Donor Services Manager

Easter-Seals; Peoria (IL); On-site; USD 55,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO & holidays

Medical/Dental/Vision

401(k) with employer match

EAP & employee discounts

Professional development

Job summary

Easterseals Central Illinois is seeking a Donor Services Manager to lead donor database management, gift processing, acknowledgments, and data reporting. You will support campaigns, stewardship, and development operations across our Peoria team.

The role emphasizes data integrity, donor stewardship, and collaboration with Accounting and other departments to advance fundraising goals and program impact.

Qualifications

• Three years of successful fundraising software management including gift entry and acknowledgments.
• Attention to data accuracy and integrity essential for donor records and reporting.
• Ability to analyze data and generate reports to inform decisions.
• Understanding of philanthropy, donor stewardship, and nonprofit accounting.

Responsibilities

• Manage donor files and gift entry, acknowledgments, reporting, and analysis.
• Produce queries, lists, and reporting; liaise with Accounting; support audits.
• Support fundraising targets through accurate acknowledgments and donor communication.
• Support donor retention and endowment activities; contribute to campaign and events.

Skills

Fundraising software

Data integrity

Data analysis

Donor stewardship

Process improvement

Staff management

Professional communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in communications/public relations/English/marketing or related field

Tools

Blackbaud Raiser's Edge

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Donor Services Manager

Full-Time Peoria, IL, US

POSITION TITLE: Donor Services Manager

POSITION LOCATION: Peoria Service Center, 507 E Armstrong Ave, Peoria, IL 61603

POSITION STATUS:Exempt/Salaried; Full time, 40 hours per week

POSITION SCHEDULE:Typical hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00am - 5:00pm

Lead the systems and relationships that make our mission possible.

At Easterseals Central Illinois, the generosity of donors, sponsors, and community partners helps make life-changing services possible for children and families across our region. The Donor Services Manager plays a key role in ensuring those relationships are supported through accurate gift processing, thoughtful donor stewardship, reliable fundraising data, and effective Development operations.

This position serves as a technical and operational leader within the Development Department, overseeing our donor database and fundraising systems while supporting campaigns, special events, stewardship, and endowment-building activities. The Donor Services Manager also provides leadership to Development Department staff, helping build a team that is organized, knowledgeable, and equipped to support our fundraising efforts.

While much of this work happens behind the scenes, it has a direct impact on our ability to fulfill our mission. Every donation entered, acknowledgment sent, report generated, and donor record maintained helps strengthen the relationships and resources that allow Easterseals programs and services to thrive.

About Us

Easterseals Central Illinois provides pediatric therapy, education, and family support services for children with developmental delays, disabilities, and special needs. With the support of our generous donors and community partners, we are able to expand access to life-changing services that help children reach their fullest potential and strengthen families across Central Illinois.

Every gift makes a difference and behind every gift is a system that ensures it is received, recorded, acknowledged, and stewarded with care. The Development team plays a vital role in maintaining those relationships, and the Donor Services Manager helps ensure the systems and processes supporting that work are accurate, efficient, and effective.

Watch this short video to learn more about the impact Easterseals has in our communities.

We're seeking an experienced fundraising operations professional who enjoys working with data, systems, and people. The ideal candidate:

• Has at least three years of experience managing fundraising software or donor databases, including gift entry, donor acknowledgments, reporting, and donor record management
• Maintains a high level of accuracy and attention to detail and understands the importance of data integrity
• Enjoys analyzing data and creating reports that help others make informed decisions
• Has an understanding of fundraising, philanthropy, donor stewardship, and nonprofit accounting
• Communicates professionally and works collaboratively with Development, Accounting, and other departments
• Can identify opportunities to improve processes, increase efficiency, and strengthen data management practices
• Has experience hiring, training, supervising, coaching, or developing staff
• Can balance independent work with changing priorities, fundraising campaigns, special events, and department needs

Experience with Blackbaud Raiser's Edge is strongly preferred. A bachelor's degree in communications, public relations, technical writing, English, marketing, or a related field is preferred, though equivalent training and experience will also be considered.

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys being the person others can rely on for accurate information, well-managed systems, thoughtful donor stewardship, and effective day-to-day Development operations.

Why Work for Easterseals?

