Donor Relations Specialist

What We Offer You

We offer employees a generous benefits package, flexible work schedules, the opportunity to be involved in community outreach and tuition reimbursement.

What You'll Do

• Maintain a fundraising portfolio of 150 donors (75% Individuals, 25% Organizations), developing specific plans for moving donors higher in the “Fundraising Pyramid.”
• Collaborate with the Manager, Donor Relations of Mission:Dignity and other staff on fundraising planning and implementation surrounding donor acquisition, retention, and recapture.
• Aid the Marketing Strategist in the development of content, advising on design and delivery of products and materials.
• Advocate for retired ministers, missionaries, workers and their widows in financial need, communicating their plight with individuals, groups, churches, denominational entities, businesses, foundations and others.
• Aid donors in achieving their Christian stewardship objectives through current and planned giving opportunities including cash gifts, bequests, charitable gift annuities, charitable trusts, retirement fund distributions, beneficiary designations and other planning arrangements.
• Represent GuideStone and Mission:Dignity as a personal contact with donors and prospects via phone calls, emails, written communications, in-home visits, on-site interactions and participation in local, regional, and national Southern Baptist meetings and events.
• Cultivate relationships with existing or lapsed donors to secure additional gifts, increased gifts and planned gifts.
• Contribute to developing and writing grant proposals for foundations and partners in consultation with the Manager, Donor Relations of Mission:Dignity.
• Utilize our donor software, analytics and other resources to better understand the relationship history and giving capacity of prospects and donors and to more effectively guide them toward meaningful giving opportunities.
• Update the donor software database with relevant record additions, information changes, action items and other pertinent data concerning prospects, donors and other constituents.
• Manage allocated travel and expense budget in consultation with the Manager, Donor Relations.
• Engage Mission:Dignity recipients and assist in recruiting new recipients.
• Maintain and foster strong working relationships with key contacts at the church, association, state convention and national denominational levels as needed.
• Represent and serve GuideStone with integrity in the furtherance of its mission and values.

What You'll Need

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent of 2+ years’ work experience in fundraising or ministry.
• Two or more years of public relations or ministerial experience.
• Travel is required up to 33% annually.
• Proficient skills in MS Office and appropriate system applications.
• Excellent relational skills including the ability to deal with a broad spectrum of people of various economic, social and cultural backgrounds with professionalism and courtesy.
• Strong ability to clearly communicate in both written and verbal form.
• Public speaking/presentation skills including the capacity to speak with confidence and professionalism in front of groups ranging in size from 10-12 up to several thousand.
• Understanding of an ability to communicate the story of Mission:Dignity in large and small group settings with boldness, clarity and conviction.
• Ability to interact and communicate well with church leaders.
• Ability to coordinate some travel with GuideStone office work.
• Willingness to pursue ongoing training and fundraising certifications.
• Total dedication to quality customer service and personal integrity.
• Ability to lift and transport relatively heavy and sometimes bulky objects/equipment needed for presentations.