O Santuário de Elefantes Brasil está com processo seletivo para Development Director (Direção de Desenvolvimento), posição estratégica responsável por liderar a área de captação de recursos e relacionamento com doadores. A organização, localizada na Chapada dos Guimarães (MT), atua no resgate e reabilitação de elefantes vindos de cativeiro e busca um profissional com experiência em fundraising para estruturar e expandir suas fontes de financiamento. A função é remota, com viagens pontuais para atividades presenciais no Brasil.
A remuneração é compatível com a senioridade, com faixa em torno de R$ 20 mil mensais, a depender da experiência e qualificação. As candidaturas podem ser enviadas até 16 de abril para o e-mail daniel@elefantesbrasil.org.br. O descritivo completo da vaga, com detalhamento de responsabilidades, estratégia de captação e requisitos técnicos, está disponível em inglês.
Development Director – Santuário de Elefantes Brasil
Salary: Competitive, with a salary of R$20,000/month depending on experience and qualifications
Organization Summary:
Santuário de Elefantes Brasil (SEB) is the only elephant sanctuary in South America and one of only three elephant sanctuaries in the world accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS). The sanctuary is located on 2,800 acres of protected natural land in Chapada dos Guimarães in Mato Grosso, Brazil. SEB offers expansive habitats where elephants can roam freely, form social bonds, and rediscover autonomy in an environment designed to help them live as naturally as possible. Since its establishment, SEB has rescued eleven elephants from zoos, circuses, and other captive facilities where they endured years of confinement and inadequate care. Each arrival represents a unique journey of recovery, from physical healing to emotional reconnection and social integration. The sanctuary’s individualized care model focuses on meeting each elephant’s medical, emotional, and social needs while emphasizing autonomy and choice as the foundation for rehabilitation.
Our team culture is rooted in deep respect for all animals and a shared commitment to their dignity, autonomy, and well-being. We value collaboration and cooperation across departments and operate with strong ethical and transparent standards. We are proud to foster a diverse and inclusive environment where different perspectives are welcomed, and every team member is empowered to contribute fully to our mission.
Position Summary:
The Development Director reports to the Chief Operating Officer and oversees the development department’s daily activities. This includes leading all fundraising efforts for SEB, working to meet annual revenue goals while building sustainable, diversified sources of support for the organization’s long-term future. This role is deeply involved in donor cultivation, communication, solicitation, and stewardship, developing authentic relationships that strengthen engagement and inspire continued investment in the sanctuary’s mission.
This position requires occasional travel to Mato Grosso, and other parts of Brazil, to support in-person events, connect with key stakeholders, and support elephant arrivals.
Job Responsibilities:
The Development Director will work remotely with our Brazilian-based team to provide strategic direction for development and donor relations activities, which include:
Fundraising Strategy
- Develop and implement multi-year online and offline fundraising strategies and programs to support a $1 million+ USD annual budget
- Identify and pursue new opportunities to grow revenue among individual donors, corporate sponsorships, grants, and online and in-person fundraising events consistent with SEB’s mission and identity
- Actively cultivate, solicit, and steward major donors and high-capacity prospects
- Oversee and collaborate on online store operations and merchandise sales, including inventory, vendor relationships, pricing, promotion, fulfillment, and more
- Prepare and present monthly, quarterly, and annual fundraising reports, including revenue performance, donor trends, and progress toward goals.
- Plan and lead online and in-person fundraising events to maximize donor engagement and revenue results
- Partner with the Executive Director and Board of Directors to align fundraising strategy with organizational growth and long-term sustainability
- Direct grant strategy, including the execution, proposal development, submission, and reporting of opportunities
- Develop donor retention strategies to strengthen long-term giving, including creating programs such as legacy and planned giving initiatives
Donor Relations & Communications
- Create and execute a written and verbal donor communication strategy to cultivate relationships with current and potential donors to advance their relationship with the organization
- Manage, oversee, and implement donor communications strategy, including e-newsletters and email campaigns
- Plan and implement marketing materials, PR materials, and special events to identify new donor prospects and maximize donor engagement.
- Collaborate closely with the social media team to ensure consistent messaging and utilize best practices for online fundraising strategies.
- Review, oversee, update, and maintain the website’s donation pages
- Oversee donor retention efforts, including donation acknowledgments and impact reporting
- Track and analyze communications performance metrics such as open rates, conversion rates, and engagement to improve future campaigns
Leadership and Team Management
- Train, support, and evaluate development support staff, including oversight of donation processing
- Contribute positively to team culture through cross-department collaboration, open communication, and shared accountability
- Oversee the effective use of the donor CRM, maintaining data integrity and reporting accuracy and provide backup support for donor CRM when needed
Other Duties
- Develop and manage the department budget in alignment with organizational goals
- Support administrative, operations, and financial departments as needed
- Support Board in fundraising and engagement efforts through training, materials, and guidance
- Ensure fundraising activities comply with ethical standards and all national, municipal, and state regulations
- Oversee donor database management, ensuring data integrity and accurate reporting
Qualifications – Experience Requirements Include:
- 3-5 years of development experience in a nonprofit setting—animal welfare field knowledge or experience is a plus
- Experience developing and implementing a major donor strategy, including identifying and cultivating high-net-worth donors, crafting targeted proposals, and making asks for large gifts
- Fluency in Portuguese and English is required
- Proven track record of relationship building with diverse stakeholders, including individual donors, corporate partners, foundations, and community organizations, resulting in increased funding, collaborative initiatives, and strategic partnerships
- Demonstrated ability to develop and execute comprehensive fundraising strategies aligned with organizational goals, including annual giving campaigns, major donor programs, grant writing, and special events
- Experience with donor database systems and cloud-based application processes such as Google Docs, Google Sheets, Monday.com, etc.
- Strong attention to detail and editing skills
- Excellent communication and writing skills that are professional while also expressing the passion and compassion inherent to SEB’s mission
- Strong leadership skills with the ability to effectively guide and inspire others towards achieving common goals
- Exceptional interpersonal skills, with the capacity to listen actively and respond with empathy
- Ability to work under stressful deadlines and juggle multiple grant projects with flexibility to work weekdays, evenings, and weekend hours as needed
- Ability to collaborate with staff and board while working remotely
- Self-motivated and proactive, with the ability to manage time effectively and follow through on tasks
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively while also being able to follow directions
