Philanthropy & Donor Relations Officer

Washington Humane Society; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Humane Rescue Alliance in Washington, DC seeks a Development Officer to build, manage, and grow philanthropic relationships throughout the DC region. You will handle a portfolio of 120–150 donors, craft personalized cultivation plans, and advance donor giving to fuel the organization’s mission.

The role emphasizes frontline fundraising, relationship-building, and strategic solicitation in collaboration with internal teams; regular donor meetings and events are part of the duties.

Qualifications

• Five or more years of progressive experience in fundraising, development, donor relations, sales, or another relationship-based revenue role.
• Experience managing a portfolio of donors, prospects, clients, or other high-value relationships.
• Demonstrated success securing significant philanthropic gifts, preferably at the $5,000+ level.
• Experience in animal welfare or another mission-driven nonprofit environment preferred.

Responsibilities

• Manage and grow a portfolio of approximately 120–150 individual donors, corporate partners, and qualified prospects.
• Develop personalized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies based on donor interests, capacity, and engagement.
• Conduct regular donor meetings, calls, campus tours, cultivation visits, and other meaningful relationship-building activities.
• Solicit significant philanthropic gifts and prepare written proposals or donor materials in partnership with internal teams when needed.
• Identify opportunities to retain, upgrade, and deepen relationships with existing donors.
• Qualify new prospects and build a strong pipeline of donors with the potential to increase their philanthropic support.
• Identify principal or transformational gift opportunities and partner with leadership on strategy and solicitation.
• Create personalized stewardship experiences that demonstrate the impact of donor support.
• Connect donors and prospects with program staff, leadership, animals, and mission.
• Maintain accurate donor records, strategies, contact reports, solicitations in the fundraising database.

Skills

Relationship-building

Donor relations

Solicitation

Portfolio management

Education

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Tools

Raiser’s Edge

Salesforce

DonorPerfect

Job description

Humane Rescue Alliance in Washington, DC seeks a Development Officer to build, manage, and grow philanthropic relationships throughout the DC region. You will handle a portfolio of 120–150 donors, craft personalized cultivation plans, and advance donor giving to fuel the organization’s mission.

The role emphasizes frontline fundraising, relationship-building, and strategic solicitation in collaboration with internal teams; regular donor meetings and events are part of the duties.