Donor Engagement Manager

Denver Scholarship Foundation; Denver (CO); Hybrid; USD 64,000 - 77,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) matching up to 5%

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Paid holidays

Unlimited vacation (Trusted Time Off)

Job summary

Denver Scholarship Foundation seeks a Donor Engagement Manager to design and implement comprehensive donor relations, annual giving, event fundraising, and other giving strategies to increase philanthropic funds.

You will manage a portfolio of annual and mid-level donors, acting as the primary relationship manager through all stages of donor engagement and upgrade strategies, collaborating with the development team to align fundraising efforts and campaigns.

Qualifications

• Minimum three years of nonprofit fundraising experience.
• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent combination of training and experience.
• Excellent understanding of fundraising principles and techniques.
• Experience with a donor CRM, Salesforce preferred.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of annual and mid-level donors and prospects.
• Serve as primary relationship manager through identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and upgrades.
• Develop individualized donor engagement plans to support annual giving goals and movement into major gifts.
• Execute annual giving programs, donor communications, and stewardship campaigns across channels.
• Collaborate with fundraising programs to strengthen donor pipeline and engagement.
• Maintain data integrity for fundraising communications and segmentation.

Skills

Donor relations

Portfolio management

Relationship building

Project management

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent

Tools

Salesforce CRM

Donor CRM

Job description

Full-time, Exempt

Reports to Senior Director of Individual Philanthropy

Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF) is seeking a passionate, driven individual with the desire to learn, grow, and excel in a culture that values every member of the team. DSF was named one of the Denver’s Top Workplaces in 2026 (7 year recipient of Top Workplaces), a testament to our team and to our intentionality in co-creating a positive, inclusive work environment. When you join the DSF team, you will enjoy a supportive, and innovative environment where your work has a profound impact on the lives of students and their families.

As a nonprofit organization, DSF’s mission is to inspire and empower DPS students to enroll in and graduate from postsecondary institutions of higher education, by providing the tools, knowledge, and financial resources essential for success. By embodying the core values of equity, innovation, leadership, learning, relationships, and integrity in everything we do. DSF strives to be a leader within the community, as we constantly seek to improve our services, we build strong relationships with college staff members, partners, students, team members and the broader community. We are committed to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion, believing in the value and ability of all students and team members.

We seek candidates who will model, live, and reinforce DSF’s mission and core values with colleagues, students, families, and the broader community. If you are passionate about the philosophy and mission of DSF, then we invite you to join us and help make college possible for Denver's students.

Position Summary

The Donor Engagement Manager designs and assures implementation of comprehensive donor relations, annual giving, event fundraising and other giving strategies to increase philanthropic funds raised. This position is vital to supporting moves management, building a major donor pipeline, increasing annual giving, and maximizing special event revenue.

The Donor Engagement Manager manages a portfolio of annual and mid-level donors and prospects, serving as the primary relationship manager for assigned donors through identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and upgrade strategies.

The Donor Engagement Manager will work closely with the entire development team to ensure fundraising coordination amongst all giving programs and marketing efforts.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

Fundraising

• Manage a portfolio of annual and mid-level donors and prospects, utilizing Moves Management techniques to deepen engagement, increase giving, and support donor retention.
• Serve as the primary relationship manager for assigned donors and prospects through identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and upgrade strategies.
• Develop individualized donor engagement plans to support annual giving goals and intentional movement into major gift portfolios when appropriate.

Annual and Mid-Level Giving Program Management

• Manage the execution of the annual giving program create, execute, evaluate, and continuously refine strategies and programs for successful annual fund efforts, including employee giving, and other giving initiatives
• Develop and manage strategies across various platforms for acquisition, renewal, and upgrades of existing and lapsed donors to increase the annual giving program
• Mid-level donor engagement to support pipeline development and intentional handoffs to major gift portfolios
• Prepare and analyze reports on annual fund and midlevel giving goals and progress
• Collaborate across fundraising programs to strengthen donor pipeline development and support strategic handoffs to strengthen donor engagement and giving
• Analyze donor engagement and giving trends to identify opportunities for donor acquisition, retention, renewal, and upgrades.
• Maintain data integrity for fundraising and stewardship communications to support the development of email distribution lists, campaign segmentation in collaboration with operations and Marketing teams.
• Support the planning, execution, and reporting of annual giving and donor communications campaigns across digital and direct marketing channels.
• Develop and implement audience segmentation and personalized donor communication strategies in partnership with Sr. Director of Individual Philanthropy.
• Manage monthly giving program, including promotion, tracking, stewarding and providing annual acknowledgements.

