Donor Relations Manager

The Nature Conservancy

9h • $58,000 - $68,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Donor Relations Manager (DRM) assists in the planning and implementation of the discovery, cultivation, and stewardship of donors capable of major and/or deferred gifts. The DRM will be comfortable actively communicating through phone calls and personalized correspondence, including emails, acknowledgements, thank you notes, etc. They conduct exploratory meetings with donors and prospects to determine capacity and interest for giving and build relationships with donors on a professional and personal level. The DRM is responsible for the qualification and disqualification of major and planned gift prospects through the donor discovery process. The DRM will coordinate work with senior fundraisers and other staff. They will move prospects capable of gifts of higher amounts to the prospect pool for management by senior fundraising staff. They will be responsible for requesting gifts directly from individuals in portfolio to achieve individual fundraising goals and contributing to budget goals. The DRM will work on a variety of activities including providing detailed conservation program information to prospects. They will use TNC’s donor database to update donor information and track activity related to donors. The DRM will effectively communicate or distribute information to assist staff in making decisions, solving problems, and improving workflow. This position serves as a point of contact in discovery and stewardship of new and long-time donors through visits, trips, events, and other activities using storytelling and connection to nature to foster meaningful relationships. The DRM will collaborate closely with other staff to introduce donors to TNC preserves and showcase conservation work across the state. This position will be primarily based in St. Louis (preferred but not required), Columbia, or Kansas City. There will be occasional travel to Kansas City, Columbia, Springfield, and remote locations throughout Missouri. The position will require some flexible hours with work-life balance prioritized. The work environment may involve infrequent exposure to disagreeable outdoor elements and minor physical exertion and/or strain. The DRM fosters belonging, equity, inclusion and justice within teams, strategies, and projects; among staff and volunteers; across the organization; and with partners. They demonstrate support for a workplace culture that maintains a safe and inclusive environment and equitable processes and results.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and 2 years related experience or equivalent combination.
• Experience building relationships with donors, volunteers, and staff.
• Experience meeting fundraising goals and timelines.
• Experience asking for gifts of $10,000 or more.
• Experience in managing and tracking multiple prospects and donors.
• Ability to work independently and with a variety of teams.
• Strong communication skills, including phone, letter and emails
• Experience, coursework, or other training in fundraising principles and practices.
• Ability to be curious and determine an individual’s interests, capacity and potential for helping TNC meet its goals, and act appropriately to tie those interests with TNC’s work.
• Ability to manage a portfolio of donors - implement and coordinate fundraising plans, including individualized cultivation, solicitation, and recognition plans.
• Ability to work in natural spaces and use storytelling to encourage engagement.

Responsibilities

• Assists in the planning and implementation of the discovery, cultivation, and stewardship of donors capable of major and/or deferred gifts.
• Actively communicating through phone calls and personalized correspondence, including emails, acknowledgements, thank you notes, etc.
• Conduct exploratory meetings with donors and prospects to determine capacity and interest for giving and build relationships with donors on a professional and personal level.
• Responsible for the qualification and disqualification of major and planned gift prospects through the donor discovery process.
• Coordinate work with senior fundraisers and other staff.
• Move prospects capable of gifts of higher amounts to the prospect pool for management by senior fundraising staff.
• Responsible for requesting gifts directly from individuals in portfolio to achieve individual fundraising goals and contributing to budget goals.
• Work on a variety of activities including providing detailed conservation program information to prospects.
• Use TNC’s donor database to update donor information and track activity related to donors.
• Effectively communicate or distribute information to assist staff in making decisions, solving problems, and improving workflow.
• Serves as a point of contact in discovery and stewardship of new and long-time donors through visits, trips, events, and other activities using storytelling and connection to nature to foster meaningful relationships.
• Collaborate closely with other staff to introduce donors to TNC preserves and showcase conservation work across the state.
• Fosters belonging, equity, inclusion and justice within teams, strategies, and projects; among staff and volunteers; across the organization; and with partners.
• Demonstrate support for a workplace culture that maintains a safe and inclusive environment and equitable processes and results.

Benefits

• The Nature Conservancy offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package including: health care benefits, flexible spending accounts, 401(k) plan with employer match, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, other life and work wellbeing benefits.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees