Donor Stewardship Manager

Generation Hope • Washington, DC

4d • $70,000 - $80,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Donor Stewardship Manager will be responsible for cultivating, asking, and stewarding existing donors and building relationships with prospective donors as a member of Generation Hope’s growing Advancement team. While the Donor Stewardship Manager will play a role in the success of all of Generation Hope’s fundraising efforts, this person will focus primarily on individual donor relationships. They will play a vital role in ensuring that individual donors at every level feel welcomed, informed, and engaged with Generation Hope, remain in consistent contact with the organization's work, and receive appropriate appreciation for their support. In addition to executing specific projects and ongoing tasks, the Donor Stewardship Manager will be encouraged to identify new strategies for donor relationship building, including opportunities to introduce Generation Hope’s work to new audiences and growing their giving over time.

Requirements

• Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and a commitment to Generation Hope’s mission and the ability to connect people to our work through authentic storytelling and relationship building
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience
• 3+ years of fundraising experience and a proven track record of closing gifts of $5,000+
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills; you are articulate and persuasive
• Well-honed relationship-building skills and the ability to connect with all types of people
• Drive and sophistication; you are excited by the opportunity to help shape the future of the department and the organization as a whole
• A team-oriented mentality, enthusiastic work ethic, and openness to continually improve
• Highly developed interpersonal skills
• Systems thinker - excited to think about how we can streamline and improve fundraising processes and systems
• Can “zoom out” - ability to see the big picture, make connections, and spot trends
• Tactful - Ability to express opinions confidently and with respect for others, and ability to exercise discretion with personal or sensitive information
• Personal and professional commitment to understanding and dismantling systemic and institutional racism
• Must be able to travel (via plane, train, or car).
• Candidates must be able to meet the onsite work schedule by the start date.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with databases/CRMs
• Donor network familiarity in Washington, DC, New Orleans, LA, and/or Dallas, TX

Responsibilities

• Customized Stewardship: Design and manage personalized stewardship plans and engagement pathways for top-tier donors, and prospects , including timely acknowledgment, impact reporting, and recognition.
• Major Donor Circle Management: In partnership with the Vice President of Advancement, strategically plan and execute the management of the organization's top-tier giving society (Circle of Hope), including membership fulfillment, exclusive communications, benefits tracking, and coordination of unique engagement opportunities for this elite group.
• Impact Reporting: Oversee the creation and delivery of compelling, personalized impact reports and updates that clearly articulate how donor funds are used to support our two-generation model
• Acknowledgment and Gift Processing: Ensure a prompt, accurate, and consistent gift acknowledgment process (receipts, thank you letters/calls) that reflects the donor's relationship level and preference.
• Executive Support: Draft and manage personalized correspondence, briefing materials, and presentations for the CEO, Board Members, and frontline fundraisers to support their donor outreach and cultivation efforts.
• Develop a Stewardship Plan: Create and implement a comprehensive strategy, often outlined in a stewardship matrix, that defines specific, tiered activities for different donor segments (e.g., first-time, mid-level, major, planned-giving).
• Donor Segmentation & Personalization: Categorize donors based on giving level, interests, and history to ensure all communications and engagement activities are timely, personalized, and meaningful.
• Cultivation Support: Partner with frontline fundraisers and leadership to design and coordinate meaningful engagement opportunities like site visits, small gatherings, or one-on-one meetings.
• Event Planning: In partnership with the Advancement team, develop and execute donor-centric events (appreciation dinners, recognition ceremonies, project tours) to foster community and show gratitude.
• Timely Acknowledgment: Oversee the process to ensure all gifts are acknowledged promptly (ideally within 72 hours) with an expression of sincere gratitude and a formal tax receipt.
• Tiered Recognition: Establish and manage a system for recognizing donors based on their giving level and preference, which can include public recognition (donor walls, annual reports) or private recognition (personalized notes, calls from leadership).
• Recognition Administration: Manage donor recognition opportunities, such as naming opportunities for major gifts, ensuring execution (like signage) meets donor satisfaction and organizational standards.
• Regular Impact Reports: In partnership with the Communications team, deliver customized, compelling reports (annual reports, newsletters, personalized letters) that clearly demonstrate the tangible impact of their contribution.
• Content Creation: Draft and proofread high-quality stewardship materials, including personalized correspondence, appeal follow-ups, and program updates.
• Fiduciary Responsibility: Track and report on how funds are used to honor donor intent and ensure the organization is meeting the specific conditions of restricted gifts.
• Ongoing Engagement: Maintain regular, non-solicitation-focused communication to keep donors informed and connected to the organization's mission throughout the year.
• Database Management: Utilize the organization’s CRM (Little Green Light) to accurately track all donor interactions, preferences, giving history, and stewardship activities.
• Process Efficiency: Establish streamlined, clear processes and procedures for gift acknowledgment, reporting, and event execution to ensure consistency and efficiency across the team.
• Evaluation & Improvement: Track budget performance and key performance indicators (like donor retention rate and gift upgrade rate) and collect donor feedback (surveys) to evaluate the stewardship program's effectiveness and implement data-driven improvements.
• Support Generation Hope fundraising and cultivation events, serving as a contact point for donors in attendance
• Represent Generation Hope at relevant events and convenings, such as community events, conferences, roundtables, etc., as appropriate
• Maintain professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; participating in professional societies
• Other duties as assigned

Benefits

• Generation Hope provides full benefits, including 403(b), health, dental, and paid time off.
• More information on benefits can be found at generationhope.org/careers.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 11-50 employees