Director of Annual Giving & Donor Engagement

Divers-Alert-Network; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 95,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

Divers Alert Network is seeking a Director of Annual Giving & Donor Engagement to lead the day-to-day operations of the organization’s annual fundraising program at its Durham, NC location.

Reporting to the CFO, you will establish donor engagement strategies, oversee development operations, and coordinate communications across channels to strengthen philanthropic relationships and ensure sustainable donor growth.

Qualifications

• Five+ years of progressive fundraising experience with demonstrated success in annual giving, donor engagement, or development operations.
• Strong understanding of fundraising best practices, donor stewardship, and relationship management.
• Experience developing and implementing annual fundraising plans.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze fundraising performance and utilize data to improve results.
• Experience utilizing donor database systems and fundraising reporting tools.
• Excellent project management and organizational skills.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities with attention to detail.
• Collaborative leadership style across departments.
• Commitment to confidentiality and ethical fundraising practices.
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree or CFRE designation preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and oversee the annual giving strategy and calendar.
• Set goals, timelines, and performance metrics for fundraising efforts.
• Coordinate donor communications across print, email, and digital channels.
• Lead donor stewardship programs and reporting to leadership and board.
• Oversee development operations and dashboards; ensure data quality.
• Support major donor portfolio research and moves management.
• Organize cultivation events focused on donor education and relationships.
• Collaborate with IT, Marketing, Membership, and Finance to integrate philanthropy.
• Supervise development staff and establish goals and development plans.
• Ensure timely donor research, stewardship, and follow-up activities.

Skills

Fundraising strategy

Donor engagement

Leadership

Project management

Data analysis

Communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Confidentiality

Donor research

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree

CFRE designation preferred

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

Acumatica

CRM software

Job description

Director of Annual Giving & Donor Engagement

POSITION OVERVIEW

FLSA: Exempt, Full Time

Department: Finance

Primary Worksite: 6 West Colony Place, Durham, NC

Supervisory Responsibilities: Yes

Reports to: CFO

Salary: $95,000-115,000

JOB SUMMARY

Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, the Director of Annual Giving & Donor Engagement will lead the day-to-day operations of Divers Alert Network’s annual fundraising program while helping establish the systems, processes, and donor engagement strategies necessary to build a sustainable culture of philanthropy.

As DAN intentionally expands its charitable fundraising efforts, this position will play a critical role in strengthening annual giving, donor stewardship, constituent segmentation, fundraising communications, development operations, and donor analytics. Working in close partnership with the CFO, this individual will ensure that fundraising activities are thoughtfully planned, consistently executed, and aligned with DAN’s mission and strategic priorities.

The Director will also provide day-to-day leadership for development operations, supervise development support staff, coordinate fundraising reporting, and support the CEO’s major donor portfolio by ensuring timely donor research, stewardship, and follow-up activities.

While responsible for annual giving, this position is equally responsible for creating exceptional donor experiences that encourage long-term philanthropic engagement.

As DAN’s fundraising program grows, it is expected that charitable support will increase through stronger donor relationships, improved stewardship, thoughtful communications, and more intentional fundraising operations.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Annual Giving Strategy

• Develop and implement DAN’s comprehensive annual giving strategy.
• Establish annual fundraising goals, timelines, and performance metrics.
• Develop an annual fundraising calendar coordinating appeals, stewardship, member communications, and cultivation activities.
• Evaluate fundraising performance and recommend continuous improvements.

Donor Communications

• Coordinate all annual fundraising appeals across print, email, and digital platforms.
• Work collaboratively with Marketing and Communications to ensure fundraising messaging consistently reflects DAN’s mission and charitable impact.

Develop segmented communications for various constituent groups including:

• Current donors
• Lapsed donors
• Enhanced Members
• Long-term members
• Planned giving prospects
• Major donor prospects

Ensure fundraising communications emphasize impact, storytelling, and donor engagement rather than simply solicitation.

Donor Stewardship

• Develop and manage DAN’s comprehensive donor stewardship program.
• Develop annual stewardship plans for leadership-level donors.
• Coordinate donor impact reporting and stewardship communications throughout the year.
• Maintain stewardship calendars and ensure follow-up activities are completed on schedule.

Development Operations

• Oversee day-to-day fundraising operations.
• Monitor fundraising performance and prepare reports for executive leadership and the Board of Directors.
• Create fundraising dashboards and performance metrics.
• Develop fundraising policies and procedures, as needed
• Maintain development calendars and operational workflows.

Donor Research & Portfolio Management

Working closely with the CEO and Donor Engagement and Stewardship Manager:

• Support development of the CEO’s major donor portfolio.
• Coordinate donor research and prospect identification.
• Maintain moves management documentation.
• Assist with planned giving tracking.

Cultivation Events

Coordinate mission-centered cultivation opportunities designed to strengthen donor relationships.

Examples include:

• Regional member gatherings.
• Educational presentations.
• Research briefings.
• Hyperbaric medicine programs.
• Leadership receptions.
• Donor appreciation events.

These activities should focus on education and relationship-building rather than traditional fundraising events.

Technology & Data

Working collaboratively with Information Technology and Finance:

• Utilize Acumatica to support fundraising operations.
• Generate fundraising reports and dashboards.
• Assist in improving constituent data quality.
• Support donor segmentation initiatives.
• Document fundraising procedures and reporting standards.
• Participate in ongoing enhancement of fundraising functionality within Acumatica.

Staff Leadership

Provide supervision and mentoring for development support staff.

Responsibilities include:

• Establish regular one-on-one meetings.
• Coordinate weekly development team meetings.
• Establish annual goals and professional development plans.
• Cross-train staff on key fundraising processes.
• Maintain written fundraising procedures.
• Foster a collaborative, donor-centered culture.

Collaboration

Serve as a collaborative partner with:

• CEO
• Finance
• Information Technology
• Marketing & Communications
• Membership
• Board of Directors

to ensure philanthropy is integrated throughout the organization.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Five or more years of progressive fundraising experience with demonstrated success in annual giving, donor engagement, or development operations.
• Strong understanding of fundraising best practices, donor stewardship, and relationship management.
• Experience developing and implementing annual fundraising plans.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze fundraising performance and utilize data to improve results.
• Experience utilizing donor database systems and fundraising reporting tools.
• Excellent project management and organizational skills.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining exceptional attention to detail.
• Collaborative leadership style with the ability to work effectively across departments.
• Commitment to confidentiality and ethical fundraising practices.
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree or CFRE designation preferred.

PREFERRED ADDITIONAL SKILLS

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• A passion for building meaningful donor relationships.
• Curiosity and a continuous improvement mindset.
• Strong analytical and organizational abilities.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• A collaborative leadership approach.
• Comfort working in a growing fundraising environment.
• Appreciation for mission-driven organizations and a desire to help build a culture of philanthropy.

Experience working with membership organizations, healthcare, education, scientific organizations, or other mission-driven nonprofits is desirable.

MEASURES OF SUCCESS

Success in this position will be measured by more than annual fundraising totals. Key indicators include:

• Growth in charitable participation among DAN members.
• Improved donor retention.
• Increased donor stewardship activities.
• Timely gift acknowledgements.
• Increased segmentation and personalization of donor communications.
• Effective support of the CEO’s major donor strategy.
• Accurate fundraising reporting and dashboard development.
• Improved constituent data quality.
• Strong collaboration across organizational departments.
• Continuous improvement in the donor experience.