Program Manager, Donor Relations

Hourly Pay Range: $35.16 - $54.50. The hourly pay rate offered is determined by a candidate's expertise and years of experience, among other factors.

About the Role

The Program Manager, Donor Relations, oversees a system-wide, comprehensive donor relations program that encourages donor loyalty and repeat and upgraded giving by communicating and celebrating the impact of philanthropy across the health system. Reporting to the Director, Philanthropy Communications and Donor Relations, this role builds the framework and manages the start-to-end stewardship experience for donors across Endeavor Health’s hospital foundations to drive loyalty, retention, and upgraded giving.

Serving as the voice of the donor within the Philanthropy Communications team, this role uses data and industry best practices to design structured recognition and reporting cadences. They partner closely with frontline fundraisers to ensure donors feel connected to their impact and collaborate with the Philanthropy Communications team to turn stewardship strategies into beautifully executed campaigns, written recognition, and personalized experiences.

Responsibilities

• Work collaboratively with Philanthropy Communications to write and manage the production of stewardship vehicles that lend consistency and cohesiveness to the identity of the system brand, including acknowledgment templates, endowment reports, impact reports, annual reports, personal stewardship communications for C-suite leadership and top-tier donor engagement, and segmented donor cohort stewardship communications.
• Lead standing stewardship meetings with the foundations’ frontline fundraising teams to align on stewardship plans with clear owners and timelines.
• Ensure stewardship plans, actions, and relationship notes are well documented in donor CRM records.
• Ensure pledge balances and reminders are coordinated with the Donor Services team and communicated to donors appropriately.
• Contribute new ideas to advance the strategic efforts and impact of the program on an ongoing basis.
• Manage the upkeep of donor recognition walls and plaques across the hospitals and system locations.
• Maintain accurate historical donor files; and update electronic and hardcopy files as applicable to ensure transparent, comprehensive records.
• With financial reporting leadership and Philanthropy Operations, ensure system leadership, foundations’ teams, and fund managers have timely and accurate details regarding their philanthropic fund balances, fund impact, and alignment of donor intent in fund purposes, including special purpose, research, and endowment funds.
• In tandem with the events team and fundraising partners, inform and contribute to strategic planning and counsel for all stewardship and applicable cultivation events.
• In collaboration with Philanthropy Operations and foundation teams, lead updates to policies and procedures to harmonize gift and fiscal policies across the foundations. Create and update Standard Operating Procedures and train on new procedures across the foundation teams.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Fundraising, Marketing, Communications, Business Administration, or related field preferred.
• 5+ years in a development office or with related donor relations and stewardship experience is required, along with an inherent joy of working with donors and colleagues to celebrate philanthropy to be successful.
• 3-5+ years with Salesforce or other CRM is preferred.

Skills

• Deep knowledge of best practices in donor relations and stewardship with demonstrated success in developing and executing impactful plans and initiatives that lead to meaningful donor engagement and repeated and increased donor giving.
• Proficiency with MS Office and proactively working with Salesforce or similar CRM is strongly preferred.
• Tech-savvy and avid learner with a keen interest in fundraising, nonprofit trends, data, and donor relations.
• Strong written, verbal, organizational, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to relate and interact warmly and professionally with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including system leadership, cross-departmental partners, vendors, prospects, and discerning donors.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information appropriately and with discretion.
• Excels in project management: multi-tasking, goal setting, accountability, attention to detail, and workload prioritization.
• Experience with project management tools and techniques is required. Experience coordinating budgets, projects, and events with vendors is required.
• Experience or exposure to basic graphic design tools is a bonus.
• Must be flexible and adaptable to changing priorities and proactively address challenges in a fast-paced, emerging, and dynamic environment with ongoing deadlines.
• Ability to constructively accept and process feedback and a collaborative working style.
• Continuously seek ways to improve processes, increase efficiencies, and actively pursue professional development opportunities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Membership with Association of Donor Relations Professionals (ADRP) or similar donor relations professional organization preferred.

Schedule

Full Time (40 hours), Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5pm. Required travel to other locations may be required for meetings and events.

Benefits

• Opportunity for annual increases based on performance.
• Career Pathways to promote professional growth and development.
• Various Medical, Dental, Pet, and Vision options.
• Tuition Reimbursement.
• Free Parking.
• Wellness Program.
• Savings Plan.
• Health Savings Account Options.
• Retirement Options with Company Match.
• Paid Time Off and Holiday Pay.
• Community Involvement Opportunities.

Location: Evanston, Elmhurst, Naperville, or Arlington Heights, IL.