Donor Relations Manager

Title:                                    Donor Relations Manager          

Department:                     Development

Reports to:                        Director of Major Gifts                  

Matrix Management:    N/A      

Supervises:                       N/A

Salary:                               $70,000 - $80,000

Location:                           Washington, DC

 

Position Summary

The African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) is an Africa-based conservation organization protecting wildlife and their habitats as essential to a modern and prosperous Africa. We articulate a unique vision of African-led conservation, focusing on solutions that create opportunity for people — not at the expense of wildlife and their habitats, but because of them.

Reporting to the Director of Major Gifts, the Donor Relations Manager will be responsible for cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding gifts from donors giving from $1000 - $10000. The job holder works closely with other development and program colleagues to develop and implement strategies for individual donor relationship management and cultivation. The Donor Relations Manager will work to strengthen AWF’s donor relationships for the purpose of stewarding existing donors and upgrading their giving. This role works very closely with three major gift officers and the Annual Giving Team.  An additional dimension of this role is to develop written proposals and stewardship materials to support the overall major gifts team.

Key Responsibilities

Position responsibilities will include, but not be limited, to:

• Act as primary manager for a defined portfolio of donors, to inspire increased giving and engagement and identify prospective planned giving prospects
• Conduct donor qualification calls and meetings to assess propensity for major gifts
• Create and implement personalized cultivation and stewardship strategies for $1,000- $10,000 donors, ensuring a high-touch and donor-centric approach
• Collaborate with Director of Major Gifts and Director of Annual Giving to enhance the existing giving society’s visibility and value proposition
• Partner with the Major Gifts, Annual Giving, and Legacy Giving Teams to ensure a seamless donor experience throughout the donor pipeline
• Work with Major Gifts colleagues to craft compelling solicitation and stewardship materials (e.g. proposals and stewardship reports)
• Track and report relationship management activity using Raisers Edge database
• Assist with donor cultivation and stewardship events
• Other duties as assigned
  
  

Requirements and skills

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent is required
• 4+ years’ experience in fundraising, or significant comparable work in sales, marketing or other client-management professions, or equivalent
• Strong written, oral and presentation communication skills; experience developing clear and concise funding proposals
• Demonstrated ability to meet financial goals, with a track record of securing donations, and successful experience in making cold calls, as well as developing cultivation and solicitation strategies
• Ability to think strategically and creatively, excellent interpersonal skills and a demonstrated record of completing assignments, multi-tasking, meeting deadlines, and working with minimal supervision
• Attention to detail and strong project management skills, ability to work as part of a team and positive attitude
• Intermediate to advanced Microsoft Office Suite computer skills
• Experience with a constituent relationship management system, such as Raisers Edge, is preferred.
• Maintain effective working relationships with volunteers, donors, and staff.
• Ability to work in a positive collaborative environment while also functioning autonomously is essential
• Some nights/weekend hours are required
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally (Africa)
• Current driver’s license is required

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential job responsibilities. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job responsibilities. 

• Ability to remain in a stationary position, often standing or sitting for prolonged periods
• Communication with others to exchange information

Work Environment:  The work environment characteristics described her