Jobs : Donor Relations Manager

• Bachelor’s degree and 3 years related experience or equivalent combination. 
• Experience building relationships with donors, volunteers, and staff.
• Experience generating reports, and analyzing and interpreting the data.
• Experience managing and tracking multiple prospects and donors.
• Experience working with boards, executives, or volunteer leadership.
• Experience working across departments.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to persuasively convey in writing and verbally the mission of TNC to diverse stakeholders important to the organization’s overall prosperity.
• Experience, coursework, or other training in fundraising principles and practices

PREFERRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & EXPERIENCE 

• Ability to determine an individual’s interests, capacity, and potential for helping the Conservancy meet its goals and act appropriately to tie those interests with the Conservancy’s work.
• Enjoys working directly with donors to help them achieve charitable goals.
• Careful attention to detail and strong organizational skills.
• Ability to implement and coordinate fundraising plans, including individualized cultivation, solicitation, and recognition plans.
• Demonstrated experience using diplomacy and tact to build strong relationships and motivate staff and donors.
• Direct fundraising experience.
• Knowledge of current trends in charitable giving.
• Working knowledge of the basics of charitable gift planning.
 

SUMMARY

The Donor Relations Manager (DRM), North Texas manages relationships and strategies for the ongoing cultivation of donors capable of making major and/or deferred gifts. This position will conduct exploratory meetings with donors and prospects to determine capacity for giving and to cultivate new or increased giving. The position works closely with the Associate Director of Philanthropy to devise and implement the annual fundraising plan in the market with a focus on discovery work and pipeline building. In addition to the responsibilities of active donor/prospect relationship management, this position will oversee an annual fundraising event and manage cultivation events with a focus on building the portfolio of donors. A successful candidate may assume statewide responsibilities over time. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The Donor Relations Manager is responsible for the identification, qualification, cultivation and solicitation of major and planned gift prospects and assists in cultivating and soliciting donors through meetings, trips, events, and other activities. S/he will work on a variety of activities, including providing detailed program information to prospects and drafting personalized correspondence. S/he uses the Conservancy’s donor database to update donor information, produce reports, perform analysis, and track and cultivate donors. The DRM understands the basics of the influencing factors on donors and the types of assets that may be used for the donor’s giving; applies knowledge to interactions with donors and gift asks. The position will oversee all aspects of the production of special events, including an annual fundraising event.

RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE

• Annual fundraising goal of $250,000 or more.
• Responsible for 75 – 125 visits and 225 – 375 moves annually. Manage a portfolio of 75 – 125 individual donors in the five-figure giving range and prospects with the capacity to make up to six-figure gifts as the portfolio develops.
• Manage the discovery, cultivation, and solicitation of existing donors and develop and implement strategies to increase their giving.
• Manage the stewardship of planned giving donors and engage and cultivate loyal donors to secure planned gift commitments.
• Lead the detailed planning and production of special events, including one annual fundraising event, several cultivation dinners, and donor field trips.
• Financial responsibility includes meeting fundraising objectives, working within a budget, and negotiating and contracting with vendors.
• Manage projects with several variables, set realistic deadlines, manage a timeline, and ensure accountability.
• Travel occasionally, with long and flexible hours needed at times.
• Work environment involves only infrequent exposure to disagreeable elements and minor physical exertion and/or strain.
• Work is diversified and may not always fall under established practices and guidelines.
• Act independently within broad program goals and exercise independent judgment to identify and solve problems.
• Decisions may have program-wide impact. Ensure compliance with TNC policies and procedures and external (donor/legal/IRS) requirements.
• Does not supervise staff but may direct the work of peers on managed projects.