Manager, Fundraising Campaigns & Volunteer Engagement

Position Summary

The Manager, Fundraising Campaigns & Volunteer Engagement (Take Steps/SE) works in partnership with Foundation leaders, community volunteers and committees to drive growth and success in the Take Steps and Special Event (Mission Possible) fundraising campaigns. This individual will identify, recruit, train, and partner with leadership volunteers to harness their passion and skills and to help maximize their engagement in order to advance the mission of the Foundation.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities

• Fundraising Strategy & Campaign Management
• Develop and execute comprehensive annual fundraising plans for the Take Steps and Mission Possible fundraising campaigns to achieve and exceed revenue, participation, sponsorship, and volunteer engagement goals.
• Cultivate, solicit, and steward meaningful relationships with patients, caregivers, donors, corporate sponsors, healthcare partners, and community organizations to inspire philanthropic support and long-term engagement.
• Identify, recruit, and grow corporate sponsorships and community partnerships that increase financial support, visibility, and awareness of the Foundation's mission.
• Develop annual campaign work plans, including marketing strategies, budgets, timelines, logistics, and project management to ensure successful campaign execution.
• Monitor fundraising performance and key campaign metrics, analyze results, and implement strategic adjustments to maximize revenue growth and participant engagement.
• Deliver exceptional stewardship through timely, personalized communication and outstanding customer service to donors, participants, volunteers, sponsors, and community partners throughout the year.
• Inspire supporters by communicating the Foundation's mission, research initiatives, patient education programs, advocacy efforts, and impact in meaningful and compelling ways.
• Plan, coordinate, and execute high-quality fundraising events that provide an exceptional experience for participants, sponsors, volunteers, and guests while ensuring operational excellence.
• Maintain an active pipeline of prospective sponsors, donors, participants, volunteers, and community partners to support long-term campaign growth and sustainability.
• Collaborate with local chapter staff, national departments, healthcare professionals, volunteers, and community leaders to achieve strategic fundraising objectives.
• Utilize donor databases and fundraising technology to maintain accurate constituent records, track fundraising activity, monitor campaign progress, generate reports, and ensure data integrity.
• Manage campaign budgets responsibly and monitor expenses to maximize return on investment and ensure effective stewardship of Foundation resources.
• Stay informed on fundraising best practices, nonprofit trends, and peer-to-peer fundraising strategies to identify opportunities for innovation and continuous improvement.
• Volunteer Leadership & Engagement
• Recruit, engage, develop, and steward volunteers, committee members, and volunteer leaders to strengthen the Foundation's fundraising campaigns and advance its mission.
• Build a compelling vision for campaign growth and collaborate with volunteer leaders, committee members, and staff to achieve fundraising and engagement goals.
• Identify, cultivate, and mentor leadership volunteers, preparing them for increased responsibility and future leadership roles within the Foundation.
• Partner with committee leadership to establish annual goals, meeting agendas, strategic priorities, and action plans that drive campaign growth and organizational success.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and recognition by building strong, meaningful relationships with volunteers and providing ongoing support, training, and appreciation.
• Recruit and engage new volunteers from the patient, caregiver, healthcare, and corporate communities to expand the Foundation's volunteer network and increase mission awareness.
• Serve as the primary staff liaison for campaign committees, providing leadership, guidance, resources, and best practices to ensure successful volunteer engagement and campaign execution.
• Represent the Foundation throughout the community by building relationships, increasing awareness, and communicating the organization's mission, programs, and impact.
• Collaborate with local and national staff to identify volunteer engagement opportunities and implement best practices that strengthen volunteer recruitment, retention, and leadership development.
• Negotiate and manage contracts with vendors and third-party service providers to support fundraising activities.
• Recognize and celebrate volunteer contributions through meaningful stewardship initiatives that promote long-term engagement and continued support.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred.
• 2-4 years of progressively responsible experience in nonprofit fundraising, peer-to-peer fundraising, special events, corporate partnerships, volunteer engagement, or a related field.
• Demonstrated success in meeting or exceeding fundraising, sponsorship, or volunteer engagement goals.
• Experience using CRM/database systems such as Blackbaud Luminate, Raiser's Edge, Salesforce, or similar donor management software preferred.
• Strong relationship-building skills with the ability to cultivate and steward donors, sponsors, volunteers, and community partners.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong organizational, project management, budgeting, and time management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Proven ability to work effectively in a collaborative, matrixed organization while building productive relationships with staff, volunteers, corporate partners, healthcare professionals, and community stakeholders.
• Self-motivated, resourceful, and able to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, accuracy, and follow-through.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and virtual collaboration platforms.
• Able to work a flexible schedule, including occasional evenings and weekends, to support meetings and fundraising events.
• Able to travel locally throughout the Connecticut/Westchester market area up to 25%.
• Passion for the Foundation's mission and a commitment to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.