Join the Words Alive Team

Employment Opportunities - Detailed Description

POSITION:  Donor Engagement Manager

COMPENSATION: $24-$28/hour, with benefits including medical, dental, vision, retirement match, paid time off

STATUS: Regular, Full-Time, Non-Exempt

HOURS:  40 hours/week.

LOCATION: San Diego, CA. Remote work a possibility.

REPORTS TO:  Executive Director

WHO WE ARE: Words Alive connects children, teens, and families to the power of reading.  We serve students of all ages and their families throughout San Diego County. During the 2022-2023 year, we served 5,000 children, teens, and families facing extraordinary life circumstances through family workshops, read alouds in classrooms, and teen book clubs. Words Alive is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

WHO YOU ARE: Our ideal candidate:

  • Is excited about fundraising - especially individual/major gifts fundraising - and providing donors with meaningful opportunities to invest in Words Alive’s mission;

  • Is excited about leading exploratory/renewal conversations with donors - multiple times a week - and developing positive, proactive rapport;

  • Loves following up on in-person meetings with written summaries or proposals, and meticulously tracking donor interactions;

  • Is seeking a mission-driven workplace that values efficiency, impact, flexibility, and growth;

  • Has a nonprofit heart and a business mind;

  • Approaches their actions, words, and work with a keen focus on inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility;

  • Is motivated by the power of reading!

POSITION OVERVIEW: The Donor Engagement Manager meaningfully engages the organization’s supporters while generating critical revenue to support Words Alive’s programs.  The Manager manages a portfolio of individual, corporate, and foundation supporters through all parts of the fundraising cycle. Notably, the Donor Engagement Manager coordinates the organization’s most visible fundraising and stewardship events.  The Manager ensures that the Words Alive donor experience is of the utmost quality and meets organization’s standards and that donors are engaged at every level and have opportunities to grow in their engagement.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Fundraising & Stewardship (60%)

  • Manages a portfolio of individual, corporate, and foundation donors, meeting aggressive fundraising targets.

  • Manages the organization’s major ($1,000+) donors including meaningful face-to-face meetings, timely communication, accurate tracking of gifts and relationships, coordinating compelling stewardship activities, and providing high-level service.

  • Spearheads and manages our largest fundraiser - an annual peer-to-peer fundraising campaign, including identifying and managing cohort of volunteer fundraisers.

  • Manage donor stewardship initiatives (e.g., phone calls, mission moments), regular donor e-newsletter, and annual/impact report dissemination.

  • Cultivates relationships with existing and new donors, key volunteers, and strategic audiences.

  • Serves as representative at community events, corporate presentations, donor meetings, etc.

Special Events (25%)

  • Primary staff member responsible for special events targeted to donors, including annual fundraising luncheon and donor stewardship events.  This includes shaping the overall event strategy/feel, identifying and managing contractors, collateral creation, volunteer coordination, day-of event management, etc.

  • Solicit and steward sponsorships to support special events.

  • Manage development and/or special event budget(s)

Donor Data & Operations (10%)

  • Manage fundraising operations with an eye towards enhancing systems and efficiency.  Oversee pledge and donation payments and processing.

  • Ensure donor engagement records and systems are consistently updated and accurate.

  • Analyze donor data to help inform prospecting and moves management strategies and keeping track of progress towards organizational fundraising goals

Other Duties as Assigned (5%)

EXPECTATIONS & REQUIREMENTS

The ideal candidate has/is:

  • 3-5 years, fundraising, development operations, special events, and/or sales experience

  • Highly organized and detail oriented

  • Able to skillfully manage a number of competing priorities, fast-moving opportunities, and pressing timelines

  • Excellent written and oral communication skills

  • Demonstrated ability to present effective and compelling messages to individuals, groups, and the public

  • Optimistic, positive, welcoming, thoughtful, and professional demeanor

  • Strong interpersonal skills and an ability to work with a diverse variety of individuals

  • Unwavering commitment to the mission and population served

Educational and Technical Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent experience

  • Experience with donor or constituent management software (DonorView preferred)

  • Advanced computer skills with proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), remote working platforms (Teams, Zoom), e-communications platforms

  • Proficiency with office equipment including computers, telephone, and copier

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Fundraising certification (e.g. CFRE)

  • Proven success managing a $100,000+ annual portfolio of major donors or sales

  • Experience with and keen eye for brand, marketing, communications, and/or web development

  • Written and/or verbal fluency in language(s) beyond English

  • Prior experience volunteering with or working for a literacy, education, or nonprofit organization

  • Lived experiences aligned with the organization’s mission; participation in Words Alive programming.

This position requires:

  • Ability to work on a computer and phone for at least 50% of the day.

  • Typing and other repetitive activities for extended periods of time

  • A valid driver’s license and use of personal vehicle, as required to fulfill role.

  • Use of personal cell phone, as necessary, during remote and site-based work.

  • Available early mornings, evenings, and weekends to engage with key stakeholders as required.

  • Staff are often asked to help lift loads of 30+ lbs regularly.  Reasonable accommodations can be made as necessary.

WORDS ALIVE VALUES & CULTURE
At Words Alive, our programs and impact made in the community are driven by our core values, which represent the motivation, dedication, and focus of our Words Alive staff and volunteers. Our values include:

  • Commitment: by pledging to make reading matter for everyone

  • Equitability: by working to level the playing field

  • Empowerment: by investing in lifelong learners

  • Responsiveness: by listening to community needs and developing innovative solutions

  • Collaboration: by partnering with the community

  • Connectedness: by creating a familial environment that includes all Words Alive participants and support

TO APPLY: Carefully review this job posting, expectations, compensation, and criteria to ensure it is a good fit. Submit 1) a brief cover letter or introductory video sharing why you’d like to work with Words Alive, and 2) a resume or summary of experiences qualifying you for this position via email (only) to: [email protected].

Posted: May 30, 2023 Start Date: As soon as possible