Donor Relations Director SC​/Orange County Pool

Job Title

Aggressively pursue and secure funds, gifts in kind and volunteer labor to help support the diverse program needs of The Salvation Army in the Southern California Division. Work within assigned geographical areas to establish relationships with existing or potential donors and to develop and cultivate relationships with local corporations, churches, businesses and other organizations.

• 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 five years of experience in a non-profit fundraising role with a proven track record of major gifts 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 goal-oriented attitude, with a drive to achieve agreed upon goals within agreed upon time frames.

• The DRD establishes, manages and fulfills a caseload communications plan, including individual fund-raising goals and personalized strategies, to effectively steward, educate, cultivate and solicit gifts from major donors each fiscal year, with an emphasis on gifts of $5,000 and higher.
• Manages a caseload of 125-150 assigned and qualified major donors and will maintain and seek to engage with a small additional prospective donor "watch list" as assigned, following the agreed upon communications plan that is specific to each donor and prospect and working, as appropriate, with donor leadership volunteers to secure visits with those in their peer networks who are assigned.
• Works diligently to meet territorially-approved annual activity metrics and income production goals and is purposeful about every visit and communication and the desired outcome for each "touch."
• Leads in one-to-one solicitation, gift acknowledgement and stewardship communication, traveling as necessary, establishing and maintaining excellent donor relations, providing written proposals to major gift prospects as needed, and including Army and/or volunteer leadership as appropriate.
• Leads the development of team solicitation strategies and facilitates the team planning process for peer-to-peer cultivation and solicitation approaches, involving leadership volunteers and internal leadership, as deemed appropriate. Develops research and briefing memos in preparation for team discussions. Works with territorial prospect research manager and local staff who are trained to do research to develop donor profiles to inform "moves management" strategies and planning conversations.
• Meets regularly with supervisor to discuss and refine caseload plans, donor strategies, to track progress, to receive coaching, and to keep open lines of communication.
• Participates in recommended professional trainings as budget allows, conference calls with other major gifts staff, conference kindred sessions…