Annual Giving & Donor Relations Coordinator

Inside Philanthropy; Chattanooga (TN); On-site; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

Heart for Africa is seeking an Annual Giving & Donor Relations Coordinator to strengthen donor relationships and grow financial support for our mission. This full-time role combines proactive donor relationship management with coordinating annual fundraising initiatives, reporting to the Development leader and managing an assigned portfolio of individual donors.

The ideal candidate is proactive, organized, and comfortable initiating donor conversations, with a genuine interest in people and a

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Three to five years of experience in fundraising, donor relations, annual giving, relationship management, campaign coordination, sales, or nonprofit development.
• Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated comfort initiating conversations and building relationships.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, donor relationships, and deadlines.
• Ability to coordinate fundraising campaigns and work effectively across teams.
• Familiarity with CRM systems and the ability to use donor data and fundraising reports to guide outreach.
• Proficiency in Microsoft 365.
• Sound judgment, initiative, curiosity, and a collaborative approach.
• Desire to serve in a Christ-centered organization with humility, integrity, gratitude, and care.

Responsibilities

• Manage an assigned portfolio of individual donors, building relationships based on their interests, motivations, and giving history.
• Initiate regular personal conversations to thank donors, share meaningful updates, and strengthen their connection to Heart for Africa.
• Develop and execute individual donor stewardship and engagement plans.
• Maintain consistent outreach through phone calls, personal emails, meetings, and thoughtful follow-up.
• Communicate the impact of donor generosity through authentic stories from Project Canaan.
• Respond promptly to donor questions and requests, ensuring supporters feel valued and appreciated.
• Sustain and grow an assigned donor portfolio through increased retention, additional gifts, and appropriate opportunities for increased giving.
• Make thoughtful, personalized invitations to support the mission.
• Coordinate assigned annual giving campaigns, including donor acquisition, renewal, retention, recurring giving, and year-end fundraising.
• Work collaboratively with Development and Marketing to implement fundraising campaigns and donor communications.
• Identify donors with potential for deeper engagement and coordinate appropriate next steps with the Development team.
• Monitor donor revenue, retention, engagement, and giving trends to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Maintain accurate and timely donor records, meaningful contact reports, and follow-up activities in DonorPerfect.
• Manage weekly outreach priorities, campaign deadlines, and donor stewardship responsibilities.
• Collaborate with Development colleagues on donor qualification, portfolio reviews, campaign execution, and annual planning.
• Track campaign performance and recommend practical improvements to fundraising and donor engagement activities.
• Demonstrate personal accountability, initiative, and strong follow-through.

Skills

Strong interpersonal skills

Excellent written and verbal

Strong organizational skills

Familiarity with CRM systems

Proficiency in Microsoft 365

Coordinate across teams

Christ-centered service mindset

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

DonorPerfect experience

Job description

About Heart for Africa

Heart for Africa is a faith-based nonprofit dedicated to bringing HOPE to Eswatini, Africa, through Hunger relief, Orphan care, Poverty reduction, and Education.

At the center of our work is Project Canaan, a 2,500-acre campus providing loving care and education to more than 460 children while creating employment opportunities, producing food, and supporting vulnerable communities throughout Eswatini.

We believe lasting change happens through meaningful relationships, faithful stewardship, and a shared commitment to transforming lives.

Position Summary

Heart for Africa is seeking an Annual Giving & Donor Relations Coordinator to strengthen donor relationships and help grow financial support for our mission.

This full-time, exempt position combines proactive donor relationship management with the coordination and execution of annual fundraising initiatives. Reporting to the Development leader, the Coordinator will manage an assigned portfolio of individual donors, build meaningful relationships through personal outreach, and help increase donor retention, giving, and long-term engagement.

This is a highly relational position for someone who enjoys connecting with people, sharing compelling stories of impact, and inviting others to make a difference.

The ideal candidate is proactive, organized, accountable, and comfortable initiating donor conversations. Success requires both a genuine interest in people and the discipline to follow through consistently.

Key Responsibilities

Donor Relationship Management & Stewardship

• Manage an assigned portfolio of individual donors, building relationships based on their interests, motivations, and giving history.
• Initiate regular personal conversations to thank donors, share meaningful updates, and strengthen their connection to Heart for Africa.
• Develop and execute individual donor stewardship and engagement plans.
• Maintain consistent outreach through phone calls, personal emails, meetings, and thoughtful follow-up.
• Communicate the impact of donor generosity through authentic stories from Project Canaan.
• Respond promptly to donor questions and requests, ensuring supporters feel valued and appreciated.

Annual Giving & Portfolio Growth

• Sustain and grow an assigned donor portfolio through increased retention, additional gifts, and appropriate opportunities for increased giving.
• Make thoughtful, personalized invitations to support the mission.
• Coordinate assigned annual giving campaigns, including donor acquisition, renewal, retention, recurring giving, and year-end fundraising.
• Work collaboratively with Development and Marketing to implement fundraising campaigns and donor communications.
• Identify donors with potential for deeper engagement and coordinate appropriate next steps with the Development team.
• Monitor donor revenue, retention, engagement, and giving trends to identify opportunities for improvement.

Collaboration, CRM & Accountability

• Maintain accurate and timely donor records, meaningful contact reports, and follow-up activities in DonorPerfect.
• Manage weekly outreach priorities, campaign deadlines, and donor stewardship responsibilities.
• Collaborate with Development colleagues on donor qualification, portfolio reviews, campaign execution, and annual planning.
• Track campaign performance and recommend practical improvements to fundraising and donor engagement activities.
• Demonstrate personal accountability, initiative, and strong follow-through.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Three to five years of experience in fundraising, donor relations, annual giving, relationship management, campaign coordination, sales, or nonprofit development.
• Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated comfort initiating conversations and building relationships.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, donor relationships, and deadlines.
• Ability to coordinate fundraising campaigns and work effectively across teams.
• Familiarity with CRM systems and the ability to use donor data and fundraising reports to guide outreach.
• Proficiency in Microsoft 365.
• Sound judgment, initiative, curiosity, and a collaborative approach.
• Desire to serve in a Christ-centered organization with humility, integrity, gratitude, and care.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing an assigned donor portfolio.
• Demonstrated success with donor retention, stewardship, or annual giving campaigns.
• Familiarity with DonorPerfect or a similar nonprofit CRM.
• Experience with recurring giving programs, fundraising appeals, or donor segmentation.
• Experience working for a faith-based nonprofit or international humanitarian organization.

Travel & Schedule

Some domestic and occasional international travel may be required for donor meetings, events, and ministry activities, including occasional evenings and weekends.

Compensation & Benefits

This is a full-time, exempt position. Compensation is based on education and experience. The position is eligible for benefits and paid time off.

We are looking for someone who wants more than a job. We are looking for a person who values relationships, takes ownership of their work, and is excited to contribute to lasting change in the lives of children and families in Eswatini.