Director of Donor Relations

Under the direction of the Vice President of Institutional Giving, The Director of Donor Relations will advance the YMCA of Metro Atlanta’s mission by providing timely and compelling communications pieces to engage, cultivate, and steward donors. This position collaborates across the association to ensure donors and prospects understand the YMCA’s mission, vision, and programs through proposals, reports, and communications.

• Bachelor’s degree in Fundraising, Communications, Public Relations, Journalism or other related field and 6+ years of experience in donor relations or fund-raising within a complex organization OR a high school diploma and 10+ years of experience in donor relations or fund-raising within a complex organization.
• Experience working with development leadership and fundraisers to create high-level recognition and stewardship strategies and vehicles.
• Strong communication skills including written, oral, and listening.
• Attention to detail, creativity, and a talent for producing engaging and well-crafted proposals, stewardship, and recognition pieces.
• Relevant experience with data management and experience with CRMs such as Salesforce and/or Raisers Edge.
Demonstrated experience with solicitation, stewardship, and recognition techniques, with clear understanding of how donor relations drives engagement, retention, and can increase donor giving over the lifetime of the donor.

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PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS:

• Master’s degree in Fundraising, Communications, Public Relations, Journalism or other related field and 6+ years of experience in donor relations or fund-raising within a complex organization.
• Salesforce experience.
• Fundraising experience for a non-profit organization.

RESPONSIBILITIES (including, but not limited to):

Development Writing and Editorial Services

• Consult and collaborate with subject matter experts across association to collect and synthesize information, conduct research, analyze, and interpret data for proposals, mid-cycle and final grant reports, and other fundraising collateral.
• Create compelling communications pieces such as proposals, presentation decks, impact reports, and funder communications while working under pressure to meet demanding deadlines.
• Serve as the central hub for outgoing fundraising communications to ensure coherence of messaging and standardization per style guides and branding.
• Partner with Development, Social Impact, Program and Experience leads to understand ongoing status of organizational priorities.
• Create and maintain custom cases for support and donor engagement pieces for branches that align with community needs and strategic priorities.
• Maintain a repository of fundraising-related content and language for use by Marketing, Communications, and branch communications.
• Draft personalized communications to donors on behalf of the president and senior leadership.
• Supervise contractor and vendors supporting writing and editorial services.
• Work alongside program directors and Social Impact to ensure grant-funded programs have effective evaluation processes in place.
• Lead and/or support communications for special projects including the annual report and award nominations.
Work with Marketing and Communications to ensure consistent messaging in all written materials.

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Stewardship

• Develop and manage a comprehensive donor stewardship program including protocol for gift recognition, as well as supporter benefits by investment level.
Develop and implement system to ensure timely execution of supporter benefits.

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Other

• Deliver orientation to new members of the fundraising team, including branch Executive Directors, regarding writing and editorial and donor stewardship strategies and processes.