Donor Communications Manager

UST Logistical Systems; Santa Rosa (CA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Employer retirement plan

Life and disability insurance

Pre-tax dependent care

Employee assistance program

Wellness stipend

Job summary

Sonoma Land Trust in Santa Rosa, CA is seeking a Donor Communications Manager to develop a comprehensive donor communication strategy and craft engaging narratives that deepen donor engagement. You will work across Philanthropy and Marcomms to translate priorities into stories and coordinate fundraising campaigns.

The role requires exceptional writing, strong project management, and the ability to manage multiple vendors while adhering to brand standards. Hybrid work at 50% in-office.

Qualifications

• Exceptional written communication skills for donor content.
• Proven ability to write for donor audiences and engage donors.
• Ability to plan, write, and edit donor materials for solicitations, grants, reports, and events.
• Strong project management skills with deadlines and budgets.
• Independent work style with cross‑functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Distill Sonoma Land Trust’s work into donor‑oriented stories and materials.
• Manage the donor communications calendar and campaign pipelines.
• Support events and campaigns with messaging and talking points.
• Coordinate with Philanthropy, Marcomms, and Community Engagement.
• Oversee multiple vendors and contract negotiations.

Skills

Exceptional writing

Donor communications

Project management

Attention to detail

Team player

Brand standards

Tools

Canva

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job Title: Donor Communications Manager

Reports to: Deputy Director of Philanthropy

Want to play your part in protecting our local communities from the impacts of climate change? Ready to roll up your sleeves to help achieve tangible results? Want to be part of a talented, deeply committed, and national award-winning conservation organization? Then please read on!

Sonoma Land Trust (SLT) is looking for a Donor Communications Manager who will create a comprehensive donor communication strategy, craft compelling narratives to deepen engagement, and ensure donors are well-informed. Working closely with various departments, they will translate organizational priorities into engaging stories, strategically coordinate fundraising campaigns, and serve as an “air traffic controller” for external communications.

SLT serves a diverse audience with broad cultural heritages, socioeconomic backgrounds, genders, and orientations. We encourage applications from candidates who reflect and value the audiences and populations we serve.

Overview

The Donor Communications Manager (DCM) is part of the Philanthropy Team, reporting to the Deputy Director of Philanthropy, while working closely with the Marketing and Communications (Marcomms) Team. They help achieve the strategic priorities of the Philanthropy team by developing engaging communication materials for donors and coordinating the dissemination of organizational communications through close partnership with key departments (Philanthropy, Marcomms, and Community Engagement). They maintain current, expert knowledge of donor communications tools and practices and play a key role in strengthening alignment, visibility, and impact across the organization.

Primary Responsibilities

• Distill Sonoma Land Trust’s work into stories, presentations, and written materials that resonate with donors, including writing copy and compiling visuals for case studies, case statements, one-pagers, print collateral, and emails, in alignment with organizational branding.
• Demonstrate strong project management skills with the ability to keep all donor communications materials accessible and up to date and create a pipeline of materials for upcoming projects and campaigns.
• Support and participate in communication efforts for events and campaigns; including the development of themes, messaging, and talking points - both written and creative communications.
• Strategically manage the donor communications calendar with the wider organizational calendar to ensure timely delivery of communication pieces.
• Act independently within broad program goals to prioritize tasks in the absence of specific instructions and exercise independent judgment to identify and solve problems.
• Implement and manage new initiatives that will ensure department and organization-wide goals and strategies are achieved.
• Manage multiple vendors/contractors (e.g. graphic designers, printers), including adhering to established budgets and negotiating contracts.

Essential Qualifications

• A passion for conservation and environmental issues.
• Exceptional written communication skills and the ability to translate complex concepts into clear and actionable content.
• Proven ability to plan, write, and edit written materials for use with donor solicitations, grant proposals, donor reports, member communications, and events, in ways that build donor engagement.
• Demonstrated ability to write for donor audiences and use communication to engage and inspire current and prospective donors with a mission or cause.
• Track record of excellence in project planning with the ability to self-direct, anticipate roadblocks, meet deadlines, and prioritize among competing goals, while maintaining attention to detail.
• Ability to present information in a professional manner, using established brand standards, templates, Canva and/or Microsoft products.
• Strong teamplayer, who thrives working in a fast-paced environment, while meeting deadlines.

Preferred Skills and Experience

SLT is open to candidates with diverse backgrounds, experience, and transferrable skills. We are looking for candidates with the following experience OR the ability to develop skills in each of these categories:

• Ability to develop, maintain, and strengthen partnerships with staff across an organization. Experience using diplomacy and tact to build strong relationships.
• Experience in interviewing, researching, and compiling information from many sources into engaging stories.
• Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience are valued.
• Knowledge of and basic understanding of database best practices.
• Knowledge of current trends around communications and philanthropy.

Schedule, Salary & Benefits

This position is full-time, 40 hours per week, exempt status.

Starting salary is $98,000 annually, commensurate with experience. This position is located at the Sonoma Land Trust office in Santa Rosa, California. Staff are working in a hybrid model, with 50%+ time each week in the office.

Sonoma Land Trust’s benefits include:

• Paid time off including paid vacation based on tenure, 15 paid holidays, and paid sick and family leave
• 100% of employee premiums for medical, dental, and vision, and 75% of dependent premiums
• 5% employer contribution to retirement plan after one year of employment
• Employee life and disability insurance
• Pre-tax dependent care coverage plans for dependent or elder care
• An employee assistance program for mental health, coaching, and financial or legal services
• A lifestyle account annual stipend for wellness or gear purchases

About Sonoma Land Trust

Sonoma Land Trust works in alliance with nature to conserve and restore the integrity of the land, with a focus on climate resiliency. The organization is also committed to ensuring more equitable access to the outdoors. Since 1976, the non‑profit Land Trust has protected over 60,000 acres of scenic, natural, agricultural and open land for future generations. Sonoma Land Trust is accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission and was the recipient of the 2019 Land Trust Alliance Award of Excellence. For more information, please visit the Sonoma Land Trust website.

We are passionate about building and sustaining an inclusive and equitable working environment that is representative of the communities we serve. We know that having varied perspectives leads to better outcomes to solve the complex problems of conservation, climate change and environmental justice in Sonoma County. And to best serve the people of our community, we are taking the actions outlined in our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Plan.

Sonoma Land Trust is an Equal Opportunity Employer

We strive to create a diverse and inclusive organization and encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, national or regional origins, sexes, ages, disability status, sexual orientations, gender identities, military or veteran status or other status protected by law.