Manager of Development and Individual Giving

Edmundson Art Foundation dba Des Moines Art Center•Des Moines, IA

About The Position

The Manager of Development and Individual Giving is responsible for planning, executing, and growing the organization's annual fundraising efforts with a primary focus on individual donors. This role focuses on donor acquisition, retention, and stewardship through coordinated direct mail and electronic solicitation campaigns. The position plays a key role in building long-term donor relationships and ensuring a positive, engaging donor experience. Reporting Relationship This position reports to the Senior Director of Development.

Requirements

Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in fundraising, development, or a related nonprofit role, with demonstrated success in individual giving or annual fund programs.
Proven experience managing a portfolio of donors and prospects, including cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship preferred.
Experience planning and executing multi-channel fundraising campaigns, including direct mail and digital/email solicitations.
Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret fundraising data, track performance metrics, and apply insights to strategy and decision-making.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft and deliver compelling donor-centered messaging.
Creative and entrepreneurial thinking, ability to identify and test new fundraising strategies.
Familiarity with the current opportunities, challenges, and best practices associated with non-profit fundraising.
High level of professionalism, discretion, and emotional intelligence when engaging with donors, volunteers, and internal stakeholders.
Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
Proficiency with donor databases/CRMs and Microsoft Office or Google Workspace; experience with Tessitura or similar CRM preferred.

Responsibilities

Annual Fund Strategy & Execution Develop and implement a comprehensive Annual Fund strategy for donors in the $1,000–$10,000 range, including targeted cultivation and stewardship events, donor communications, leadership engagement, solicitations, renewals, and upgrade strategies with a focus on the annual fund.
Personally manage a portfolio of individual and corporate donors with consistent, high-touch engagement, including cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship with the goal of increasing engagement and giving over time.
Analyze campaign performance and donor data to inform strategy, optimize results, and support continuous improvement.
Assist the Senior Director of Development and John and Mary Pappajohn Director and CEO to identify, cultivate, and advance major gift prospects, strengthening the donor pipeline.
Identify and cultivate new donor prospects from membership, event and program attendees, guests to the museum, and other audience segments to expand the Annual Fund.
Manage the full lifecycle of print and email campaigns, including segmentation, messaging, and production timelines.
Deliver exceptional stewardship to donors and prospects, including attendance at events, curator-led tours, and offsite engagement opportunities as appropriate.
Design and execute individualized cultivation and stewardship strategies to deepen donor relationships and encourage increased giving.
Collaborate with program and communications staff to develop compelling donor-centered messaging that demonstrates philanthropic impact through print and electronic communications.
Contribute ideas and feedback to evolving donor engagement strategies that enhance connection, retention, and donor satisfaction.
Track, analyze, and report on key fundraising metrics, including revenue, response rates, donor retention, and return on investment.
Prepare regular performance reports for leadership on Annual Fund progress and outcomes.
Work collaboratively with the Senior Director of Development and advancement team to align Annual Fund efforts with broader fundraising and organizational goals.
Maintain accurate and timely donor records, activity notes, and gift tracking in Tessitura (CRM).
Conduct donor prospecting and research, including developing donor profiles, briefing materials, and presentation decks for the Senior Director of Development as needed.
Contribute to a strong culture of philanthropy by fostering collaboration, shared accountability, and stewardship excellence across the organization.
Participate actively in department meetings and support a collaborative, mission-driven advancement team culture.