February 27, 2025 9:00 AM Central Standard Time
CHICAGO, IL – Cooper Coleman LLC, a nationally recognized executive search firm specializing in nonprofit and social impact organizations, is pleased to announce that the East Coast Zoological Foundation (ECZF), d.b.a. Brevard Zoo, has named Robyn Ducharme as its new Chief Philanthropy Officer, following a nationwide search led by Cooper Coleman LLC Founder + CEO, Johnny Cooper.
Ducharme brings more than 25 years of nonprofit leadership experience, most recently serving as Vice President of Philanthropy at the National MS Society, where she managed a national team and oversaw a $78 million annual fundraising budget. She was instrumental in securing transformational gifts, including the organization’s largest estate gift to date. Her career also includes leading large-scale disaster relief fundraising efforts at the American Red Cross, as well as leadership roles at the YMCA and Easter Seals.
The East Coast Zoological Foundation operates the Brevard Zoo in Melbourne, FL, and is amidst a $100M+ campaign to fund the development and operation of The Bowen Aquarium, a world-class Aquarium and Conservation Center planned for Port Canaveral, Florida, along the Banana River and Indian River Lagoon system. The Aquarium and Conservation Center is a once-in-a-generation endeavor by ECZF to transform the landscape of coastal conservation, environmental education, and rehabilitation of imperiled marine species throughout Central Florida.
Keith Winston, Chief Executive Officer of the East Coast Zoological Foundation, shared: "Robyn brings a unique blend of strategic vision and heartfelt passion for philanthropy. Her extensive experience and personal commitment to conservation and education align perfectly with ECZF’s goals as we expand our footprint with the new Aquarium campus. We are thrilled to welcome her to the team and look forward to her leadership in advancing our philanthropic efforts."
As Chief Philanthropy Officer, Robyn will lead ECZF’s development strategy, including its ambitious $100+ million Our Legacy Campaign. She will also lead and expand the Philanthropy team and work in partnership with the entire executive team to continually elevate the experience guests and donors have in every interaction with the Zoo, its conservation and educational programs, and exhibits.
Johnny Cooper, Founder + CEO of Cooper Coleman, added: "Robyn’s track record of scaling development programs and leading high-performing teams makes her the perfect fit to help ECZF achieve its ambitious expansion goals. Her thoughtful approach to philanthropy and deep understanding of mission-driven organizations will be instrumental as ECZF advances its campaign and deepens its impact on conservation education, animal care, and species survival. The commitment donors and community stakeholders have made to this organization over three decades deserves to be matched with only the best stewardship of their resources. Robyn and her team are poised to deliver on that."
About East Coast Zoological Foundation
Since 1986, ECZF has been dedicated to sharing the joy of nature to help wildlife and people thrive. Operating the beloved Brevard Zoo and spearheading the development of a new Aquarium campus, ECZF is a leader in conservation, education, and community engagement, welcoming over 500,000 guests each year. Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Brevard Zoo has continuously been voted as a top zoo in the nation by USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice awards.
To learn more, visit www.brevardzoo.org or www.ourlegacycampaign.org.
About Cooper Coleman LLC
Cooper Coleman LLC is a full-service retained executive search and consulting firm partnering exclusively with nonprofit organizations, foundations, and research and academic institutions to drive meaningful growth. With headquarters in Cincinnati, OH, and Chicago, IL, its team moves organizations forward by placing the right leaders in the right roles at the right time and helps to strengthen their management and fundraising capacity to amplify their mission and impact.
Cooper Coleman's diverse client portfolio spans a wide range of social impact areas, reflecting its commitment to serving the entire spectrum of the social impact sector. Its clients are focused on a variety of causes, such as civil rights, health equity, the performing arts, adoption and foster care, LGBTQ+ advocacy, tech for good, and more.
Founded by CEO Johnny Cooper, who has over 16 years of leadership experience in the social sector, Cooper Coleman prioritizes making essential executive search services accessible to organizations across the social impact sector. With a team of experienced consultants and a commitment to providing first-in-class search services to its clients, the firm has established itself as a leader in the field and is ranked among the Top 65 Nonprofit Executive Search Firms by Hunt Scanlon and among the TOP 250 Executive Search Firms nationally. Cooper Coleman is also proud to have co-founder William B. Coleman, Jr., a veteran executive search consultant with over 25 years of experience in the field, as part of its leadership team. Together, they bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table and are dedicated to helping nonprofits and other social impact organizations achieve their goals.