Donor Engagement Specialist

the AAO; St. Louis (MO); Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid Workplace

401(k) Retirement Plan

Vacation and Sick Time

Wellness Support

Tuition Reimbursement

Job summary

AAO seeks a Donor Engagement Specialist to plan, implement, and manage an annual giving program to secure philanthropic support for the AAO Foundation. Focus on individual donors with gifts up to $5,000, strengthening relationships and improving retention.

The role emphasizes donor communications, segmentation, and collaboration with staff, with travel for annual conferences and events. A Bachelor’s degree and 3+ years nonprofit fundraising are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, communications, marketing, or related field.
• Minimum of three years in nonprofit fundraising or donor engagement.
• Experience managing fundraising campaigns and donor communications preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop annual giving strategies using direct mail, email, and digital channels.
• Establish annual fundraising goals and monitor progress.
• Manage recurring giving programs to boost donor participation.
• Track and report on campaign performance and donor engagement metrics.
• Cultivate and steward individual donors with gifts up to $5,000.
• Create donor communications and recognition programs to improve retention.
• Collaborate with AAO staff to align fundraising activities with priorities.
• Maintain donor records in the CRM and prepare regular reports.

Skills

Donor engagement

Fundraising analytics

Communication skills

Project management

CRM experience

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Nonprofit management / Communications / Marketing

Tools

CRM software

Microsoft Office

Job description

Location: AAO Home Office – St. Louis, MO 63141

Position Summary

The Donor Engagement Specialist plans, implements, and manages a comprehensive annual giving program to secure philanthropic support for the AAO Foundation. This position is responsible for increasing donor participation, strengthening donor relationships, and improving donor retention through strategic fundraising campaigns, targeted communications, and effective stewardship practices. The role focuses primarily on individual donors with annual giving levels up to $5,000.

Essential Functions

• Develop and execute annual giving strategies utilizing direct mail, email, digital, social media, and peer-to-peer fundraising channels.
• Establish annual fundraising goals and monitor progress to ensure performance objectives are met.
• Manage recurring giving programs to increase donor participation and long-term support.
• Track, analyze, and report on campaign performance and donor engagement metrics.
• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward individual donors with a primary focus on annual gifts of up to $5,000.
• Develop and implement donor stewardship and recognition initiatives to promote donor retention and satisfaction.
• Implement planned giving strategies to continue long term strategic fund raising.
• Create segmented and personalized donor communications based on donor history and engagement level.
• Collaborate with Foundation and AAO staff to align fundraising activities with organizational priorities.
• Maintain accurate donor records and activity documentation in the donor database.
• Prepare regular reports related to fundraising outcomes, donor trends, and engagement activity.
• Support Foundation events, initiatives, and other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required, degree in nonprofit management, communications, marketing, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, development, donor engagement, or related professional experience.
• Experience managing fundraising campaigns and donor communications preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of annual giving programs and donor stewardship best practices.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated organizational and time-management skills with attention to detail.
• Ability to analyze data and apply insights to improve fundraising performance.
• Proficiency with donor management systems (CRM) and Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a professional environment.
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion and professionalism.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

This position primarily involves sedentary office work in an indoor environment. Occasional travel is required, typically one trip annually lasting 5–8 days. The role requires the ability to lift, pack, and unpack boxes of supplies and to stand or walk for extended periods (up to 10 hours per day) during an annual conference or similar events.

Benefits for Full-Time Employees

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage
• Hybrid Workplace (minimum 16 hours per week in office)
• HRA and FSA
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Vacation and Sick Time, Volunteer Day, Personal Days, Paid Holidays, Summer Fridays
• Short- and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Term Life and AD&D Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Wellness Support
• Tuition Reimbursement