Senior Manager, Development & Communications | Relate Counseling Center

TeamWomenMN; Minnetonka (MN); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full benefits

Hybrid work schedule

Minnetonka office

Job summary

Relate Counseling Center in Minnetonka is seeking a Senior Manager of Development & Communications to lead both development and communications functions. The role supports the Executive Director, Board, and grants lead, and drives donor engagement and external presence.

The successful candidate will manage individual giving, DAF outreach, and the major gifts pipeline, while coordinating with the grants lead to align funding strategies.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years nonprofit development experience with fundraising success.
• Ability to manage both development and communications functions or grow into combined scope.
• Excellent written and verbal communication with diverse audiences.
• Experience with donor databases/CRM and donor records management.
• Self-directed, organized, and able to own a function with minimal oversight.

Responsibilities

• Own and grow the development and communications function end-to-end.
• Lead donor-advised fund outreach and major gift cultivation.
• Support Board fundraising efforts and board relationships.
• Create donor-facing and Board-facing materials reflecting Relate’s brand.
• Develop content calendar across channels and manage donor communications.
• Plan and manage donor and partner cultivation events and CRM records.

Skills

Nonprofit development

Fundraising strategy

Donor cultivation

Communications

Stakeholder relations

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

Tools

CRM systems

Job description

Senior Manager, Development & Communications

Relate Counseling Center

Relate Counseling Center is dedicated to providing high-quality, accessible outpatient mental health therapy to children, adults, couples, and families across the Twin Cities west metro. For 55 years, we’ve delivered care grounded in depth and relationship — independent of any large clinic system, with a grant-supported, sliding-scale model that ensures every dollar goes back into care. We are looking for a mission-driven development and communications professional to grow the resources that make that care possible.

Role Description

The Senior Manager of Development & Communications owns Relate’s full development and communications function. This is a combined role — well-suited to a nonprofit operating with a one-person development office — spanning individual giving, donor-advised fund (DAF) outreach, major gift cultivation, Board relationship support, and the full scope of marketing and communications. The position works closely and collaboratively with the Executive Director, the Board of Directors, and the grants lead. The role is self-directed and reports to the Executive Director.

Key Responsibilities

• Own and grow the individual giving program — donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship across the donor lifecycle.
• Lead donor-advised fund (DAF) outreach and build the major gift pipeline.
• Support the Board of Directors in their fundraising and relationship-building efforts, activating Board connections as the function matures.
• Own the communications function end-to-end — content calendar, social media, donor communications, and the organization’s external presence.
• Develop donor-facing and Board-facing materials that reflect Relate’s brand and messaging framework.
• Partner with the grants lead to align development strategy across funding sources (grants remain a separate, dedicated lane).
• Strengthen Relate’s visibility in the community, advancing awareness of our independent, mission-reinvested model.
• Plan and manage donor and partner cultivation events, from concept through execution and follow-up.
• Maintain donor records and CRM infrastructure with accuracy and integrity, building on groundwork already in place.

Job Responsibilities Include

• Plan, implement, and evaluate the annual development strategy to meet revenue goals.
• Cultivate, solicit, and steward individual donors, including major and mid-level gifts.
• Manage DAF outreach and donor pipeline development, including prospect research and wealth screening follow-up.
• Develop and execute the content calendar across social media, email, and web channels.
• Produce donor appeals, campaign materials, and the organization’s communications collateral.
• Support Board members and the Executive Director in donor meetings and fundraising activities.
• Maintain ongoing, accurate records in the donor database/CRM.
• Plan, coordinate, and manage donor and partner cultivation events, including logistics, invitations, and post-event stewardship.
• Coordinate and attend community events to promote Relate.
• Source and manage freelance design and collateral support as needed.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of nonprofit development experience, with a proven track record of fundraising success.
• Demonstrated ability to manage both development and communications functions, or strong capacity to grow into the combined scope.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to connect authentically with many different audiences.
• Experience with donor databases / CRM systems and donor records management.
• Self-directed, organized, and able to own a function with minimal day-to-day oversight.
• Collaborative and team-oriented, with a genuine commitment to Relate’s mission.
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, or equivalent experience.

Preferred

• Familiarity with the giving culture of the Twin Cities.
• Experience with donor-advised fund outreach and major gift cultivation.
• Experience planning and managing donor or fundraising events.
• Understanding of basic nonprofit finance.
• Experience marketing or communicating on behalf of a mission-driven or human-services organization.

Compensation & Schedule

This is a full-time position with a salary range of $75,000–$85,000, commensurate with experience, plus full benefits. The role is hybrid, based out of our Minnetonka office, with the expectation of regular in-office presence and occasional evening or weekend work to support donor events, community events, and Board activities.

• A mission with real impact — helping children, families, and individuals access quality mental health care regardless of ability to pay.
• Independence that matters — as a nonprofit free of any large clinic system, every dollar you raise goes back into care, not corporate returns.
• Ownership and autonomy — a self-directed role where you shape and grow the development function.
• A supportive, inclusive work environment with opportunities for professional growth.
• 56 years of trusted community presence and outcomes to build on.

Relate Counseling Center is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building an inclusive team and strongly encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply.

If your business or organization is interested in posting an open position on our job board, please contact us at [e-mail] for more information.