Director, Leadership Giving

Mercy For Animals

Director of Leadership Giving managing mid-level donors and cultivating relationships for Mercy For Animals. Driving donor engagement and revenue growth through a structured moves management approach.

Posted 5/2/2026full-timeRemote • 🇺🇸 United StatesSenior💰 $89,530 - $101,700 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Independently manage a portfolio of mid-level donors and prospects, using structured moves management to deepen relationships and increase giving over time
Develop and execute individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies, including annual plans and measurable benchmarks
Conduct qualification to assess donor capacity, affinity, and readiness for increased investment
Meet or exceed goals for donor outreach, revenue, and pipeline progression
Conduct virtual and in-person meetings with donors and prospects to build relationships and present meaningful giving opportunities
Communicate organizational priorities and funding opportunities in a compelling, donor-centric way
Draft personalized and semi-personalized donor communications, including emails, proposals, and stewardship updates
Serve as a primary relationship manager for donors within the Compassion Collective, representing the program in donor interactions and engagement opportunities
Partner closely with donor experience and direct response teams, who design and execute programmatic communications and engagement strategies
Provide frontline insight on donor sentiment, engagement trends, and opportunities to strengthen the mid-level donor experience
Support consistent messaging and positioning of the Compassion Collective in donor-facing interactions
Identify and actively cultivate donors with the capacity and inclination to give at higher levels, regardless of current giving
Develop and execute intentional upgrade strategies to move donors into major gift portfolios
Coordinate thoughtful, timely handoffs to major gift officers to ensure continuity in relationship management
Maintain accurate, timely records of donor interactions, strategies, and next steps within the CRM
Track progress against revenue goals, engagement metrics, and upgrade outcomes
Collaborate across philanthropy, donor experience, and digital marketing teams to ensure a cohesive donor journey
Contribute to broader fundraising initiatives, including appeals, donor engagement strategies, and cross-functional projects
Adhere to all organizational policies and procedures and perform other duties as assigned

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor's degree and a minimum of 5 years of experience in fundraising, volunteer management, recruitment or sales.
Demonstrated success managing a donor portfolio and closing gifts in the $1,000– $10,000+ range
Strong understanding of donor lifecycle strategy, including qualification, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and upgrade
Proven ability to assess donor capacity and affinity, and translate insights into strategic action
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience crafting donor-facing materials
Ability to balance personalized engagement with efficient portfolio management practices
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple priorities
Comfort using CRM systems and digital tools to support donor engagement and tracking
Willingness to travel occasionally and work some evenings and weekends as needed
Commitment to the mission and values of Mercy For Animals.

Benefits

Comp & perks

no- or low-cost health, vision, and dental insurance
generous paid time off and sick leave
401(k) retirement plan, with a dollar-to-dollar employer match of up to 3.5% of your annual earnings

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

fundraisingdonor portfolio managementdonor lifecycle strategyqualificationcultivationsolicitationstewardshipupgrade strategiesdonor engagementrevenue tracking

Soft Skills

communication skillsorganizational skillsattention to detailrelationship managementstrategic thinkingpersonalized engagementmulti-taskingcollaborationinsight translationcommitment to mission

Certifications

Bachelor's degree