Donor Relations Officer

Donor Relations Specialist

General Purpose For Job: The Donor Relations Specialist (DRS) will lead the design and implementation of a strong Mid-Level donor relations program for the Northern New England Division. This role will develop a comprehensive action plan in managing the Mid-Level donor portfolio of up to 450 Mid-Level donors to identify and qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors with a goal of retaining and upgrading their gifts as well as consideration of transitioning donors to Major Gifts or Gift Planning portfolios. This position will also work in tandem with the direct mail and marketing program and database to determine a strategic plan of cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship efforts for Mid-Level donors identified through those channels. This will involve engagement by strategic communications through all mediums and personalization of outreach, including virtual or in-person donor visits as needed. This position will determine appropriate and meaningful Mid-Level donor annual fundraising and marketing strategies and will work collaboratively with the Northern New England Community Relations and Development Team to ensure that The Salvation Army's mission and fundraising objectives are met or exceeded. There is a working relationship with the Territorial Headquarters' Associate Director of Major Gifts who provides support on portfolio management and goal setting. Direct marketing practices will be leveraged with major and gift planning components and approaches as an enhanced form of direct marketing to raise revenue but to also cultivate and nurture strong bonds and relationships with The Salvation Army.

Responsibilities

Essential Duties And Responsibilities:

Administrative Responsibilities:

• Analyze and regularly evaluate the Divisional Donor Database to identify potential Mid-Level prospects
• Research donors and prospects to determine their financial capacity
• Track Mid-Level giving prospects and donors and document their cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities in the CRM database
• Acts as primary contact for incoming phone calls and email requests from Mid-Level donors, soliciting feedback and tracking response in the CRM database
• Communicate effectively with the THQ CRM team and participate in required webinars and meetings
• Proficient with word processing, database/spreadsheets, and donor tracking software
• Detail oriented and ability to work in fast-paced environment
• Stay abreast of industry best-practices in Mid-Level donor management and implement applicable innovations

Stakeholder Communication:

• Build relationships with current and lapsed Mid-Level donors via phone calls, personalized email communications, ongoing written contact, virtual and in-person visits, and events
• Engage the Mid-Level donor group with highly personalized outreach efforts
• Develop plans that demonstrate appreciation, recognition, and engagement of Mid-Level donors
• Participate in establishing Salvation Army client success stories and testimonials as a tool in overall donor cultivation strategies
• Clear and persuasive written and verbal communication, presentation, and organizational skills
• Serve as an ambassador of The Salvation Army both internally and externally
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including public speaking
• Effective interpersonal skills and proven expertise in building and maintaining positive relationships with diverse individuals

Fundraising Support:

• Establish strategic engagement plans to identify, qualify, educate, cultivate, and solicit gifts from Mid-Level donors
• Manages a portfolio of up to 450 Mid-Level donors in the cultivation of relationships, solicitations, gift acknowledgment, and stewardship communications
• Tiering all Mid-Level qualified donors to ensure that priority is given to those most interested in becoming more engaged
• Use analytical and experiential thinking to evaluate donor capabilities
• Be knowledgeable and engaged with the annual strategic plan for overall direct response and mail appeals
• Work with other fund development officers and Salvation Army officers to ensure collaboration between direct mail, foundation, corporate, major, and gift planning efforts
• Develop and implement strategies that nurture donor loyalty and foster personal relationships with The Salvation Army
• Work collaboratively with Donor Relations and Gift Planning to identify and transition higher capacity donor prospects
• Take the lead on identifying potential prospects for matching gifts and momentum-building gifts for annual campaigns and events
• Collaborate on creative design, messaging, and data segmentation for Mid-Level prospect mailings

Financial & Compliance Responsibilities:

• Research donors and prospects to determine their financial capacity
• Demonstrated ability to set and achieve goals as well as meeting deadlines
• A proficiency in Word and Excel, as well as experience with donor tracking and/or CRM database software (Salesforce is a plus)

Special Projects & Other Duties:

• Participates in all other duties and activities as requested or assigned
• Should enjoy problem solving, analytics, and should exude energy and self-initiative
• Able to work independently in a complex environment, managing multiple projects and conflicting priorities
• Willingness to travel occasionally
• Gift officer experience preferred with demonstrated success in developing strategies for cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship

Qualifications

Education And Experience:

• Bachelor's degree and a minimum of three to five years' experience in a non-profit fundraising role with a proven record of success
• Professional certification (CFRE) a plus

Skills And Competencies:

• Effective interpersonal skills and excellent written and oral communication abilities
• Proven expertise in building and maintaining positive relationships with diverse individuals
• Should enjoy problem solving and should exude energy and initiative
• A high level of comfort with direct donor interaction, including discussions of personal and family finances and asking for philanthropic gifts is a must
• A proficiency in Word and Excel, as well as experience with donor tracking and/or CRM database software (Salesforce) is preferred
• Adept at data analytics
• Well-developed oral and written communication skills
• Able to work independently in a complex environment, managing multiple projects and conflicting priorities
• Willingness to travel on occasion
• Demonstrated ability to set and achieve goals as well as meet deadlines
• Desire to learn and be a collaborative team player
• Must have valid driver's license, a clean driving record, and access to vehicle during working hours

Compensation And Benefits:

• Generous paid time off
• Paid holidays
• Sick leave
• Personal days
• Bereavement Leave
• Excellent medical, dental, and vision benefits
• Short-term and long-term disability
• Retirement plan
• *Benefits may vary based on position classification and eligibility