Easterseals is a mission-driven organization where every role contributes to improving the lives of children and families. As part of our team, you'll find:

• Meaningful work connected to a mission that directly impacts children and families
• A supportive and collaborative workplace
• The opportunity to lead and develop a team
• A role that combines data, technology, fundraising, and relationship-building
• The opportunity to improve systems and processes that support our fundraising efforts
• The chance to help strengthen the donor relationships that make our programs and services possible

Your work helps ensure that the generosity of our donors is honored, recognized, and transformed into meaningful impact for the families we serve.

Compensation and Benefits

Compensation for this position falls within the range of $55,000 - $65,000 annually. The final offer will consider several individualized factors including relevant experience, scope and responsibilities of the role, qualifications and credentials, talent availability and specialization, and organizational needs. This range is subject to change in the future.

Compensation is just one component of the total rewards package offered for this role. Easterseals Central Illinois offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the well-being of our team members:

• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO)
  • Vacation time that increases with tenure plus Sick and Personal time
  • 5 Paid Holidays plus a paid Holiday break: both the Peoria Service Center is closed Christmas Eve through New Years Day
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance with multiple plan options
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for Medical and Dependent Care expenses
• Employer-Paid Life and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Voluntary Life and AD&D Coverage options for employee, spouse, and/or children
• Supplemental Coverage Options: Short-Term Disability, Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital Indemnity Plans
• Retirement Planning
  • 401(k) Retirement Plan with Employer Match
• Employee Support & Discounts
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for 24/7 confidential support
  • Exclusive Employee Discounts through PerkSpot and local gym partnerships
• Professional Development
  • Annual Professional Development & CEU Allowance
  • New Employee Referral Bonus
• Easterseals qualifies for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program

All benefits are subject to eligibility, terms, and plan guidelines.

Position Objective: The Donor Services Manager plays a technical role in the Development Department's daily operations, which includes an annual campaign, capital campaign and stewardship, and special events.

Job Functions:

• Manages donor file software, including oversight of gift entry, acknowledgment, donor demographics entry, report generation & analysis. Reviews system data health annually and recommends/implements updates as necessary to improve performance.
• Produces all queries, lists, and reporting to support Development team members and to liaise with Accounting, including special reporting for audit information, etc.
• Supports development team fundraising targets through exceptional acknowledgment processes and follows up with donors, including appropriate and timely information regarding the agency activities related to the donor's gift.
• Supports donor retention through regular retention reporting and collaboration with Development team members.
• Supports Endowment building activities.
• Posts and interviews for department positions as they become available.
• Provides comprehensive onboarding and training to new staff utilizing the appropriate competencies for each position.
• Responsible for the performance management of department staff, including completion of performance evaluations, performance improvement plans, and employee disciplinary reports as needed.
• Responsible for the professional development of department staff, including approving continuing education requests and ensuring staff is up-to-date on the latest findings in their fields.

Marginal Responsibilities:

• Cross-training of Donor Services Manager/Associate duties to take place on a continuous basis.
• Provides support during and following Annual Campaign and Special Event fundraising.
• Researches ways to improve efficiencies for current data management processes.
• Writes and documents donor pledge forms and contracts, ensuring timely and effective stewardship.
• Other duties as assigned.

Education/Experience Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university in communications, public relations, technical writing, English, marketing, or a related field, preferred. Equivalent training and experience will also be considered.
• A minimum of three years of successful fundraising software management experience, including gift entry and acknowledgment, report generation and analysis, database management, and donor record management, is required.
• Experience with Blackbaud's Raiser's Edge is strongly preferred.

Competency Requirements

• Advanced knowledge of principles and strategies in philanthropy and nonprofit accounting.
• Working knowledge of personal computers and software (MS Office Suite).

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• Must have visual ability sufficient to read and complete written correspondence, reports, etc., and computer screen information.
• Frequent use of hands to grasp, handle, or feel.
• Regular standing, walking, sitting, and reaching.
• Work requires the ability to lift up to 50 pounds to store, retrieve, transport, and deliver materials for meetings, special events, and others.
• Ability to drive to all Easterseals centers and service sites within a 100-mile radius, as needed.
• Routinely works in office environments with little exposure to excessive noise, dust, and temperature.
• Variety of off-site environments and locations, including the outdoors, in all types of weather.
• Routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, and fax machines.

Easterseals Central Illinois is an equal-opportunity employer. Easterseals does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Easterseals is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, call 309.686.1177.