Donor Engagement and Special Events Manager

Archdiocese of Detroit; Bloomfield Hills (MI); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Archdiocese of Detroit's Academy of the Sacred Heart in Bloomfield Hills, MI, seeks a Donor Engagement and Special Events Manager to advance philanthropic priorities. Reporting to the Chief Advancement Officer, this role manages the Annual Fund, fundraising events, donor stewardship, and advancement operations.

Collaborating with the Advancement team, school leadership, volunteers and donors, the person will plan and execute key fundraising and stewardship events such as the Annual Gala, Golf

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field.
• 3–5 years in advancement, fundraising, nonprofit admin, events, or communications.
• Strong written and verbal communication abilities.
• Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute Sacred Heart’s Annual Fund programs and donor stewardship initiatives.
• Coordinate day-to-day Annual Fund activities and donor communications.
• Support donor cultivation, solicitation, and engagement across all groups.
• Assist with prospect research, donor pipeline development, and engagement strategies.
• Prepare donor briefings and stewardship materials; ensure timely acknowledgments.
• Generate reports and dashboards to monitor fundraising performance.

Skills

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Project management

Interpersonal skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Google Workspace

Blackbaud Raiser's Edge

Job description

Position:Donor Engagement and Special Events Manager

Location: Bloomfield Hills, MI

Job Id:5464

# of Openings:0

Donor Engagement and Special Events Manager

Position Summary

The Donor Engagement and Special Events Manager plays a key role in advancing the mission and philanthropic priorities of the Academy of the Sacred Heart. Reporting to the Chief Advancement Officer, this position is responsible for managing the Annual Fund, fundraising events, donor stewardship and advancement operations.

The Donor Engagement and Special Events Manager works collaboratively with the Advancement team, school leadership, volunteers, parents, alumnae/alumni, grandparents and donors to strengthen engagement, foster a culture of philanthropy, and support the school's fundraising and community-building goals. This role leads the planning and execution of key fundraising and stewardship events while ensuring strong operational support for advancement initiatives, donor stewardship, reporting, and database management.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Annual Fund and Donor Stewardship:

• Support the planning and execution of Sacred Heart’s Annual Fund program, including solicitation strategies, volunteer engagement, stewardship, and donor recognition.
• Coordinate and manage the day-to-day implementation of Annual Fund initiatives and appeals.
• Support donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities across all constituent groups.
• Assist with prospect research, donor pipeline development, and donor engagement strategies.
• Prepare donor briefings, cultivation materials and stewardship communications.
• Partner with the Advancement Assistant to ensure gift acknowledgements are prepared, signed and delivered in a timely manner.
• Collaborate with the advancement team to identify opportunities to increase donor participation and philanthropic support.
• Support campaign initiatives and other fundraising priorities as assigned.

Events and Community Engagement:

• Manage all aspects of planning and execution for the Academy's fundraising and community engagement events, including:
  • Annual Gala
  • Golf Outing
  • Booster Club Social
  • Raffle Program
• Develop event timelines, budgets, sponsorship plans, volunteer structures, and post-event evaluations.
• Manage volunteer committees and school leadership to maximize engagement, participation, and fundraising outcomes.
• Collaborate with leaders across the Sacred Heart community to plan and execute stewardship and community-building events.
• Ensure all events reflect the mission, values, and Goals and Criteria of Sacred Heart education.

Operations and Reporting:

• Maintain accurate constituent, donor, and event records within Raiser's Edge, ensuring data integrity and timely updates.
• Serve as a primary manager of event and fundraising data, constituent records, and engagement tracking.
• Support advancement operations through reporting, analysis, and administrative coordination.
• Partner with the Advancement Assistant to prepare monthly advancement reports and supporting materials for Board of Trustees, Finance Committee, and Fundraising Committee meetings.
• Generate reports, constituent lists, and dashboards to support fundraising, stewardship, volunteer engagement, and strategic planning.
• Track fundraising performance, participation rates, event outcomes, and engagement metrics.
• Review and coordinate donor acknowledgment and recognition processes.
• Assist with gift processing, budget tracking, event reconciliation, and other advancement office operations as needed.
• Foster a culture of philanthropy, gratitude, hospitality, and community engagement throughout the Sacred Heart community.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Three to five years of experience in advancement, fundraising, nonprofit administration, event management, communications, or a related field.
• Organizational, project management, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication abilities.
• Proficiency in Google Workspace and Blackbaud Raiser's Edge preferred.
• Commitment to the mission, values, and Goals and Criteria of Sacred Heart education.

The School Network

Academy of the Sacred Heart is one of 25 schools in the U.S. and Canada Network of Sacred Heart Schools and is affiliated with a network of over 200 Sacred Heart schools worldwide. The school's mission is to cultivate in our students a personal and active faith in God and to lay the foundation for a meaningful life.

Archdiocese of Detroit Requirements

The Archdiocese of Detroit is an equal opportunity employer that does not illegally discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, height, weight, genetic information, marital or other legally protected status.