Donor Relations Manager

The Rome Group; Missouri; On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Make-A-Wish Missouri & Kansas is seeking a Donor Relations Manager to lead donor stewardship, annual giving and mid-level giving. You will develop thoughtful, mission-driven experiences and create communications that strengthen donor relationships and long-term support.

You will manage a portfolio of donors across multiple channels, analyze giving data, plan events, and collaborate with Marketing and Development teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, nonprofit management, communications or related field.
• Minimum of two years of experience in development or fundraising.
• Minimum of two years of experience in a nonprofit organization or public agency.
• Experience with individual giving, donor stewardship, fundraising campaigns, events or corporate giving programs.
• Strong project management skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Clear and effective written, verbal, presentation and relationship-building skills.
• Working knowledge of Salesforce or a similar CRM/database system.
• Ability to travel throughout Missouri and Kansas for donor meetings, events and Chapter activities.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement donor stewardship strategies that create meaningful, mission-centered engagement and strengthen long-term relationships.
• Create personalized donor acknowledgment, recognition and stewardship experiences that celebrate donor loyalty, demonstrate impact and encourage continued engagement.
• Plan and execute donor cultivation and stewardship events that deepen relationships and support fundraising goals.
• Lead the Chapter’s mid-level giving program, including donor identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, retention and gift upgrades.
• Build relationships with a portfolio of donors through personalized outreach and meaningful engagement across phone, email, personal meetings and other channels.
• Analyzing donor data, engagement and giving history to identify increased capacity, qualification opportunities and readiness for portfolio assignment.
• Partnering with Development staff to coordinate donor transitions and provide a seamless experience across the continuum of giving.
• Leading direct mail and targeted fundraising campaigns, including acquisition, renewal, reactivation, year-end and tribute giving efforts.
• Developing audience segmentation, messaging and multichannel solicitation strategies that support donor acquisition, retention and gift upgrades.
• Analyzing campaign performance and donor response metrics to improve fundraising effectiveness, return on investment and donor lifetime value.
• Maintaining accurate donor records, engagement activity and stewardship documentation in Salesforce.
• Collaborating with Marketing, Mission Delivery, Development Operations and external partners to connect donors with the impact of their philanthropy.

Skills

Project management

Written communication

Verbal communication

Relationship building

Education

Bachelor's degree in business, nonprofit management, communications or related field

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

Donor Relations Manager

At Make-A-Wish®, we are more than a great place to work — our work is life-changing. Together, we create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Nearly 40 years ago the inspiration for Make-A-Wish began with one little boy’s wish to be a police officer. Today, together with our volunteers, donors, staff and supporters, Make-A-Wish has granted more than 500,000 life-changing wishes and transformed countless lives.

THE ROLE

As the Donor Relations Manager at Make-A-Wish Missouri & Kansas, you will lead donor stewardship, engagement, annual giving and mid-level giving efforts that help supporters feel meaningfully connected to the wishes they make possible. You will create thoughtful, mission-centered experiences and communications that strengthen donor relationships, encourage continued generosity and support long-term philanthropic growth.

This position is an opportunity to combine relationship building, donor strategy, annual giving, direct mail fundraising and multichannel donor engagement in support of a life-changing mission. You will build relationships with a portfolio of donors through thoughtful stewardship and engagement, helping strengthen their connection to our mission, encourage increased support and identify those who may be ready for deeper engagement. This position is open to candidates residing in the Greater St. Louis or Greater Kansas City area.

WHERE YOU COME IN

As the Donor Relations Manager at Make-A-Wish Missouri & Kansas, some of your key responsibilities will include:

• Developing and implementing donor stewardship strategies that create meaningful, mission-centered engagement and strengthen long-term relationships.
• Creating personalized donor acknowledgment, recognition and stewardship experiences that celebrate donor loyalty, demonstrate impact and encourage continued engagement.
• Planning and executing donor cultivation and stewardship events that deepen relationships and support fundraising goals.
• Leading the Chapter’s mid-level giving program, including donor identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, retention and gift upgrades.
• Building relationships with a portfolio of donors through personalized outreach and meaningful engagement across phone, email, personal meetings and other channels.
• Analyzing donor data, engagement and giving history to identify increased capacity, qualification opportunities and readiness for portfolio assignment.
• Partnering with Development staff to coordinate donor transitions and provide a seamless experience across the continuum of giving.
• Leading direct mail and targeted fundraising campaigns, including acquisition, renewal, reactivation, year-end and tribute giving efforts.
• Developing audience segmentation, messaging and multichannel solicitation strategies that support donor acquisition, retention and gift upgrades.
• Analyzing campaign performance and donor response metrics to improve fundraising effectiveness, return on investment and donor lifetime value.
• Maintaining accurate donor records, engagement activity and stewardship documentation in Salesforce.
• Collaborating with Marketing, Mission Delivery, Development Operations and external partners to connect donors with the impact of their philanthropy.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

• Bachelor’s degree in business, nonprofit management, communications or a related field.
• Minimum of two years of successful experience in development or fundraising.
• Minimum of two years of experience in a nonprofit organization or public agency.
• Experience with individual giving, donor stewardship, fundraising campaigns, events or corporate giving programs.
• Strong project management skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Clear and effective written, verbal, presentation and relationship-building skills.
• Working knowledge of nonprofit fiscal management and fundraising performance measures.
• Working knowledge of Salesforce or a similar CRM/database system.
• Ability to travel throughout Missouri and Kansas for donor meetings, events and Chapter activities, including occasional evening and weekend commitments.

WHAT WE OFFER

• Competitive compensation package designed to recognize experience, performance, and market value
• 100% employer-paid, comprehensive benefit package, effective the first of the month following 30-days from hire
• Employer contribution to a Health Savings Account
• Paid Parental Leave
• Retirement plan with employer match immediately upon hire
• Generous Paid-Time-Off package, including up to 24 days of PTO after first year of service
• Eligibility for student loan forgiveness through thePublic Service Loan Forgiveness Program
• A collaborative, inclusive and supportive culture where your voice matters
• The opportunity to change lives in a way that is unimaginable.

We are an inclusive and diverse group of people who, through a mosaic of backgrounds, thoughts, and experiences, are united in purposeful work. We are fueled and guided by our values – values that are represented in the inspired people we work with and the transformational work we do every day.

We respect and ensure equal opportunity, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, perceived disability and other legally protected characteristics.