Program Manager Donor Relations Leadership Giving

United Way of the Alberta Capital Region•Edmonton, AB

2h•CA$67,200 - CA$73,000•Hybrid

About The Position

We are looking for a Program Manager, Donorship Relations and Leadership Giving who will be responsible for playing a strategic role in developing and executing a comprehensive donor engagement framework that enhances retention, recognition, and long-term relationship-building. This position will design and oversee donor engagement and leadership giving strategies, while ensuring best-in-class stewardship while advancing relationships with leadership donors, volunteers, and community champions. You will work across departments to integrate donor stewardship into all areas of fundraising and communication and ensure that donor recognition, engagement, and personalized stewardship are effectively implemented. This position also provides strategic leadership for the Leadership Giving program, including the development and execution of engagement, stewardship, recognition, and volunteer leadership strategies that support donor growth and philanthropic investment. You will contribute to strategic donor planning, lifecycle management, and data-informed decision-making to enhance donor satisfaction, commitment, and long-term engagement. This position reports to the Director, Individual Giving. This position has no supervisory responsibility but provides leadership, guidance, and support to cross-functional teams and volunteers.

Requirements

Strong strategic planning and project management skills.
Ability to navigate complex organizational environments and work cross-functionally.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including donor-centric storytelling.
Strong data analysis skills, with experience in donor engagement metrics and CRM systems.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Teams, SharePoint, Planner) and donor databases.
Ability to adapt and demonstrate flexibility when faced with changing priorities, unforeseen challenges, and be able to juggle multiple tasks.
Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to foster relationships with key internal and external stakeholders.
Exceptional organization skills enable you to set priorities and create action plans.
Commitment to continuous improvement, exceptional donor experiences, and customer service.
Self-driven, able to demonstrate accountability and strive for operational excellence.
Possess core values, integrity, and accountability throughout all organizational and business practices and will act with personal, professional, ethical, behavioural integrity and maintain confidentiality.
Post-secondary degree in Business, Social Sciences, Humanities or related field plus a minimum of four (4) to six (6) years related experience. Equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered.
A valid driver’s license and vehicle are required as some travel will be involved within Edmonton and surrounding area as well as a driver’s abstract.
Availability for early morning meetings and some evening and weekend events will be required.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge, experience, or training in Donor Relations, Account Management, Fundraising and Sponsorship, Event Management and/or Volunteer Management is considered an asset.

Responsibilities

Develops and manages a comprehensive donor relations strategy, ensuring consistency across all donor segments and giving levels.
Leads the planning and execution of stewardship initiatives, including recognition programs, engagement opportunities, and personalized donor outreach.
Works with the Individual Giving, Workplace Fundraising, Brand, and Marketing teams to design donor journey maps, creating tailored stewardship plans and proactive engagement strategies.
Supports solicitation efforts by preparing customized donor proposals, impact reports, and stewardship communications.
Partners with the Direct Response program to drive monthly donor growth, retention, and engagement strategies.
Ensures all donor communications align with stewardship priorities, including thank-you messages, call scripts, and donor updates.
Educates colleagues and volunteers on best practices in donor relations and stewardship through training sessions and workshops.
Analyzes donor engagement data to identify trends, improve stewardship practices, and drive strategic improvements.
Oversees donor recognition across various platforms (social media, website, digital, and print), ensuring visibility and alignment with branding.
Collaborates with internal teams to support the development of impact reports, donor honour rolls, and gratitude materials, focusing on data collection and storytelling.
Supports and contributes to key donor recognition and engagement events, including Pillars of Change, National Philanthropy Day, and donor appreciation activities.
Partners with internal teams to design and manage the annual Donor Engagement Survey, gathering donor insights and analyzing results for strategic planning.
Explores new micro-engagement opportunities, such as targeted surveys for planned giving and major donors.
In partnership with the product team, leads the development, implementation, and evaluation of the Leadership Giving program, including donor engagement, stewardship, recognition, and retention strategies that strengthen relationships with current and prospective leadership donors and support fundraising growth.
Provides strategic leadership and management of the Leadership Gifts Cabinet, including volunteer recruitment, onboarding, engagement, stewardship, recognition, meeting coordination, and ongoing support to maximize volunteer impact and effectiveness.
Partners with key stakeholders to advance leadership giving priorities by identifying donor engagement opportunities, supporting volunteer-led fundraising efforts, preparing donor and prospect briefings, and tracking program outcomes and performance metrics.