Donor Stewardship

• Create and manage donor recognition and stewardship plans for all donor levels.
• Assist volunteers, committees and affinity groups in their collaborative and peer to peer fundraising activities.
• Maintain stewardship calendar to deepen donor engagement and loyalty.
• Develop processes and reporting that improve donor follow-up, stewardship, matching gift participation, and donor retention.
• Coordinate development of donor impact reports in partnership with internal stakeholders.
• Build, test, and deploy fundraising and stewardship email communications through organization-approved platforms.

Event and Campaign Support

• Oversee the execution of all donor acquisition campaigns
• Manage strategy and appropriate implementation of external campaigns such as Giving Tuesday and Colorado Gives Day.
• Provide committee engagement and administrative support for the Annual Gala, including committee toolkit coordination, sponsorship tracking, support event committee leadership and co-chair engagement throughout the planning and execution of fundraising events.
• Integrate gala stewardship and fundraising strategies with broader donor engagement and year-end giving efforts.

Administrative

• Actively use Salesforce for management and maintenance of pipeline, cultivation process, donor and prospect records, and informational reports.
• Research, develop, and maintain automated donor communication workflows and stewardship journeys.
• Support the administration of fundraising technology platforms, including online giving, matching gift, and community giving campaign tools.

Qualifications and Requirements:

• Minimum three years of nonprofit fundraising experience, including annual fund campaigns, donor stewardship, portfolio management, and special event fundraising.
• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent combination of training and experience
• Excellent understanding of fundraising principles and techniques
• Experience with a donor CRM, Salesforce preferred.

Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to build strong relationships with a donor centric approach
• Ability to understand the needs and interests of donors to develop relationships between them and DSF
• Dedication to promoting DSF’s fundraising priorities through developing excellent working relationships with staff, board, committees, and other volunteers
• Self-starter and independent thinker with creative abilities
• Strong project management and administrative skills with the ability to motivate and collaborate to successfully deliver results and meet deadlines
• Experience working with all Microsoft Office applications
• Excellent oral, written, interpersonal, analytical, and organization skills
• Strong attention to detail and ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks
• Ability to work independently as well as in a team environment
• Ability to deal professionally and courteously with a wide variety of people, both in person and over the phone
• Ability to maintain confidentiality
• Optimistic attitude and flexibility in a changing work environment
• Sensitivity to the needs of a diverse community
• Commitment to the DSF mission

Additional Needs of the Position:

• Extensive daily use of computers and software applications with the ability to regularly operate technology including copier, computer, telephone, and other communication tools as needed
• Professional office environment
• Some scheduled evening and weekend work required
• May be high-pressured depending on demands
• Access to reliable transportation to travel to offsite meetings and professional development opportunities
• Hybrid 3 days onsite and 2 days remote. Schedule can vary dependent on meeting attendance.

Benefits

• $64,000 to $77,000
• 401(k) plan with $ for $ match of up to 5%
• Group health, dental, and vision insurance, low-cost premium plans offered. DSF pays for 90% of employee only and 70% of dependent plans.
• Life Insurance that provides 2 Times Your Annual Salary
• Free Annual Eco RTD Bus Pass
• Short Term and Long Term Disability Insurance
• Short Term Disability Supplement (Based on Years of Service)
• Paid holidays (includes Winter Break and Summer 1/2 Fridays in June and July) and 2 Floating holidays each year
• Trusted Time Off (unlimited vacation policy following 90 days)
• Paid Maternity and Paternity Leave (Based on Years of Service)
• ID Theft Protection and Will Preparation Assistance
• Reduced cost for Legal Counseling
• Free Financial Counseling
• Four Professional Wellness Sessions and $300 annual wellness reimbursement
• Free Employee Assistance and Confidential Counseling Services

Job posting will remain open until September 25, 2026 and may be extended if additional time is needed to gather qualified applicants.

Denver Scholarship Foundation provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Learn about DSF’s commitment to Equity & Inclusion.

$64,000-$77,000