Director of Development in Draper, Utah at The Living Planet Aquarium

Position: Director of Development

Reports To: Chief Operating Officer

Why Utah?

Utah is home to five national parks, world-class skiing and snowboarding, hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails, and stunning deserts, mountains, and lakes, all within easy driving distance. Outdoor adventure is part of everyday life. The Salt Lake Valley consistently ranks high for safety, clean communities, short commute times, and family-friendly amenities. Draper offers a balance of suburban comfort and urban access, with downtown Salt Lake City just 15 minutes away. Enjoy all four seasons without extremes—sunny summers, colorful falls, snowy winters, and mild springs, perfect for both outdoor recreation and city living. Utah’s communities are known for being engaged, supportive, and service-oriented, making it easy for newcomers to feel at home.

About Loveland Living Planet Aquarium:

Loveland Living Planet Aquarium (LLPA) is a mission-driven institution dedicated to inspiring people to explore, discover, and learn about Earth’s diverse ecosystems. Founded in 1997, the Aquarium provides impactful educational experiences for guests of all ages and backgrounds.

Since opening its Draper, Utah facility in 2014, LLPA has welcomed more than 10 million visitors and delivered over 650,000 educational experiences to students. Home to over 4,000 animals representing 650 species, the Aquarium features immersive habitats from around the world, including coral reefs, kelp forests, the deep ocean, Antarctic waters, tropical rainforests, Asian cloud forests, and Utah’s freshwater ecosystems.

Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) since 2019, LLPA is in an exciting phase of growth. With the opening of the Sam and Aline Skaggs Science Learning Center, the Aquarium became the largest in the Mountain West and the fifth largest aquarium in the continental United States, offering expanded opportunities for education, research, and professional impact.

Position Summary:

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the Director of Development serves as the Aquarium's leader for all philanthropic fundraising activities. This position is responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive fundraising strategy that supports the Aquarium's mission, strategic priorities, capital initiatives, and long-term financial sustainability.

The Director of Development leads all charitable revenue generation, including major gifts, annual giving, planned giving, grants, foundations, donor stewardship, and capital campaigns. Working closely with the CEO, COO, Board of Directors, and Development Committee, this position cultivates meaningful donor relationships while building a scalable, data-driven development program that supports continued organizational growth.

The Director of Development is expected to be both a strategic leader and an active fundraiser, maintaining a personal portfolio of major donors while creating systems and processes that strengthen the Aquarium's overall fundraising capacity.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent required
• Advanced degree in nonprofit management, business administration, communications, or a related field preferred
• Minimum of seven years of progressively responsible fundraising experience
• Demonstrated success securing five-, six-, and preferably seven-figure charitable gifts
• Experience leading major gift programs and comprehensive fundraising initiatives
• Experience supporting or leading capital campaigns preferred
• Demonstrated success writing and securing foundation and government grants
• Experience partnering with executive leadership and volunteer boards
• Experience using Salesforce or comparable donor relationship management software
• Strong understanding of nonprofit fundraising best practices, donor stewardship, and philanthropic trends
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and relationship-building skills

Critical Skills/Competencies:

• Strategic fundraising leadership
• Exceptional relationship-building and interpersonal skills
• High level of integrity and professionalism
• Ability to inspire confidence with donors, volunteers, and community leaders
• Strong organizational, planning, and project management abilities
• Excellent written communication and proposal development
• Financial acumen and budget management
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining exceptional attention to detail
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to use data to drive decisions
• Ability to work effectively across departments to advance organizational priorities
• Commitment to confidentiality and ethical fundraising practices

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership & Revenue Growth

• Develop and execute a comprehensive multi-year fundraising strategy aligned with the Aquarium's Strategic Plan and annual operating goals
• Establish annual philanthropic revenue goals and measurable performance objectives
• Diversify charitable revenue streams through major gifts, annual giving, planned giving, grants, foundations, endowment giving, and campaign fundraising
• Develop long-range fundraising strategies that support organizational growth and financial sustainability
• Identify emerging philanthropic opportunities and recommend new fundraising initiatives
• Prepare annual operating budgets and revenue forecasts for the Development Department
• Regularly evaluate fundraising effectiveness and recommend strategic improvements

Major Gifts & Donor Engagement

• Manage a personal portfolio of major donors and high-capacity prospects
• Develop individualized cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and recognition strategies for major donors
• Build meaningful long-term relationships with donors through consistent communication and engagement
• Coordinate major gift solicitations involving the CEO, COO, Board Members, and volunteer leadership
• Prepare solicitation materials, proposals, presentations, and donor correspondence
• Ensure exceptional stewardship of all donors through timely acknowledgement, impact reporting, and recognition
• Develop donor engagement opportunities including cultivation events, behind-the-scenes experiences, and leadership briefings

Annual Giving & Planned Giving

• Direct the Aquarium's annual giving strategy
• Develop annual campaigns designed to increase donor participation and donor retention
• Expand recurring giving programs
• Develop planned giving opportunities that encourage legacy support
• Work with professional advisors and donors regarding estate planning and charitable gift vehicles
• Evaluate annual campaign performance and implement continuous improvements

Team Leadership & Organizational Development

• Build, lead, and develop a high-performing development team
• Establish clear goals, accountability, and performance expectations for staff
• Foster a culture of collaboration, professionalism, and continuous improvement
• Ensure appropriate staffing, structure, and resources to achieve development goals

Grants & Foundation Relations

• Develop and maintain a comprehensive grants strategy supporting operational, educational, conservation, and capital priorities
• Identify new grant opportunities from private foundations, corporations, and government agencies
• Coordinate preparation, submission, and review of all grant proposals
• Ensure compliance with grant requirements, reporting deadlines, and post-award administration
• Build long-term relationships with foundation program officers and institutional funders
• Collaborate with department leaders to identify funding opportunities that advance Aquarium priorities

External Relations & Representation

• Represent the Aquarium in the community to build relationships and expand philanthropic support
• Cultivate relationships with regional and national stakeholders, donors, and partners
• Monitor philanthropic trends and best practices, particularly within AZA-accredited institutions
• Position the Aquarium as a leader in education and community impact

Physical Demands of the Job:

• This position will be primarily in an office environment
• Periodic evening and weekend work is expected
• May be required to lift up to 50 pounds

Benefits & Perks

• Comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees including:
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance, plus optional FSA/HSA accounts
  • Paid time off & 12 paid holidays per year
  • Paid bereavement leave and paid new child leave (birth, adoption, or placement)
  • Employer-paid short-term disability; optional long-term disability coverage
  • Convenient onsite childcare (employees pay approximately 20% of the cost)
• 401(k) with match up to 4% - fully vested from day 1 of contribution
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Free Aquarium membership
• Discounts on tickets, gift shop, and café purchases
• Free and discounted animal encounters
• Pet insurance and discounts
• Footwear discounts
• Entertainment, travel, and retail savings through Tickets at Work

While this job description attempts to describe the essential functions of the position, it does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned. It does not restrict management’s right to assign or reassign duties or responsibilities to this job at any time. The overall work environment while performing this job includes exposure to weather conditions and the noise level is usually moderate. The employee is expected to adhere to all policies and to act as a role model in the adherence to the policies.

The Living Planet Aquarium is proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive environment for all. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, creed, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or military status. The Living Planet Aquarium is committed to ensuring individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application and interview process. Should you require accommodations, please contact accommodation@livingplanetaquarium.org.