Aquarium Development Officer
Location
Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States
Work type
Onsite
Employment
Full Time
Experience
6+ years
Compensation
$83K - $128.7K per year
Posted
2h ago
Summary and responsibilities
Role overview
Summary
The Aquarium Development Officer provides executive leadership for all fundraising and philanthropic initiatives at the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center. This role develops and executes strategies to expand and diversify revenue across various giving portfolios, including major gifts, planned giving, corporate partnerships, endowments, annual fund, and capital campaigns. The officer also directs the overall development function and staff, fostering a culture of philanthropy to support long-term institutional growth.
POSITION OVERVIEW
The Aquarium Development Officer provides executive leadership for all fundraising and philanthropic initiatives at the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center. Reporting to the Executive Director and serving as a key member of the leadership team, the Aquarium Development Officer develops and executes strategies to expand and diversify revenue across all giving portfolios, including major gifts, planned giving, corporate partnerships, endowments, annual fund, and capital campaigns.
This role directs the overall development function and staff, ensuring alignment with the organization's mission and strategic priorities while fostering a culture of philanthropy to support long-term institutional growth. The ideal candidate will have demonstrated success in leading a high-performing development program, cultivating transformational gifts, and advancing mission-driven organizations through strategic fundraising initiatives.
Essential Functions include:
Direct the fundraising activities of the Virginia Aquarium, including major gifts, corporate and foundation grants, annual and capital campaigns, planned giving and special events
Guide and support Board fundraising activities
Supervise development staff
Provide development training to staff to build a culture of philanthropy across the organization
Coordinate and support Executive Director's fundraising efforts, including prospect outreach efforts, meeting preparation and follow-up, strategy development, pipeline management and gift proposals
The ideal candidate will demonstrate:
A proven record of success in fundraising, donor engagement, and securing major contributions for a nonprofit organization
Extensive experience in donor relations, retention, stewardship, and cultivation across diverse giving levels
Skills in developing and managing large-scale capital campaigns
Experience overseeing endowment funds with multiple designations
Experience in designing and implementing comprehensive fundraising strategies
Knowledge of Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) from IRAs and gifts of appreciated securities, including a solid understanding of relevant financial and tax implications
Proven ability to cultivate and secure planned gifts, such as bequests, charitable trusts, legacy commitments, and complex contributions
Experience in researching, preparing, and submitting grant proposals to secure funding
Familiarity with CRM platforms (e.g., Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce) and donor database management
Representative Work Functions and Responsibilities
Develop and execute a comprehensive annual fundraising program for the Virginia Aquarium that establishes strategic objectives, revenue goals, and action plans aligned with the mission and organizational priorities.
Lead strategies to strengthen annual giving, major gifts, planned and estate giving, capital campaigns and membership programs to increase philanthropic support and deepen donor/ engagement.
Plan and execute donor and member recognition activities and fundraising events that enhance stewardship and support fundraising goals.
Oversee strategic planning efforts for the Aquarium Foundation and affiliated groups to ensure financial goals are achieved.
Manage and coordinate grant development efforts, including research, proposal writing, and reporting, to secure funding for special exhibits, programs, and initiatives.
Maintain accurate donor and membership records and oversee processes for payment schedules, renewal letters, and stewardship communications.
Supervise clerical, administrative and volunteer staff involved in development activities, ensuring effective workflow and performance.
Minimum Requirements:
Requires a bachelor’s degree in related field and six (6) years of experience in related development work utilizing the required knowledge, skills, and abilities in such position as development officer OR an equivalent combination of education (above the high school level) and/or experience equivalent to ten (10) years in fields utilizing the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Updated 2h ago
Candidate fit
Skills and qualifications
Additional skills
Experience
6+ years
How this role is positioned
Role classification
Job domains
Industries
Employment
Full Time
Contract duration
Permanent
Hiring type
Direct
Global hiring
Location specific
Offer details
Compensation and benefits
Compensation
$83K - $128.7K per year
Benefits and perks
Location, schedule, and role shape
Work setup
Work conditions
Bandwidth profile
Context on the employer
Company snapshot
Company
Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center
Team size
Growing team
Location
Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States
Recognized as one of America’s Best-In-State Employers for 2024, the City of Virginia Beach is proud to offer a diverse and dynamic work environment. Our workforce plays a crucial role in delivering exceptional government services to both our citizens and fellow City employees. The mission of the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center is to connect people to the marine environment, inspiring a more sustainable future. With over 633,000 guests in fiscal year 2025, the Virginia Aquarium is the third most visited cultural attraction in the Commonwealth of Virginia and aspires to be a driver in conservation, education, tourism and sustainability - leading the charge to save wildlife and their ecosystems.
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Aquarium Development Officer
Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States • Full Time