Donor Relations Specialist (GNY/DHQ)

The Salvation Army Eastern Territory•New York, NY

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Donor Relations Specialist is an entry-level fundraising role on The Salvation Army’s Greater New York Division fundraising team, reporting to the Director of Major Gifts. The position manages a portfolio of up to 450 Mid-Level donors who give $500–$4,999 annually, along with a pipeline of 150 prospects. Its goals are to retain and upgrade donors and develop a pipeline to major gifts or gift planning. The specialist develops annual fundraising and marketing strategies using direct mail, personalized written outreach, phone calls, virtual and in-person visits, and events, with the aim of meeting or exceeding fundraising goals. The role works closely with marketing, major gifts, gift planning, and other development teams at divisional, territorial, and national levels to build and maintain donor relationships and support strategies across the donor lifecycle. The candidate must live in the New York City metro area and work in person at the Manhattan Headquarters office. Occasional regional travel for site visits and training is mandatory, and flexibility to attend occasional evening and weekend fundraising or community events is required.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and at least two to three years of work experience.
Comfort interacting directly with donors, including discussing personal and family finances and asking for money.
Clear and persuasive written and verbal communication, presentation, and organizational skills.
Excellent computer skills, including managing complex Excel spreadsheets for data analytics, creating visually appealing PowerPoint presentations, and working with multiple databases; must become proficient in Salesforce.
Effective interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to build and maintain positive relationships with diverse individuals.
Ability to work as part of a team and share responsibility for larger projects.
Attention to detail, ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, and drive to succeed independently and as part of a team.
Initiative to identify and complete tasks independently.
Flexibility to adapt project approaches and occasionally support colleagues on projects that benefit the team and mission.
Professional and positive manner.
Must live locally in the New York City metro area and work in person at the Manhattan Headquarters office.
Occasional regional and national travel is mandatory.
Must have a valid driver’s license.
Flexibility to attend occasional fundraising or community events in the evenings and on weekends.

Responsibilities

Strategically manage a portfolio of up to 450 Mid-Level donors and a pipeline of 150 prospects, from identification and research through cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
Build relationships with current and lapsed Mid-Level donors through calls, personalized email and written communications, virtual and in-person meetings, site visits, and events.
Create strategic engagement plans to retain donors, increase annual giving, and transition donors to major gift or gift planning portfolios when appropriate.
Work with the Director of Major Gifts to establish measurable annual fundraising goals and track revenue and engagement progress.
Write, print, and mail acknowledgement letters, proposals, holiday cards, and other materials.
Conduct prospect research to identify potential Mid-Level donors.
Maintain current records of donor interactions in the Salesforce database.
Coordinate with corporate, foundation, direct mail, major gifts, gift planning, and marketing colleagues on comprehensive donor lifecycle strategies.
Collaborate with community relations and development staff, officers, and program teams at divisional, territorial, and national levels, including participating in meetings and trainings as needed.
Communicate with the territorial team and attend required monthly webinars.
Collaborate on creative design, messaging, and data segmentation for Mid-Level prospect mailings.
Serve as the primary contact for incoming Mid-Level donor calls and email requests, solicit feedback, and record responses in Salesforce.
Keep current with Mid-Level donor management best practices and implement applicable program improvements.
Participate in professional development opportunities.
Perform other duties and activities as requested or assigned.