Description

Overview
The Zoo Society is a nonprofit organization and the philanthropic partner of Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in Tacoma, Washington. While Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium is operated by Parks Tacoma, the Zoo Society is a separate nonprofit organization that raises funds and generates community support to advance the Zoo’s mission. The Zoo Society supports animal care and welfare, conservation initiatives, education and youth programs, community access, and capital improvements.

The Zoo Society is a small organization with significant financial resources and community reach. In 2025, the organization reported approximately $1.7 million in annual revenue and nearly $32 million in total assets. The organization currently operates with a staff of four employees, supported by an engaged Board of Directors. Its financial position has been strengthened considerably by legacy giving and invested assets, providing a strong foundation for long-term sustainability while creating opportunities to more intentionally grow the Zoo Society’s fundraising and community impact.

The Zoo Society is entering an important next chapter. The organization is focused on strengthening individual and major giving, expanding its visibility and relationships throughout the Tacoma community, preparing for potential future capital fundraising, building appropriate organizational capacity, and continuing to evolve its partnership with Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium. The next Executive Director will have the opportunity to build on a strong financial and mission-driven foundation while helping shape the Zoo Society’s philanthropic strategy and role in supporting the Zoo for the future.

Mission and Values
The Zoo Society envisions a community where people of all ages and backgrounds are connected to wildlife and the botanical world, inspired by conservation, and invested in a thriving zoo for generations to come. As the partner of Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, the Zoo Society engages the community to secure the resources needed to advance animal care, access, education, and conservation. 

The Zoo Society’s work is rooted in a shared passion for wildlife and a commitment to community, conservation, education and access, animal wellbeing and meaningful connection. These values guide the Zoo Society’s efforts to strengthen the bond between people and wildlife while ensuring the zoo continues to thrive for future generations.

About the Position
The Zoo Society is seeking an experienced, relationship-driven Executive Director to lead the organization into its next phase of growth and impact. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director will provide overall leadership, including fundraising and donor development, community engagement, organizational strategy, staff leadership, financial stewardship, and partnership with Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium and Parks Tacoma. For the right leader, this is an opportunity to not simply to manage an established organization, but to help define the Zoo Society’s next era of philanthropy, community engagement and impact.

Serving as a visible ambassador and active fundraiser, the Executive Director will strengthen relationships with donors, community leaders, businesses, and civic partners while building a more intentional fundraising and major gifts program. The leader will also navigate the Zoo Society’s unique public-private environment, building trust and alignment across partners while maintaining momentum around zoo priorities.

The Executive Director will lead a small, committed team and partner closely with the Board, preserving the Zoo Society’s collaborative and flexible culture while strengthening priorities, accountability, communication, and capacity for future growth.

Key Priorities for the First 12–18 Months
The new Executive Director should begin by listening and learning, developing a strong understanding of the Society and its relationships with the Zoo, Board, community, donor base, staff and the broader environment in which it operates. Building upon that foundation, the Executive Director will focus on the following priorities:

• Strengthen Zoo and Key Partner Relationships: Build strong, trusted relationships with Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, Parks Tacoma, and other key government and public-sector partners. The Executive Director will need to understand the roles, priorities, and decision-making processes of these different partners and effectively navigate a complex operating environment. Particular attention should be given to strengthening communication and alignment with Zoo leadership around priorities, projects, timelines, and philanthropic opportunities. The incoming executive should also build strong partnerships with the Board, keeping members engaged, informed, and aligned around priorities and direction.
• Deepen Community Connections and Outreach: Increase The Zoo Society’s visibility throughout Tacoma and the surrounding community by building relationships with civic organizations, foundations, businesses, community leaders, and prospective supporters. The Executive Director should serve as an active ambassador for the organization, expand its network, and help the community better understand the Society’s role and impact in supporting the Zoo.
• Strengthen Fundraising and Major Gift Development: Develop and begin implementing a more intentional fundraising strategy focused on growing individual and major giving, strengthening donor cultivation and stewardship, expanding the donor pipeline, and preparing the Society for potential future capital fundraising. The Executive Director will take an active, visible role in building relationships with current and prospective donors and work closely with staff and the Board to establish clear fundraising priorities, goals, and responsibilities.
• Strengthen Organizational Capacity: Review the Zoo Society’s current staffing structure, roles, responsibilities, workload, systems, and workspace to determine what additional capacity is needed to support the organization’s future direction. The Executive Director will work collaboratively with staff to clarify roles and ensure resources are appropriately aligned, and identify where additional expertise or staffing may be needed as fundraising and community engagement efforts expand.

Requirements

Essential Qualifications, Skills, & Experience
The Zoo Society is seeking an experienced, mission-driven leader with proven fundraising expertise, relationship building skills, strategic leadership, and the ability to navigate complex partnerships. The ideal candidate will have the following experience, skills, and attributes:

• Senior nonprofit leadership experience (minimum 5 years) in a similar sized organization, including experience partnering with and reporting to a board of directors
• Significant fundraising experience, including individual donors, major gifts, and capital campaigns
• Ability to build, manage, and maintain complex relationships and the ability to strengthen relationships with key partners, engage community leaders, and partner effectively with the board
• Strong external presence and communication skills, including public speaking, storytelling, donor engagement, and the ability to raise awareness of The Zoo Society in the local community
• Financial and business acumen, including budgeting, endowment management, responsible stewardship of assets, and ability to connect financial decisions to organizational strategy
• Collaborative and empowering people leader, including experience managing staff and recognizing strengths while preserving a positive and flexible work culture
• Commitment to the mission, including animal welfare, conservation, education, children, access, and community impact
• Knowledge of South Sound and community relationships would be preferred, but candidates from outside the region should demonstrate the ability and desire to quickly become engaged in the community
• Education: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required; Master’s degree preferred (public administration, nonprofit management, business administration, or related field)

Compensation & Benefits 

Compensation: $150,000-$175,000, with the potential for additional performance-based incentive compensation.

Benefits include: 

• Paid time off based on years of service
• 10 paid holidays and 3 floating personal days annually
• Paid sick leave
• Qualified small employer health reimbursement arrangement towards eligible healthcare expenses
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• Retirement plan with an employer match

The position is hybrid and based in Tacoma, Washington. The Executive Director will be expected to maintain a meaningful in-person presence to lead staff, engage donors and community partners, and build strong relationships with Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, the Board, and other key stakeholders.

How to Apply

The Zoo Society has retained Glick Davis & Associates, LLC to facilitate this search on their behalf.

To apply, interested candidates should e-mail their cover letter and resume as a single pdf file to: ZooSociety@glickdavis.com

The position is open until filled. 

Inclusiveness:

The Zoo Society is an equal-opportunity employer and seeks to recruit people of diverse backgrounds and support the retention and advancement of diverse persons within the organization. We believe that having a board, staff, and volunteer corps with diverse personal and professional backgrounds enhances our ability to meet our mission. 

The Zoo Society is committed to providing an inclusive workplace that includes people of diverse backgrounds and fully utilizes their talents to achieve its mission. We are committed to fostering and supporting a workplace culture inclusive of people regardless of their race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, marital status, age, physical abilities, political affiliation, religious beliefs, or any other non-merit fact, so that all employees feel included, equal, valued and supported.