Mission Advancement Manager

Chesterton Academy of Notre Dame; Connecticut; Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

St. Edmund's Retreat, Inc. is seeking a Mission Advancement Manager to lead fundraising strategy, donor engagement, and advancement operations.

You will oversee donor relations, communications, and services while partnering with the Executive Director to align priorities across development, communications, and marketing. The role emphasizes collaborative leadership of a team and management of CRM and donor data, with a focus on stewardship, grant prospects, and donor-centered services for

Qualifications

• Catholic knowledge and language suited to the mission
• Practicing Catholic in good standing
• Bachelor's degree; nonprofit/communication focus preferred
• Minimum of five years in nonprofit advancement or fundraising
• Experience developing donor relationships and fundraising initiatives
• Experience managing advancement operations, CRM, donor data or processes
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and collaborate with senior leaders

Responsibilities

• Lead and plan annual Mission Advancement strategies in collaboration with the Executive Director.
• Support major donor cultivation, stewardship, and solicitation efforts.
• Oversee donor relations, communications, and engagement activities.
• Manage advancement operations, gifts, records, reporting, and CRM integrity.
• Coordinate with external vendors and suppliers involved in fundraising.
• Align fundraising campaigns with communications, marketing, and donor services.

Skills

Fundraising

Donor relations

Advancement operations

CRM systems

Team leadership

Strategic planning

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

CRM systems

Job description

POSITION SUMMARY

The Mission Advancement Manager provides leadership, coordination, and operational oversight for St. Edmund's Retreat's Mission Advancement efforts, supporting the organization's mission through effective fundraising, donor engagement, communications, and advancement operations.

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Mission Advancement Manager oversees the department's day-to-day operations, translates organizational priorities into effective advancement strategies, and manages the systems, processes, staff, and external partners necessary to strengthen philanthropic support and community engagement.

The Mission Advancement Manager partners closely with the Executive Director on donor cultivation, stewardship, and fundraising initiatives while ensuring a coordinated approach across development, communications, marketing, and advancement operations.

This position leads a collaborative Mission Advancement team responsible for donor relations, advancement services, communications, digital engagement, and fundraising support.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Advancement Leadership and Planning
   • Develop and implement annual Mission Advancement plans in collaboration with the Executive Director and President, aligned with the organization's strategic priorities.
   • Provide recommendations regarding fundraising strategies, donor engagement opportunities, advancement systems, and resource needs.
   • Monitor progress toward advancement goals and provide the Executive Director with regular reports, analysis, and recommendations.
   • Establish department priorities, workflows, and accountability measures.
   • Coordinate advancement activities across fundraising, communications, marketing, and donor services functions.
2. Fundraising and Donor Relations
   • Partner with the Executive Director and the President to support major donor cultivation, stewardship, and solicitation strategies.
   • Manage an assigned portfolio of major donors and prospects, developing meaningful relationships that support long-term engagement and philanthropic support.
   • Develop and maintain donor cultivation and stewardship plans.
   • Coordinate donor communications, recognition, and engagement opportunities.
   • Prepare donor briefings, research, and engagement strategies in support of the Executive Director, the President, and leadership outreach.
   • Ensure donor activity, relationships, and next steps are accurately documented in the organization's CRM.
3. Advancement Operations and Systems
   • Provide leadership and oversight for advancement operations, including gift processing, donor records, acknowledgments, reporting, and database integrity.
   • Establish standards and procedures that ensure accurate, timely, and donor-centered advancement services.
   • Partner with staff responsible for CRM management to improve reporting, data quality, and donor insights.
   • Ensure appropriate stewardship practices and operational workflows are maintained.
4. External Advancement Vendor Management and Oversight
   • Manage relationships with external advancement vendors supporting grant writing and fundraising initiatives.
   • Coordinate with members of the leadership team, as appropriate, to research and develop grant prospects and grant applications.
   • Ensure outsourced services align with organizational priorities, timelines, and expectations.
   • Collaborate with the part-time Marketing role responsible for day-to-day appeal vendor coordination.
   • Review fundraising results and recommend improvements based on performance data.
5. Communications and Marketing Alignment
   • Provide strategic alignment between fundraising priorities and Mission Advancement communications.
   • Partner with the Communications & Marketing Specialist and Digital Engagement Specialist to ensure messaging reflects the organization's mission, values, and advancement priorities.
   • Support the development of donor-focused communications, impact stories, and stewardship materials.
   • Ensure consistent coordination between fundraising campaigns, events, digital communications, and organizational messaging.
6. Events and Donor Engagement
   • Provide advancement leadership for fundraising and donor cultivation events.
   • Collaborate with the Executive Director to establish fundraising objectives, success measures, and stewardship strategies for advancement events.
   • Partner with staff and vendors on event planning, communications, logistics, and follow-up.
   • Ensure events support donor engagement and long-term relationship development.
7. Board and Leadership Support
   • Prepare advancement reports, dashboards, and updates for the Executive Director and Board of Trustees.
   • Support fundraising education and engagement opportunities for Board members and leadership volunteers.
   • In collaboration with the Executive Director, provide information and tools that enable effective Board participation in philanthropy.
8. Team Leadership and Collaboration
   • Supervise, coach, and support Mission Advancement staff.
   • Foster collaboration among advancement, program, operations, and ministry teams.
   • Ensure effective use of staff capacity, consultants, and vendors.
   • Promote a culture of accountability, stewardship, and mission alignment.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Demonstrated familiarity with and understanding of Catholic language, traditions, teachings, and practices, with the ability to appropriately apply and communicate Catholic terminology, perspectives, and values in the performance of the role.
• Practicing Catholic in good standing with a personal commitment to the teachings, traditions, and mission of the Catholic Church.
• Bachelor's degree required; degree in nonprofit management, communications, business, fundraising, marketing, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of five years of progressive experience in nonprofit advancement, fundraising, donor relations, or related work.
• Demonstrated experience developing donor relationships and supporting fundraising initiatives.
• Experience managing advancement operations, CRM systems, donor data, or fundraising processes.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, projects, deadlines, and stakeholders.
• Experience collaborating with senior leaders, board members, donors, volunteers, and external partners.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and sound judgment.
• Commitment to advancing St. Edmund's Retreat's Catholic mission and values.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

• Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience.
• A comprehensive benefits package is offered. Additional details will be provided to finalist candidates.
• Occasional travel may be required.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that an employee must meet to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and talk or hear. Use computer hardware and software for extended periods of time (repetitive motion). Sitting for long periods of time. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

TO APPLY

St. Edmund's Retreat, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a workplace that reflects the dignity of the person. We welcome applications from qualified individuals of all backgrounds who are inspired by its mission.