Director of Strategic Donor Relationships

Baptist Children Homes; Thomasville (NC); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Baptist Children's Homes of North Carolina is seeking a Director of Strategic Donor Relationships in Thomasville, NC. You will own a portfolio of major donors, design engagement plans, and align gifts with BCH’s mission.

Lead relationship-building, Moves Management, and stewardship efforts with the Chief Advancement Officer and cross-functional teams to grow transformational giving and legacy commitments.

Qualifications

• 5–7 years of major gifts, advancement, or fundraising experience.
• Proven success managing a donor portfolio and securing investments.
• Strong relationship-building and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Build and manage a portfolio of 125–175 donor relationships with major gifts.
• Lead Moves Management with the CAO and ensure personalized donor engagement.
• Identify and cultivate major gift prospects and stewardship reporting.
• Collaborate across departments to align donors with BCH initiatives.
• Represent BCH with integrity and prayerful discernment.

Skills

Major gifts fundraising

Portfolio management

CRM proficiency

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

CFRE

Tools

CRM software

Job description

Position:Director of Strategic Donor Relationships

Location:Thomasville, NC

Job Id:575

# of Openings:1

Director of Strategic Donor Relationships

Department: Advancement
Reports To: Chief Advancement Officer
Revised Date:July 2026
FLSA Status: Exempt

Position Summary

The Director of Strategic Donor Relationships serves as a trusted relationship manager and ministry ambassador, cultivating meaningful partnerships with individuals, families, and businesses who have the capacity and inclination to make significant investments in the mission of Baptist Children's Homes (BCH). Through authentic relationship building, thoughtful stewardship, prayerful discernment, and strategic engagement, this role helps donors align their generosity with BCH's ministryneeds.

The Director of Strategic Donor Relationships manages an assigned portfolio of approximately 125-175 qualified individual and business donor relationships, developing individualized engagement strategies that deepen trust, strengthen mission alignment, and encourage transformational generosity. Working collaboratively with the Chief Advancement Officerand Director of Annual & Sustainer Giving, this role ensures donors experience seamless, personalized engagement throughout their philanthropic journey.

The primary objectives of this role are to cultivate healthy, advancing donor relationships, increase the number of committed major donors, and thoughtfully guide qualified supporters toward transformational gifts and legacy commitments.

Qualifications

• 5-7 years of successful experience in major gifts, advancement, development, or relationship-based fundraising; faith-based experience preferred.
• Demonstrated success managing a major donor portfolio and securing significant charitable investments.
• Bachelor's degree in a related field preferred; equivalent experience may be considered.
• CFRE or similar credential preferred.
• Strong relationship-building, communication, organizational, and CRM skills.
• Manage a portfolio of approximately 125-175 qualified individual and business donor relationships.
• Maintain accurate CRM and Moves Management documentation.
• Prioritize portfolio activity by relationship stage, donor interests, and opportunity.

Relationship Building & Moves Management

• Build authentic relationships through meaningful face-to-face meetings, calls, visits, and stewardship.
• Maintain a consistent cadence of meaningful donor meetings.
• Participate in Moves Management meetings with the CAO.
• Represent BCH with excellence and approach each relationship with humility and prayerful discernment.

Major Gift Discovery, Cultivation & Stewardship

• Discover donor passions and connect them with ministry opportunities.
• Provide excellent stewardship through gratitude and impact reporting.

Executive Leadership & Strategic Engagement

• Strategically engage the CAO when executive involvement will strengthen donor relationships.
• Identify prospective major donors through analytics, referrals, and introductions.
• Partner with the Director of Annual & Sustainer Giving to receive qualified KMY and mid-level referrals.

Legacy Giving Integration

• Identify legacy prospects and introduce qualified donors to approved estate planning resources.

Success Measures

Relationship Advancement

• Maintain a consistent cadence of meaningful donor meetings.
• Advance donor relationships through documented Moves Management.

Transformational Generosity

• Increase the number of major donors ($5,000+ annually).
• Increase major gift revenue.
• Increase donor upgrades.

DesiredOrganizational Outcomes

• Documented relationship advancement.
• Portfolio retention and engagement growth.
• Major gift revenue growth.
• Legacy gift referrals.
• Strong collaboration and CRM excellence.

Core Competencies

• Servant-hearted relationship builder with a donor-centered mindset.
• Strategic thinker with a results-oriented approach.
• Highly organized and able to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously.
• Effective communicator across written, verbal, and interpersonal contexts.
• Collaborative team player able to work across departments.
• Demonstrated ability to lead through influence and successfully manage cross-functional projects without direct supervisory authority.
• Analytical and data-informed decision-maker.
• Demonstrates integrity, discretion, and professionalism.
• Commitment to BCH's mission, values, and Christ-centered culture.

Baptist Children's Homes of North Carolina | P.O. Box 338 Thomasville, NC 27361 | 1-800-476-3669