Donor Relations Specialist

About the role

The Donor Relations Specialist (DRS) will lead the design and implementation of a robust mid-level donor relations program for the NJ Division of The Salvation Army.

Responsibilities

• Develop strategic engagement plans to identify, qualify, educate, cultivate, and solicit gifts from mid-level donors to retain and increase their annual giving to The Salvation Army (TSA) and potentially transition them to the Major Gift or Gift Planning portfolios.
• Manage a portfolio of up to 450 mid-level donors by cultivating relationships with current, lapsed, and new donors through solicitations, gift acknowledgments, and stewardship communications such as phone calls, personalized email communications, virtual and in-person visits, and events.
• Analyze the Divisional Donor Database regularly to identify potential mid-level prospects.
• Tier all mid-level-qualified donors to ensure those most interested in deeper engagement with TSA are given priority.
• Research donors and prospects to assess their financial capacity and evaluate donor capabilities using analytical and experiential thinking.
• Work collaboratively with the Donor Relations and Gift Planning teams to identify and transition higher-capacity major and planned gifts donor prospects for additional personalized cultivation.
• Work with TSA Officers and other fund development offices to ensure effective collaboration on direct mail, foundation, corporate, major, and planned gifts efforts.
• Understand and engage with the annual strategic plan for direct response and mail appeals.
• Proactively identify potential prospects for matching and momentum-building gifts for annual giving campaigns and events.
• Document and leverage client success stories and testimonials as a tool in overall donor cultivation strategies.
• Collaborate with the Marketing department on creative design, messaging, and data segmentation for mid-level prospect mailings.
• Develop and implement strategies to show appreciation, offer recognition, nurture donor loyalty, and foster personal relationships with TSA.
• Track mid-level prospects and donors by accurately and promptly documenting their cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities in the CRM database (Salesforce).
• Communicate effectively with the THQ CRM team and participate in required webinars and meetings.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for incoming phone calls and email requests from mid-level donors, solicit feedback, and track responses in the CRM database.
• Stay abreast of industry best practices in mid-level donor management and implement promising innovations within the program.
• Serve as a credible ambassador of The Salvation Army internally and externally.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• At least 2-3 years of progressive fundraising experience in a non-profit fundraising role with a proven record of success.
• Clear and persuasive written and verbal communication skills, strong presentation skills, and an infectious enthusiasm for providing high-quality customer service over the phone and in person.
• Naturally comfortable with direct donor interactions, including discussing personal and family finances and asking for money, employing a tenacious but respectful approach.
• Demonstrated expertise in developing and maintaining positive relationships with diverse individuals, including executives, high-level volunteers, wealthy donors, internal stakeholders, and organizational leadership.
• Valid driver’s license with a clean driving record and reliable access to and use of an insured vehicle during working hours.
• Willingness to travel regularly throughout New Jersey and as needed for out-of-state conferences and meetings.
• Passion for The Salvation Army’s mission, coupled with a solid commitment to understanding the Army’s history, structure, services, policies, and procedures.

Desired Qualifications

• Gift Officer experience preferred, with demonstrated success in developing cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.
• Proficiency in data analytics and using data to inform decision-making.
• Strong proficiency in office applications and software, including O365 (Word, Excel, Teams, Outlook, PowerPoint, Publisher) and donor tracking or CRM software (Salesforce).
• Strong attention to detail while working in a fast-paced environment independently and as part of a team.
• Proven ability to set and achieve goals by the given deadlines while managing multiple projects and conflicting priorities.
• Highly effective organizational skills with an entrepreneurial and proactive mindset.