Director, Donor Engagement

Position Title: Director, Donor Engagement

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer

Classification: Full-time

Term: Ongoing

Compensation: $85,000-$115,000 annually plus Medical, Dental, Life Insurance, 401k Matching, PTO

Location: Palm Springs*

* This Director-level position serves as a visible, front-facing leader and ambassador for The Center within the Coachella Valley. The role requires meaningful, consistent in-person engagement with donors, partners, and community members to build trust and deepen relationships. To successfully fulfill these responsibilities, the selected candidate must reside within the Coachella Valley or relocate within 2 months of hire.

The Center

With a Mission of Creating Vibrant Community by Helping LGBTQ+ People along Their Way, The Center’s work stretches across the Coachella Valley. From its Palm Springs McDonald Wright Building to The Center Coachella, the Scott Hines Behavioral Health Clinic to the Community Food Bank, the organization offers a wide range of programs and services. With a talented staff, a dedicated corps of volunteers, generous donors, and multi-race/multi-generational clients, The Center’s work is focused on Ending Isolation & Loneliness, Connecting People to Resources & Community, and Enriching Our Individual & Collective Experience.

Why This Position Exists

The Center’s modernized Development structure is organized around three essential growth drivers:
Reach, Relationships, and Revenue.

• Sponsor ships & Digital Engagement expands Reach and earned revenue.
• Community Engagement builds Relationships by growing trust, participation, and belonging.
• Donor Engagement converts those relationships into sustainable Revenue through deep philanthropic investment.

The Director, Donor Engagement leads the Revenue pillar for individual philanthropy — ensuring supporters move from interest → investment → ownership → ambassadorship.

This is not a transactional fundraising role. It is a strategic leadership position responsible for building relationships that lead to long-term philanthropic sustainability.

Position Summary

The Director, Donor Engagement designs and leads The Center’s individual philanthropic strategy, overseeing the full donor lifecycle and cultivating a culture of belonging among investors in our mission.

This role transforms donors from casual supporters into committed partners and champions. It owns revenue strategy, donor experience, and long-term pipeline growth, ensuring predictable, scalable, and resilient philanthropic income.

The Director reports to the CEO and serves as a key strategic partner across departments.

Core Strategic Question

How do we meaningfully move individuals from interest → investment → ownership → ambassadorship?

What This Position Owns

1. Philanthropic Strategy & Revenue Leadership

• Develop and execute a comprehensive individual giving strategy aligned with annual and multi-year revenue goals
• Own forecasting, pipeline management, and revenue performance for individual philanthropy
• Build multi-year philanthropic growth plans
• Serve as strategic advisor to CEO and Board on donor strategy and major gift positioning

2. Major, Mid-Level & Leadership Giving

• Personally manage a portfolio of high-capacity donors and prospects
• Lead cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for transformational and multi-year gifts
• Identify and advance legacy and planned giving opportunities
• Support board members in peer-to-peer fundraising and relationship development
• Partner with Sponsor ships & Digital Engagement to transition sponsorship relationships into philanthropic investment where appropriate

3. Donor Experience & Stewardship Architecture

• Own the end-to-end donor experience across all touchpoints
• Establish stewardship standards, cadence, and recognition frameworks
• Ensure donors feel seen, valued, and connected — never processed
• Create systems focused on relationships, connection, and belonging

4. Giving Programs & Philanthropic Pathways

Design and lead structured giving pathways that guide supporters from first gift to lifetime investment.

The Ocotillo Club (Sustained Giving Community)

• Own and grow The Center’s Ocotillo Club recurring donor program
• Increase…