Major Donor Relations Officer

Responsibilities

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer the Major Donor Relations Officer is a member of Amaras External Relations team and works closely with staff across the organization. Responsibilities may include but are not limited to the following:

Revenue Accountability & Performance Management:

o Develop and manage a portfolio of approximately 75-100 donors (individuals) who have capacity to make leadership gifts to Amara ($2500) through on-going engagement solicitations and stewardship.

o Develop annual fundraising and engagement plans for each donor in this portfolio.

o Develop a pipeline of donors of approximately 200-400 donors with capacity to move into leadership giving by qualifying engaging soliciting and stewarding current mid-level donors ($500-$2499).

o Engage monthly donors with ongoing stewardship. 

o Meet or exceed annual fundraising goals tied to portfolio performance (revenue retention and upgrades) 

o Regularly analyze donor portfolio performance and adjust strategies to improve outcomes 

o Develop and track key performance indicators (KPIs) including donor retention average gift size and upgrade rates 

o Provide regular revenue forecasts and pipeline updates to the Chief Executive Officer.

Major Gift Strategy & Management:

o Work with External Relations team members program teams and the finance team to secure program and project information including budgets and create meaningful offers proposals and asks to secure gifts and report back on how the donors gift is making a difference to Amaras mission. 

o Implement a structured move management process to guide donors through identification cultivation solicitation and stewardship 

o Identify and execute upgrade strategies to move donors into higher giving levels 

o Partner with leadership to develop and execute strategies for securing multi-year and planned gifts

CRM & Data Integrity Leadership:

o Ensure accurate and timely entry of all donor interactions proposals and gifts into CRM 

o Utilize CRM tools to segment donors track engagement and generate reports 

o Collaborate with development operations staff to improve data quality and reporting systems.

o Consistently document and coordinate donor engagement activities. 

Cross-Functional Collaboration (Programs Finance):

o Maintain familiarity with Amaras programs and issues related to child welfare.

o Represent Amara as a professional collaborator at public functions and events including social and professional gatherings. 

o In coordination with communications department staff translate programmatic outcomes and financial data into compelling donor-facing messaging 

o Partner with program staff to identify fundable opportunities and gather impact stories 

o Collaborate with finance to ensure accurate gift tracking restricted fund management and reporting

Donor Experience & Communications:

o Lead development of personalized communication strategies for top-tier donors (impact reports updates site visits).

o Ensure timely meaningful and mission-centered donor acknowledgments

o Support creation of donor-facing materials (case statements proposals reports)

Event Strategy & Donor Activation:

o Identify and execute opportunities to leverage events as cultivation and solicitation tools 

o Support targeted donor invitations hosting strategies and post-event follow-up

o Partner with External Relations team to align event strategy with major gift goals

o Provide audience engagement support for Amara fundraising and friend-raising events.

Board & Volunteer Fundraising Engagement:

o Support the CEO to engage and steward Board members and other leadership volunteers in Amaras mission and philanthropic goals. 

o Support and coach board members in donor engagement and solicitation activities

o Help identify and prepare board members for donor meetings and asks 

o Track and support board giving and engagement goals

Equity-Centered Fundraising Practice:

o Apply an equity lens to donor engagement strategies storytelling and fundraising practices 

o Ensure donor communications reflect dignity strengths-based narratives and community voice 

o Participate in conversations about ethical fundraising within systems impacted by racial inequities

o Adhere to Amaras policies and procedures and the Association of Fundraising Professionals Code of Ethics. 

o Actively participate in Amaras efforts to advance racial and LGBTQIA equity unlearn biases and engage in the organizations broader work in diversity equity and inclusion. 

o Attend required meetings including monthly All-Staff departmental meetings 1:1s and others as needed. 

Qualifications :

Amara is seeking someone with demonstrated success in fostering relationships with donors and community members. The successful candidate is driven by providing exceptional customer service enjoys relationship building and engaging stakeholders enjoys a collaborative environment and is passionate about connecting supporters to Amaras programs to advance Amaras mission.

We list our preferred qualifications and are open to candidates who can demonstrate their experience and/or education supports alignment with the skills we are seeking.

Comfortable building relationships and in-person engagement with current and potential donors.  Ability to move in social settings and rooms with Chief Executive Officer to support awareness building of Amaras mission and vision. 

5 years of progressive nonprofit fundraising experience including direct management of a donor portfolio and solicitation of major or leadership gifts ($2500).

5 years in nonprofit fundraising friend-raising and communications with experience in relationship development or an equivalent combination of education and experience. 

Demonstrated success in meeting or exceeding fundraising goals including donor retention and revenue growth.

Experience developing and executing donor cultivation solicitation and stewardship strategies using a move management approach.

Demonstrated ability to personally solicit gifts and confidently engage donors in conversations about giving including aligning donor interests with organizational priorities

Excellent writing editing and verbal communication skills including experience developing donor-facing materials such as proposals impact reports and solicitation messaging.

Experience using a donor database/CRM (e.g. Salesforce Raisers Edge or similar) to manage portfolios track engagement and analyze performance

Demonstrated commitment to inclusion equity and anti-racism:

o Experience working in racially and ethnically diverse environments.

o Demonstrated commitment to understanding and dismantling structural racial inequity.

o Desire to further personal understanding of racial and social justice work.

Relationship builder with a highly collaborative style; experience bringing supporters and partners closer to an organizations mission.

Ability to design and implement donor engagement strategies including individualized cultivation solicitation and stewardship plans and activities.

Commitment to ethical standards in fundraising the Donor Bill of Rights and strength-based storytelling. 

Ability to engage donors in the mission including conversations on advancing equity and anti-racism in the child welfare system. 

Goal oriented resourceful flexible positive and good humored. 

Sincere commitment to work collaboratively with all constituent groups including staff board members volunteers donors program participants and other supporters.

Self-starter able to work independently and enjoys creating and implementing new initiatives.

Highly proficient in Microsoft Office suite.

Willingness to prioritize in-person meetings and travel between both King and Pierce County offices as well as to donor engagements throughout the Puget Sound region.

Additional Information :

Salary and Benefits:

This is a full-time position (40 hours per week) with a salary range starting at $87550 and capped at $102998.97. The final salary offer will be commensurate with the selected candidates experience qualifications and demonstrated abilities. Amara offers a generous leave and benefits package including 10 company holidays 4 personal days paid sick leave a paid holiday closure at years end and 15 days of vacation per year. Competitive health dental and vision insurance rates 401k with a company match life disability insurance and a paid sabbatical. Amara supports a hybrid work schedule with some flexibility to work from home. Travel between our King and Pierce County offices as well as to donor engagements throughout the Puget Sound region will be required.

Criminal Background Check:

Amara conducts background checks appropriate to the contractual requirements of the position. A previous conviction will not necessarily bar individuals from employment at Amara. For specific requirements please feel free to contact the hiring manager or human resources.

To Apply:

To express your interest in this position please send your resume and a one-page cover letter indicating why this position is the right opportunity for you in Smart Recruiters. Applications submitted without a cover letter will NOT be considered. Applications will be reviewed until the position is filled. Amara is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Remote Work :

No

Employment Type :

Full-time