Donor Relations & Administrative Specialist

Diocese of Phoenix Diocesan Pastoral Center•Phoenix, AZ

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Donor Relations & Administrative Specialist is responsible for coordinating, administering, and enhancing diocesan donor engagement and stewardship operations. Serving as a key strategic partner to the Office of Mission Advancement leadership team, this position provides comprehensive administrative and strategic support. This position is accountable for designing and implementing stewardship initiatives, analyzing donor engagement data, recommending improvements to donor experience, and overseeing the execution of donor communication strategies across digital, phone, and in-person channels. The role also develops engagement frameworks and content to support interns and contributes meaningfully to the overall donor engagement and advancement strategy of the Diocese.

Requirements

High level of initiative and ability to manage multiple deadlines.
Exceptional organizational, analytical, and project management skills.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including professional donor correspondence.
Ability to interpret donor data and translate insights into engagement strategies.
Proficiency with CRM systems (Raiser’s Edge preferred).
Ability to collaborate effectively with clergy, donors, leadership, and staff.
Active practicing Roman Catholic in full communion with the Church.
Ability to articulate and witness to the mission and teachings of the Catholic faith.
Bachelor’s degree preferred; associate’s degree accepted with commensurate experience.
1–3 years of professional experience in donor relations, advancement, stewardship, administration, or nonprofit operations.
Demonstrated experience managing projects, communications, or programs requiring independent judgment.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office and database systems.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual preferred.
Experience in a nonprofit, parish, ministry, or development environment preferred.

Responsibilities

Serve as a strategic administrative partner to the Office of Mission Advancement leadership team by coordinating workflows, priorities, and donor-related initiatives with minimal supervision.
Manages donor engagement processes, timelines, and communications to ensure alignment with diocesan advancement goals.
Maintain well established systems for organizing donor engagement records, communications, and stewardship strategies.
Administer and oversee the operational and strategic functions of all diocesan giving societies, including stewardship plans, communications cadence, recognition standards, and donor benefits.
Design and manage annual stewardship touchpoints, spiritual benefits, recognition pieces, and donor appreciation initiatives.
Evaluate the effectiveness of stewardship activities and recommend improvements to enhance donor satisfaction and retention.
Develop, implement, and manage a comprehensive mid-level donor engagement strategy focused on increasing donor loyalty, retention, and philanthropic investment.
Analyze donor data and segment donor portfolios to identify trends, opportunities, and tailored stewardship approaches.
Design donor journeys based on giving history, engagement level, and donor interests, using a variety of relationship-building methods.
Draft and oversee donor-facing communications, including letters, emails, newsletters, updates, prayer intentions, and invitations, ensuring consistency with diocesan voice and mission.
Collaborate strategically with the Communications Manager to shape donor storytelling and digital engagement initiatives.
Develop talking points, templates, and micro-campaign materials to guide intern and team outreach efforts in alignment with diocesan priorities.
Independently manage CRM-related processes tied to donor acknowledgment, engagement tracking, and stewardship reporting.
Ensure data integrity, confidentiality, and proper documentation of donor interactions.
Utilize CRM data to inform strategic decisions and recommend process improvements to leadership.
Provide professional-level support for Office of Mission Advancement events, donor gatherings, and stewardship receptions including on-site coordination.
Uphold strict confidentiality standards related to donor information and diocesan operations.
Represent the values and mission of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix in all donor and stakeholder interactions.
Perform other related duties as assigned that are consistent with the scope and level of the position.