Marketing Communications Manager, Donor Engagement

American Heart Association • Dallas, TX

3d • $69,300 - $90,000 • Remote

About The Position

The American Heart Association is hiring a Marketing Communications Manager, Donor Engagement in its Mission Advancement department. This position can be home-based within the United States. The role serves as the strategic implementer of an integrated portfolio of donor-facing communications for non-cash, planned, and legacy-giving audiences. It leads the development and delivery of multichannel marketing and stewardship communications to educate and engage donors, prospects, and volunteers throughout the giving journey, from early interest through sustained engagement.

The manager plans, produces, and leads a high volume of coordinated communications across print, digital, email, web, events, and social channels. The position requires an organized, self-directed communicator who can explain complex giving concepts clearly, manage multiple initiatives, and collaborate across teams. The role also supports employee work-life harmonization and professional development through resources such as Heart U.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.
• At least three years of experience.
• Experience in a communications, marketing, or public relations role; national-scope experience preferred.
• Experience leading communications, project management, and editorial planning.
• Experience working with volunteers and donors, with a working understanding of fundraising.
• Strong organization and a track record of leading complex projects, multitasking, and setting priorities.
• Strong writing and excellent written and verbal communication skills, adaptable across media.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to think critically and with context.
• Self-motivated, with the ability to work with limited supervision.
• Solid computer skills and ability to learn new software applications and technologies; excellent Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint skills required.
• Ability to engage major, principal, and planned donor types and collaborate across departments or teams.
• Experience producing work for or with senior leaders or executives.
• Ability to advance and align with established strategy or vision, take direction, and contribute ideas and value.
• Experience writing in AP style and following editorial and branding guidelines.
• Ability to travel up to 5% locally and overnight.

Nice To Haves

• Five to eight years of experience.
• Prior experience in a nonprofit setting, preferably at the national level.
• Experience working with donors and volunteers in philanthropy, preferably major and planned giving.
• Experience working in a collaborative setting.
• Knowledge of design platforms such as Canva, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator, or similar tools.
• Ability to use data to support content-development decisions.
• Experience navigating a large, matrixed organization.
• Experience providing updates in customer relationship management (CRM) software.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and execution of donor communication strategies for non-cash and legacy-giving audiences throughout education, cultivation, and stewardship.
• Plan and lead multichannel donor journeys using direct mail, email, web, social media, newsletters, and virtual experiences.
• Implement cool- and warm-lead nurturing strategies, coordinating messaging, timing, and audience targeting.
• Lead creation of donor-facing materials, including brochures, booklets, one-pagers, newsletters, surveys, and digital assets, ensuring accuracy, clarity, brand alignment, and emotional resonance.
• Write and design selected communications, including newsletters and email campaigns, or partner with designers as appropriate.
• Integrate donor stories and impact narratives into communications to demonstrate mission value and donor impact.
• Create, lead, and deploy donor email campaigns, e-chases, automated journeys, and anniversary or breakthrough outreach.
• Develop and maintain planned-giving and donor-focused webpages, including lead-generation elements and supporting content.
• Coordinate with internal partners to support external digital communications with timely and accurate internal notifications and drop communications.
• Plan and implement virtual and in-person experiences, including pre-event and post-event communications and follow-up.
• Integrate event experiences with ongoing donor journeys.
• Track, analyze, and report on email performance, donor engagement metrics, and journey effectiveness.
• Use data and insights to optimize messaging, sequencing, and channel strategy.
• Ensure accuracy, completeness, and quality of data within projects and areas of responsibility.
• Support internal communications and knowledge-sharing for donor outreach initiatives, including selected internal newsletters and staff updates.
• Collaborate with fundraising, donor relations, digital, and analytics partners to align communications with organizational goals and donor engagement strategies.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance.
• Retirement program with employer match and automatic contribution.
• Employee assistance program, employee wellness program, telemedicine, and medical consultation.
• Professional development through Employee Resource Groups, a professional mentoring program, and Heart U.
• Paid time off of at least 16 days per year for new employees, increasing with seniority.
• 12 paid holidays each year, including several days off at the end of the year.
• Tuition assistance for education related to current duties, responsibilities, or potential future roles.
• Annual salary planning and incentive programs; eligibility depends on position type.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level