Donor Relations Manager

Center for Biological Diversity

Donor Relations Manager driving fundraising campaigns and stewardship for the Center for Biological Diversity. Overseeing donor relations team and managing donor communications and engagement.

Posted 7/5/2026full-timeTucson • Arizona • 🇺🇸 United StatesMid-LevelSenior💰 $76,000 - $85,000 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Plan, oversee, and support the production and execution of multiple fundraising campaigns, appeals and reports designed to increase philanthropic support from our base of Leadership Circle members.
Develop calendars and timelines for execution of campaigns, reports, proposals, events and other outreach to donors.
Provide year-round stewardship of Leadership Circle members to ensure fundraising goals are met and exceeded.
Develop and implement stewardship plans designed to increase retention and engagement for key donors.
Manage donor relations staff to ensure timely, high quality, effective and increased donor communications, stewardship and fundraising activities.
Ensure Leadership Circle members’ inbound communications via email, handwritten notes, and phone calls are addressed promptly and with a high level of care and attention.
Research and identify new prospects to pass on to the Chief Development Officer, Deputy Development Director, Membership Director and Major Gifts Manager for major gifts development.
Cultivate a portfolio of Leadership Circle donors.
Support donor relations staff’s work to successfully manage their own portfolios.
Draft, format, and send letters, emails, proposals, reports, etc., for our Leadership Circle, Owls Club, individual and family funders.
Assist in preparation of same for MGOs.
Directly engage Leadership Circle members through phone calls, 1:1 zoom calls and some face-to-face meetings as well as individual emails.
Collaborate with the membership and development operations teams on direct mail and email fundraising campaigns, as well as supporting stewardship, cultivation and solicitation for the Center’s growing segment of monthly donors.
Ensure donors receive timely and high-quality informal thank you emails, cards, and calls as well as formal tax-receipt and acknowledgement letters.
Review data with a high attention to detail and careful decision making that will ensure donors are communicated with according to pre-set strategies and according to their preferences.
Plan, coordinate, and support implementation of donor events and webinars and support post-event follow-up communications.
Support Chief Development Officer on planned giving efforts via campaigns, regular Owls Club communications and welcome letters.
Move nimbly to implement rapid communications in response to breaking news, or in response to requests for reports or other information.
Stay on top of trends in both the environmental movement as well as in best practices for donor stewardship.
Assist with other projects as assigned.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Five to seven years of proven successful fundraising experience, demonstrated interest in caring for donors.
Superior verbal and written communication skills.
Extensive experience with donor relationship management databases or similar.
Excellent supervisory skills and experience managing a staff of 2-3 people, as well as demonstrated leadership and interpersonal skills.
A proven ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
Analytical with an exceptional ability to pay attention to detail, great organizational skills, and high-level accuracy in completing complex tasks.
Strong abilities working with data in Microsoft Excel.
Highly motivated and self-confident character, with solid work ethic as well as a strong drive to move projects forward quickly and follow through with staff regarding their completion.
The ability to learn and complete tasks quickly.
Experience working in a rapid response environment that can require quick, thoughtful decision making and evolution of campaign planning.
Strong project management skills, including the ability to organize time, manage diverse activities and personal interactions, and meet short-term and long-term deadlines.
Deep familiarity with implementing quality control processes and procedures.
High energy level and excellent interpersonal skills and a proven ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
Strong affinity for the Center for Biological Diversity’s mission.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Fully paid medical premiums for staff, and greatly discounted for families.
Fully paid dental and vision premiums for staff and their families.
Generous employer contribution to HSA and HRA’s.
Lifestyle Spending Account (LSA) provided for reimbursement of eligible wellness expenses.
Center paid premiums for Short Term and Long-Term Disability provided for all staff.
Center paid premiums for Basic Life Insurance for all staff.
Discounted premiums for pet discount program.
403(b) plan with employer match and increasing employer paid contributions.
Generous time off policies, including 13 paid holidays per year and 5 “personal” days awarded each year.
Vacation accrual starts at a rate of 15 days annually, higher commensurate with experience, and paid sick days accrue at a rate of 10 days per year.
Center Paid Time Off for parental leave, personal leave, caretaker leave and even pet caretaker leave.
After 5 years of service, all employees receive a 12-week paid sabbatical.
Relaxed work atmosphere and dress code.

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

Fundraising Campaign PlanningDonor StewardshipData ManagementEvent CoordinationProposal WritingAnalytical SkillsQuality Control ProcessesCampaign ExecutionPortfolio ManagementTimely Communication

Soft Skills

Leadership SkillsInterpersonal SkillsOrganizational SkillsAttention To DetailMotivation