Director of Strategic Donor Relationships

Baptist Children's Home; Thomasville (NC); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Baptist Children’s Homes (BCH) is seeking a Director of Strategic Donor Relationships to manage a 125–175 donor portfolio and cultivate transformational philanthropy. The role partners with the Chief Advancement Officer to advance donor engagement, stewardship, and legacy giving within a Christ-centered mission.

The ideal candidate has 5–7 years in major gifts, a proven ability to secure significant investments, and strong CRM and relational skills.

Qualifications

• 5–7 years in major gifts, advancement, development, or relationship 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.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 125–175 qualified donor relationships.
• Maintain accurate CRM and Moves Management documentation.
• Prioritize portfolio activity by relationship stage, donor interests, and opportunity.
• Build authentic relationships through meetings, calls, visits, and stewardship.
• Represent BCH with excellence and exercise humility and prayerful discernment.
• Develop personalized gift opportunities and provide stewardship through impact reporting.

Skills

Major Gifts

Donor Portfolio

CRM

Relationship Building

Communication

Strategic Planning

Education

Bachelor’s degree

CFRE credential

Tools

CRM systems

Analytics

Job description

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 ministry needs.

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 Officer and 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.

Essential Responsibilities

Portfolio Management

• 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.
• Develop personalized gift opportunities.
• Provide excellent stewardship through gratitude and impact reporting.

Executive Leadership & Strategic Engagement

• Strategically engage the CAO when executive involvement will strengthen donor relationships.

Major Gift Pipeline Development

• 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.
• Maintain strong donor retention and engagement.

Transformational Generosity

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

Desired Organizational Outcomes

• Meaningful donor meetings.
• Documented relationship advancement.
• Portfolio retention and engagement growth.
• Major gift revenue growth.
• Growth in major donors.
• 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.