Senior Donor Relations Coordinator-11-001-SC/Carson DHQ (Divisional Headquarters)

MISSION STATEMENT

The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Senior Donor Relations Coordinator (SDRC) is responsible for implementing and managing administrative and donor engagement activities that support mid-level and major gift development. The primary focus of this role is to cultivate, steward, and solicit donors, with the goal of increasing their engagement, transitioning them to major giving levels, and/or increase their major giving donations and retain them as donors to The Salvation Army.

The SDRC will manage a select portion of the caseload as major gifts development. These donors will receive proactive relationship management through strategic communication plans, personalized cultivation, and solicitation efforts. In this capacity, the SDRC will identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major donors to strengthen long-term philanthropic relationships.

This position works in close collaboration with the Director of Donor Services and the Divisional Director of Development to develop and execute comprehensive stewardship strategies and fundraising initiatives that align with department, divisional, and territorial goals.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Mid-Level Donor Management

• Develop and implement a strategic communications plan to identify, educate, steward, and solicit donors giving between $1,000 and $2,499, with the goal of increasing their annual giving level.
• Build and maintain relationships with donors through personalized outreach, including thank-you calls and cards, birthday or anniversary messages, and updates on events, programs, and services
• Create and manage an annual donor engagement calendar that tracks touchpoints and aligns with direct mail schedules, holidays, events, and organizational initiatives.
• Conduct donor research using tools such as DonorSearch to assess financial capacity and giving potential.
• Record and maintain accurate donor contact and cultivation information within the donor database.
• Collaborate with consulting firms and advertising agencies to align messaging and outreach with broader fundraising strategies.
• Coordinate multiple annual solicitations, which may include camp appeals and year-end giving campaigns.
• Partner with Development leadership to design and implement customized stewardship plans and donor recognition strategies.
• Review unassigned donor giving reports to identify and cultivate potential mid-level donors.

Major Gifts Donor Management

• Manage selected major donors, executing a comprehensive communications and solicitation plan to steward and secure gifts of $5,000 and above each fiscal year.
• Meet or exceed territorially approved annual activity and income goals, ensuring each donor interaction is purposeful and outcome driven.
• Lead one-on-one solicitations, acknowledgements, and stewardship efforts, including proposal writing and travel as needed to maintain strong donor relationships.
• Prepare research and briefing materials for team strategy discussions; collaborate with staff trained in donor research to develop detailed donor profiles that inform moves management strategies.
• Create stewardship materials and marketing collateral in Canva or in collaboration with the Marketing team.
• Works in close collaboration with local officers, program, finance and fundraising staff to present local Army resource development needs that correspond to where donors and prospects reside, while always being responsive to each donor's interests (even if elsewhere) and attentive to fiduciary responsibilities (donor intent with gifts).
• Supports and contributes to, as requested, overall territorial policies, business practices and strategies to continually increase major gifts revenue and program growth.
• Perform additional duties and participate in team activities as assigned.

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS

• Must embrace, support and reflect well on The Salvation Army's mission and values through one's professional responsibilities and behavior at all times.
• Bachelor's degree or comparable experience, plus a minimum of 3-5 years of experience in a non-profit fundraising role with a proven track record of success.
• Effective interpersonal, conversational and presentation skills, demonstrating emotional intelligence, situational awareness, excellent writing abilities and strong case development and pitching skills.
• Proven expertise in developing and maintaining positive relationships with diverse individuals, including executives, leadership volunteers and wealthy donors, as well as internal stakeholders and leadership.
• The selected individual should enjoy problem solving, think strategically and creatively, and take initiative with good follow through.
• A high level of comfort with direct donor interaction is a must, including discussions of personal and family finances and asking for major financial commitments.
• Team player, able to check ego at the door, with an ability to collaborate effectively with officers, staff and volunteers for successful achievement of position and department goals.
• Willingness and ability to travel regularly. Valid Driver's License required.
• Able to work independently in a fast-paced environment without extensive admin support. Must be highly organized and able to effectively manage multiple projects and competing priorities with professionalism and grace. Must keep good documentation through contact reports and activity tracking, using the Portfolio database according to Salvation Army protocols.
• Demonstrated success having worked with volunteers on a capital campaign committee or similar committee structures that raise significant funding for the organization.
• Demonstrated goal-oriented, with a drive to achieve agreed upon goals within agreed upon timeframes.

OTHER FUNCTIONS

Performs other related duties as assigned by Director of Donor Services or Divisional Director of Development.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Ability to walk, stand, bend, squat, climb, kneel and twist on an intermittent or sometimes continuous basis. Ability to grasp, push, pull objects such as files, file cabinet drawers, and reach overhead. Ability to operate computer, fax and telephone. Ability to lift up to 25 lbs.

• Work under stressful conditions.
• Interact with others with courtesy and tact
• Manage and prioritize multiple projects in an organized and efficient manner to meet tight deadlines
• Complete projects on schedule.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Maintain regular and punctual work attendance. The position requires sitting; climbing and/or balancing; stooping, kneeling, bending, stretching, crouching and/or crawling; standing; walking; manual dexterity and eye-hand coordination; use of vision; driving a vehicle; pushing/pulling/lifting/carrying 25 pounds; traveling by airplane; both outdoor and indoor navigation of settings.
• The position requires: professionally communicating verbally with co-workers, other departments and program staff, clients, vendors, donors, volunteers, board members, philanthropic decision-makers, and officers; written communication; talking on the telephone; responding to written or verbal requests; training/giving verbal and written instructions; receiving verbal and written instructions; writing/composing written language; reading; visiting/working at other worksites and non-worksite locations; communication via the latest technologies.

EQUIPMENT NEEDS SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, & ABILITIES

• General office experience with a working knowledge of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Working knowledge of integrated database applications and ability to use new software with basic training, including donor data base, wealth engine & others.
• Valid driver's license required.
• Travel as necessary.
• Computer proficiency, including Microsoft Office tools and familiarity with donor management software and email applications.
• Professional and positive. Excellent people skills.
• Able to multi-task and set reasonable priorities.
• Good written and oral communication skills.
• Good organizational skills.
• Ability to follow instructions and offer constructive suggestions for improvement.
• Good judgment and common sense.
• Must demonstrate high level of accuracy and attention to detail. Must be able to handle confidential material and maintain department confidentiality. Understands and embraces the mission of The Salvation Army.

Computer proficiency, including Microsoft Office tools and familiarity with donor management software and email applications. (preferred)
Bachelor's degree or comparable experience, plus a minimum of 3-5 years of experience in a non-profit fundraising role with a proven track record of success. (required)

Driver's License (required)