The Donor Relations Manager (DRM) assists in the planning and implementation of plans for the ongoing cultivation of donors capable of major and/or deferred gifts. They conduct exploratory meetings with donors and prospects to determine capacity for giving and cultivate relationships with donors at a personal level. The DRM II provides ongoing opportunities for contact with past and current donors.
The Donor Relations Manager is responsible for the identification and qualification of major and planned gift prospects and assists in cultivating and soliciting donors through meetings, trips, events, and other activities. They will move prospects capable of gifts of higher amounts to the prospect pool for management by senior fundraising staff and integration into the Moves Management process. They will work on a variety of activities including providing detailed program information to prospects and drafting personalized correspondence and acknowledgments. They use the Conservancy’s donor database to update donor information, produce reports, perform analysis, and track and cultivate donors. The DRM II understands the basics of the influencing factors on donors and the types of assets that may be used for the donor’s giving; applies knowledge to interactions with donors and gift asks. They will capitalize on matching gift opportunities.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE
- Annual fundraising goal of $250,000 or more, along with a goal for bequest notifications.
- Manage a portfolio of individual donors with the capacity to make a gift up to $25,000 once the portfolio is developed and be responsible for making face-to-face visits and multiple cultivation and stewardship moves per donor annually.
- Financial responsibility includes meeting fundraising objectives; and may include contracting with vendors and working within a budget.
- Does not supervise any staff but may manage work of peers on departmental project teams.
- Manage projects with several variables, set realistic deadlines, manage a timeline, and ensure accountability.
- Persuasively convey the mission of TNC to groups who are important to the organization’s overall prosperity.
- Act independently within broad program goals to prioritize tasks in the absence of specific instructions and exercise independent judgment to identify and solve problems.
- Ensure compliance with TNC policies and procedures and external (donor/legal/IRS) requirements.
- Travel and work overtime as needed.
- Work environment involves only infrequent exposure to disagreeable elements and minor physical exertion and/or strain.
- Work is diversified and may not always fall under established practices and guidelines.
- Work within scope of program’s strategic goals.
- Experience building relationships with donors, volunteers, and staff.
- Experience generating reports, and analyzing and interpreting the data.
- Experience in managing and tracking prospects and donors.
- Experience working across departments.
- Experience, coursework, or other training in fundraising principles and practices.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Direct fundraising experience.
- Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
- Ability to determine an individual’s interests, capacity and potential for helping the Conservancy meet its goals, and act appropriately to tie those interests with the Conservancy’s work.
- Ability to implement and coordinate fundraising plans, including individualized cultivation, solicitation, and recognition plans.
- Demonstrated experience using diplomacy and tact to build strong relationships and motivate staff and donors.
- Knowledge of current trends in charitable giving.
- Strong negotiating and organizational skills.
- Working knowledge of the basics of charitable gift planning.
The Nature Conservancy offers competitive compensation, 401k or savings-plan matching for eligible employees, excellent benefits, flexible work policies and a collaborative work environment. We also provide professional development opportunities and promote from within. As a result, you will find a culture that supports and inspires conservation achievement and personal development, both within the workplace and beyond.