to inform future strategies to enhance donor diversity and experiences.
• Integrate diversity, equity, inclusion, and regenerative practices into all aspects of donor engagement, ensuring culturally relevant communication
• Serve as a backup to the Membership Engagement Specialist when they’re out of the office, assisting with inquiries from members
• Other duties as assigned.  

Required skills and experience: 
The skills and abilities listed below may be demonstrated through a combination of relevant cultural and community programs, jobs, internships, volunteer experience, and/or formal or informal education. If you meet some of the requirements and you are passionate about our mission and our ocean, we encourage you to apply and look forward to learning more about you.   

• The ideal candidate will have 3 years in fundraising, sales, or comparable work. We will consider various combinations of relevant experience and education in order to meet minimum requirements. We believe experience comes in all forms, and take a comprehensive look at education, work experience, and other skills that applicants might bring to the position.
• English verbal and written proficiency is required for this job but preference will be given to native and fluent multilingual speakers.
• Strong verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills with a demonstrated ability to work with staff and community across cultural and linguistic differences. 
• Persuasive storytelling skills in writing and in-person.
• Highly organized and able to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Demonstrated self-starter.
• Proven project management and organizational skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office; experience with Raiser's Edge or another CRM. 
• A curiosity for marine life, marine habitats and marine conservation.
• All Aquarium staff and volunteers are expected to participate in advancing and integrating into their work Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Regenerative practices in alignment with our S.A.L.I.S.H. Values.   

Working conditions:

• Comfortable working in an open office environment.
• Must be able to stay in place for long periods of time while working on a computer and phone.
• Must be available for some evening and weekend work for special events. 
• This position is hybrid with a minimum of 2 days/week in the office, one of which being Wednesday.

Salary and benefits: $32.69 - $36.54/hour Dependent on experience. Please include salary expectations in your materials. Full-time staff are eligible for the Seattle Aquarium’s comprehensive benefits package to include medical, vision, dental, an employer-funded health reimbursement account, medical and dependent care flexible spending accounts, life insurance, long-term disability, 403b retirement fund with employer match, access to a subsidized ORCA pass, a Seattle Aquarium Family Plus membership and generous paid time off.

How to apply: The Seattle Aquarium is committed to expanding a diverse, equitable, and inclusive conservation movement. We are invested in building an Aquarium with a wide variety of backgrounds, identities, languages, cultural ways of knowing, and life experiences. We know research shows that society has conditioned communities of color, trans and gender non-conforming people, immigrants, people with disabilities, and other marginalized candidates to more frequently not apply to a job because they don’t feel that they meet all of the qualifications listed even if they are qualified. If you meet some of the requirements and you are passionate about our mission and our ocean, we encourage you to apply and look forward to learning more about you.

Interested candidates should upload a résumé to our online application to be considered. Application review will begin immediately.  

 SeattleAquarium.org/careers 

Please let us know if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for this job by emailing us at jobs@seattleaquarium.org.  

Note: If offered the position, candidates must pass a background check. Conviction record is not an automatic disqualifier; we are a second chance employer.  

About the Seattle Aquarium: 

The Seattle Aquarium is a respected authority on Puget Sound, the Salish Sea and the world’s one ocean. Our passionate staff increases awareness and drives the change needed to preserve and protect our marine environment by providing an inspiring visitor experience, engaging daytime and evening events, conservation education programs for people of all ages and backgrounds, community outreach to marginalized populations, research that advances understanding of animals in our care and their counterparts in the wild, advocacy and policy work, an award-winning volunteer program, high-impact marketing and communications, and more.  

Our values, developed in conjunction with our staff, include commitments to adopting and promoting sustainable practices, creating awe-inspiring experiences, constantly learning and improving, fostering an inclusive community, maintaining scientific credibility through evidence-based practices and honoring our unique place by using our location and history as a lens for larger understanding.  

Proudly accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, we’re among the top 10 aquariums in the U.S. by attendance, and we welcome over 850,000 people each year. Guided by our mission of Inspiring Conservation of Our Marine Environment, we’re working to substantially increase our conservation impact by expanding our campus with a new building, the Ocean Pavilion. Learn more at SeattleAquarium.org. 

Timeline:

We anticipate the following recruiting schedule for those candidates who are selected for consideration. The following dates are preliminary and subject to change. We will work with candidates to set interview dates. If hired, relocation assistance is not available. 

• Application deadline: May 2025 
• Priority given to applications received by April 18
• Interviews completed by Early June 2025
• Start date: June 2025.