Donor Engagement Manager

Paycom - ATS; Kansas City (MO); On-site; USD 47,000 - 63,000; Full time

Job summary

KCRep in Kansas City seeks a Donor Engagement Manager to plan and execute donor experiences, ranging from Opening Nights to the annual Gala, aligning events with fundraising goals.

You will lead cross-department coordination, manage vendor relationships, and develop engaging experiences that deepen donor relationships while supporting leadership and contributed revenue.

Qualifications

• 2–3 years of professional experience in events or donor-related work.
• Ability to manage multiple stakeholders, budgets, and deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal and written/verbal communication skills.
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion.
• Willingness to work evenings and weekends as required.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute donor cultivation experiences from openings to galas.
• Coordinate cross-departmental events with vendors and partners.
• Lead Gala planning including timelines, budgets, and guest experience.
• Support sponsorship and donor engagement strategies.
• Provide executive support and manage calendar/logistics as needed.

Skills

Event management

Donor engagement

Project management

Hospitality

Communication

Organization

Tools

Tessitura

Job description

# Donor Engagement ManagerHot Job## DescriptionReports to: Director of DevelopmentStatus: Full-time, ExemptSalary: $55,000 annually + benefits**Position Summary**The Donor Engagement Manager leads the planning and execution of experiences that deepen relationships between KCRep and its donors, prospects, board members, and other key stakeholders.Working closely with the Director of Development, the Donor Engagement Manager translates fundraising and stewardship priorities into meaningful opportunities for connection, from Opening Nights and intimate cultivation experiences to board gatherings, campaign events, and KCRep's annual Gala.This position is responsible not simply for event logistics, but for understanding the fundraising purpose behind each engagement opportunity and ensuring that the experience supports that purpose. The Donor Engagement Manager serves as the Development team's primary owner of donor events and hospitality, coordinating across departments and with external partners to deliver experiences that reflect KCRep's artistic work, strengthen donor relationships, and advance contributed revenue goals.The position currently also provides defined administrative and coordination support to executive leadership. As KCRep's administrative structure evolves, the role is expected to become increasingly concentrated on donor engagement and Development initiatives.**Essential Responsibilities***Donor Engagement & Stewardship** Work with the Director of Development to develop an annual strategy and calendar for donor cultivation, stewardship, recognition, and engagement.* Create experiences that deepen donors' connection to KCRep's artists, work, mission, and impact.* Lead planning and execution of Opening Night donor experiences, VIP receptions, cultivation events, stewardship gatherings, and other donor-facing activities.* Develop new engagement opportunities designed around specific fundraising objectives and audiences.* Coordinate with Development colleagues to understand who is attending donor events, why their participation matters, and what appropriate follow-up should occur.* Build relationships with donors, board members, volunteers, vendors, and community partners through the course of this work.*Gala & Special Events** Serve as the Development team's lead staff manager for KCRep's annual Gala, working in close partnership with the Director of Development, Gala leadership, organizational leadership, and external vendors.* Develop and manage the Gala project plan, timeline, budget, logistics, vendor coordination, guest experience, and volunteer or committee activity as applicable.* Support Development leadership in sponsorship, table and ticket strategy, prospect engagement, and other fundraising components of the Gala.* Coordinate the many internal and external partners necessary to execute a successful event while maintaining clear ownership of deadlines, deliverables, and communication.* Ensure that Gala planning remains connected to its primary purpose as a significant fundraising and relationship-building initiative for KCRep.* Manage other Development special events and campaign-related gatherings throughout the year.*Cross-Departmental Coordination** Serve as the primary Development project lead for donor-facing events requiring participation from Artistic, Production, Marketing, Ticketing, Front of House, executive leadership, or other KCRep departments.* Establish clear timelines, responsibilities, and communication for cross-functional event work.* Partner with Marketing and Development colleagues on invitations, event communications, collateral, signage, recognition, and other donor-facing materials.* Coordinate with Development Database & Operations Manager to ensure guest lists, donor information, benefits, attendance, and other event data are accurately maintained in Tessitura.* Anticipate logistical and guest-experience needs and resolve issues proactively.*Board & Leadership Engagement** Coordinate board receptions, gatherings, meetings, and other engagement opportunities in partnership with the Director of Development and executive leadership.* Support volunteer leaders involved in Gala, campaigns, cultivation activities, and other Development initiatives.* Help create an organized, welcoming, and professional experience for board members and other organizational ambassadors participating in fundraising activities.*Executive & Administrative Support** Provide defined scheduling, meeting coordination, correspondence, preparation, and administrative support to executive leadership as assigned.* Coordinate logistics for selected leadership meetings, donor appointments, and organizational priorities.* Balance executive-support responsibilities with the primary responsibilities of the Donor Engagement Manager, communicating proactively when competing priorities affect Development deadlines or deliverables.## Qualifications**Qualifications***Required:** At least 2-3 years of professional experience in event management, donor engagement, development, hospitality, project management, or a closely related field, with demonstrated responsibility for planning and executing complex events or experiences.* Demonstrated ability to manage projects involving multiple stakeholders, deadlines, budgets, vendors, and competing priorities.* Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work comfortably and professionally with donors, board members, organizational leaders, artists, vendors, and colleagues.* Strong written and verbal communication skills.* Exceptional organization, follow-through, and attention to detail.* Ability to anticipate needs, identify potential problems, and exercise independent judgment in resolving them.* Ability to manage confidential and sensitive information with discretion.* Ability and willingness to work evenings and weekends as required by performances, donor events, and other KCRep activities.*Preferred:** Experience in nonprofit fundraising, donor relations, stewardship, or advancement.* Experience planning fundraising events, galas, cultivation events, VIP experiences, or other high-touch events.* Experience working with boards, volunteer leaders, sponsors, or major donors.* Experience with Tessitura or another CRM/database platform.* Experience in theatre, performing arts, cultural organizations, or another mission-driven environment.*Core Competencies:** **Ownership**: Takes responsibility for an initiative from idea through execution and follow-up rather than waiting to be assigned each next step.* **Hospitality**: Understands that excellent donor engagement is about how people feel, not simply whether an event runs on schedule.* **Project management**: Can hold the big picture and the tiny details simultaneously, establishing systems that keep complex work moving.* **Judgment**: Knows when to solve a problem independently, when to consult others, and when something needs to be elevated.* **Relationship orientation**: Enjoys working with people and recognizes that events are ultimately vehicles for building relationships.* **Collaboration**: Works effectively across Development, Finance, Marketing, Ticketing, and other departments, respecting and celebrating others' skills and areas of leadership while coordinating processes and maintaining standards.* **Composure**: Remains resourceful and gracious when plans change, guests arrive unexpectedly, a vendor misses something, or live events behave like live events.**What Success Looks Like**The Donor Engagement Manager is successful when:* KCRep's donor experiences are intentional, welcoming, well-executed, and clearly connected to fundraising and stewardship objectives.* Major Development events are planned proactively rather than reactively, with clear timelines, budgets, responsibilities, and communication.* The Gala operates from a disciplined project