Donor Relations Director

Position Description

The Donor Relations Director (DRD) is an integral leadership position within the Northern New England (NNE) Divisions Community Relations and Development (CRD) team and reports directly to the Divisional Director of Advancement. The DRD plays a critical role in advancing the Divisions major gift and philanthropic revenue efforts across Maine New Hampshire and Vermont by generating significant gift revenue in support of the Divisions strategic funding priorities.

This leadership role is based within the Northern New England Divisional CRD office a fast-paced highly collaborative and congenial environment that values teamwork initiative and shared accountability. The DRD provides strategic direction and hands-on execution across the Divisions major gift efforts while managing a high-end portfolio of major donors and prospects. Serving as the primary relationship manager between The Salvation Army and its major donors the DRD identifies cultivates solicits acknowledges stewards and upgrades donor relationships with a focus on long-term engagement and sustained philanthropic impact. The position requires frequent travel and regular participation in leadership and staff meetings at Divisional Headquarters in Portland Maine.

The role emphasizes long-term donor partnerships including blended complex and planned giving strategies in close coordination with the Director of Planned Giving and ongoing collaboration with The Salvation Armys Territorial Community Relations and Development (TCRD) Team to ensure alignment with territorial fundraising strategies donor engagement standards and best practices. This collaboration ensures consistency accountability and strategic alignment across divisional and territorial fundraising efforts.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provides leadership in the development and execution of a comprehensive major gift strategy working with the Divisional Director of Advancement and territorial partners to align fundraising efforts with the Northern New England Divisions strategic funding priorities.
• Generates significant major gift revenue annually in support of divisional programs initiatives and long-term sustainability goals.
• Manages a portfolio of approximately 125 major donors and prospects using a personalized metrics-driven moves management strategy.
• Establishes and achieves annual fundraising goals for individual donors and the overall major gifts program providing regular progress updates and forecasts to the Divisional Director of Advancement.
• Leads all one-to-one donor solicitations and ensures meaningful and timely gift acknowledgment and stewardship through in-person virtual and written engagement.
• Coordinates with the Director of Planned Giving to identify cultivate and solicit blended deferred and complex gift arrangements that align donor interests with The Salvation Armys mission.
• Maintains a collaborative working relationship with The Salvation Armys Territorial Community Relations and Development Team in West Nyack New York coordinating donor strategies prospect assignments stewardship approaches and campaign initiatives.
• Collaborates with divisional and territorial advancement colleagues to integrate major gifts with direct mail digital foundation corporate and planned giving strategies.
• Partners with local corps officers program directors and fundraising staff to align donor interests with local ministry and funding priorities throughout the Division.
• Keeps abreast of regional and national fundraising trends philanthropic best practices and IRS tax legislation related to charitable giving to inform donor engagement and fundraising strategy.
• Contributes to divisional policies strategies and best practices that strengthen major gift fundraising donor engagement and team effectiveness.
• Supports the cultivation and stewardship of new pledge campaign and recurring donors as they progress through the donor pipeline.
• Ensures accurate and timely documentation of donor interactions strategies and outcomes in Salesforce.
• Aligns direct mail and digital engagement efforts with individualized major donor strategies to maximize donor retention and long-term impact.

• Bachelors degree required; minimum of five years of successful nonprofit fundraising experience preferably in major gifts.
• Demonstrated success in generating major gift revenue and managing high-level donor portfolios.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to clearly articulate mission impact funding priorities and complex gift concepts.
• Strong leadership presence with the ability to collaborate influence and guide internal and external stakeholders.
• Proven ability to build and sustain positive relationships with diverse donors and partners.
• High degree of initiative professionalism and comfort with complex problem solving.
• Strong aptitude for direct donor engagement including financial conversations and solicitation.
• Ability to work independently and strategically in a fast-paced complex environment.
• Willingness and ability to travel regularly throughout the Northern New England Division.
• Demonstrated ability to set track and achieve fundraising goals and deadlines.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel; experience with CRM systems preferably Salesforce.
• Collaborative mission-driven team player committed to The Salvation Armys values and purpose.
• Commitment to and support of The Salvation Armys mission.
• CFRE or other relevant professional certification is a plus.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

• Generous paid time off
• Paid holidays
• Sick leave
• Personal days
• Bereavement Leave
• Excellent medical dental and vision benefits
• Short-term and long-term disability
• Retirement plan

*Benefits may vary based on position classification and eligibility.

The information in this job description indicates the general nature and level of work performed by an employee in this classification. It is not to be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory or all duties responsibilities and qualifications of employees assigned to this job. Management has the right to add to revise or delete information in this description. Reasonable accommodation will be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position. Acceptable job performance includes the completion of the job responsibilities as well as compliance with the policies procedures rules and regulations of The Salvation Army.

The employee occupies a position of trust and is expected to maintain confidentiality and exhibit loyalty to The Salvation Army and the staff of The Salvation Army in all job-related matters and activities.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color sex national origin disability or protected veteran status.

Please submit your resume and letter of interest to:.com