Donor Engagement Specialist
POSITION DESCRIPTION
United Way of Greater Lorain County (Lorain, Ohio)
CLASSIFICATION TITLE: Donor Engagement Specialist
EMPLOYMENT STATUS: Full-Time, In-Person
REPORTS TO: Marketing & Engagement Director
FLSA STATUS: Non-Exempt Pay Grade: 8
EXEMPTION TYPE: Not Applicable Wage Range: $16.36-$22.90 ($34,028-$47,638)
ORGANIZATIONAL SUMMARY
Mission: To lead measurable community transformation, creating a better life for all, by connecting community partners through Collective Impact in health, education, and financial stability.
Organizational Values: Collaboration | Continuous Improvement | Mindfulness | Innovation | Integrity | Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
We are interested in hiring people who have a passion for making Greater Lorain County a great place to live, work, and play. Ideal candidates will share our core team characteristics of accountability, authenticity, inclusivity, innovation, communication, respect and trustworthiness.
United Way of Greater Lorain County aspires to be a model of diversity and inclusion and this is reflected in our hiring process and compensation philosophy. In order to fulfill our mission, we acknowledge and value human differences and nurture an environment where people feel supported, listened to, and able to do their personal best. Valuing diversity includes respecting and appreciating each person regardless of race, ethnicity, color, religion, gender, national origin, ancestry, disability, age, military status, pregnancy, familial status, genetic information, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression.
Read our full Anti-Discrimination Statement at uwloraincounty.org/antidiscrimination
DISTINGUISHING JOB CHARACTERISTICS
The Donor Engagement Specialist is committed to the effective cultivation of authentic, mutually beneficial relationships between United Way of Greater Lorain County (UWGLC) and its supporters. The Specialist has an assigned portfolio of corporate partners & individual donors with whom they are responsible for deepening relationships by learning their motivations & matching them to the impact of UWGLC. The Specialist will interact with and support all internal departments and Community Collaboratives to implement a comprehensive donor engagement strategy.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to satisfactorily perform each essential duty listed below. Reasonable accommodations will be made for persons covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act, in accordance with its requirements.
DONOR ENGAGEMENT
• Work in partnership with Marketing & Engagement staff to strategize overall goals and tactics for active/prospective corporate partners, individual donors, & donor segments.
• Lead a group of cross-sector professional & retiree volunteers in year-round implementation of donor engagement & new business development strategies.
CORPORATE PARTNERS
• Build relationships with decision makers and campaign champions at an assigned portfolio of active/prospective corporate partners to set mutual goals for annual employee giving campaigns, corporate gifts, and event sponsorships. Proactively communicate year-round when possible.
• Manage campaign plans including, when appropriate,
o Leading presentations to employees as part of workplace campaign,
o Attending workplace special events,
o Participating in campaign planning meetings,
o Delivering campaign materials,
o Soliciting feedback at conclusion of campaign,
o Collaborating with Marketing & Design Specialist to develop customized campaign materials, and/or
o Collaborating with Volunteer Engagement Manager to design corporate volunteer engagement opportunities.
INDIVIDUAL DONORS
• Lead with active listening in developing personal relationships with an assigned portfolio of individual active/prospective significant donors. Build these relationships on a clear understanding of donor values & interests while consistently stewarding these relationships to strong outcomes for both the donor & UWGLC.
• Assist in the planning & implementation of year-round donor gratitude plan, including,
o Email & residential donor segment touchpoints,
o Personalized handwritten thank you cards,
o Quarterly donor engagement volunteer/networking events,
o Monthly Impact Report.
• Research & maintain profiles of prospective/current significant donors.
DONOR SEGMENTATION
• Actively cultivate, engage, and steward leadership and major gift donor sectors.
• Strategize engagement activities for mid-level loyal donors.
DATABASE MANAGEMENT & DATA ANALYSIS
• Maintain a general understanding of the internal data available to help drive UWGLC donor engagement strategy.
• Maximize efficacy of donor database for relationship management of corporate & individual relationships, including
o Acting as liaison to Finance team to maintain & continuously improve campaign structure and donation acknowledgement process,
o Uploading up-to-date communication logs for large-scale communications & event attendance,
• Keep pertinent information and communications for assigned portfolio up-to-date in database.
SPECIAL EVENTS
• Aide in the planning and implementation of special events including fundraisers, donor engagement opportunities, and volunteer projects.
ORGANIZATIONAL INVOLVEMENT
• Cultivate positive working relationships with all Community Collaboratives.
• Stay updated with UWGLC’s strategic goals, news, community investment activities, designation policies and governance.
• Attend display exhibits and community events as a representative of UWGLC.
Perform related work as required. Other duties as assigned.
Works assigned schedule and exhibits regular and predictable attendance. Works outside of normal schedule as required, meeting workload demands. Scheduled to work some weekends and holidays. Performs other related duties as required.
SCOPE OF SUPERVISION
No direct supervision. Indirect supervision of any outside agencies and vendors needed to achieve strategic donor engagement goals.
EQUIPMENT OPERATED
Automobile, computer, telephone, copier and other general office equipment.
CONTACT WITH OTHERS
Co-workers, general public, campaign volunteers, media, and community representatives, business leaders, donors, members of the Board of Directors, key stakeholders and contract agencies.
WORKING CONDITIONS
The employee is exposed to normal office working conditions of moderate noise levels. Employee is occasionally exposed to wet, humid or other outdoor weather conditions when setting up display booths and participating in community events. While traveling to United Way public relation events, employee is exposed to travel conditions and typical road hazards.
USUAL PHYSICAL DEMANDS
Position incumbents performing essential duties and responsibilities of the job typically exhibit the following physical demands. These physical demands are not and should not be construed to be job qualification standards, but are illustrated to help United Way of Greater Lorain County, the employee and/or applicant identify where reasonable accommodations may need to be considered.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently sits for extended periods of time, and occasionally stands and walks. The employee regularly exhibits digital dexterity when entering data into computer. Vision demands include close, relatively detailed vision when focusing on a computer screen. Employee converses verbally with others in person and by telephone. The employee reaches with hands or arms, stoops, kneels, crouches or crawls when setting up and moving Agency booths. The employee occasionally lifts varying weights of up to ten (10) pounds when moving files, boxes, equipment and supplies and up to twenty-five (25) pounds when transporting and setting up display booth.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES
Knowledge of: fundraising; account management; relationship building; sales; database/CRM systems; nonprofits; health and human services systems;
Ability to: develop and maintain effective working relationships; handle sensitive inquiries from and contacts with officials and general public; maintain and promote good public relations; maintain confidentiality of non-public or sensitive information; work independently demonstrating initiative; exhibit flexibility in work schedule and job tasks; coordinate multiple activities and tasks; originate correspondence; maintain accurate and complete work records.
Skill in: customer relationship management; relationship-based fundraising; public speaking; database management; excellent verbal and written communication; writing, editing and proofreading; operating standard office equipment; maintaining good public relations; application of job software programs including desktop publishing; planning, scheduling and organizing work; computer publication design; general typing.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required knowledge, skills, and abilities for this position are 3 to 5 years of experience (an appropriate combination of experiences as listed below) including fundraising, relationship building, account management, public speaking, and a demonstrated ability to learn new software. Excellent writing and interpersonal skills, proactive communications, and problem-solving skills are required.
An appropriate combination of experiences that demonstrate the required knowledge, skills and abilities might include volunteering, training, coursework, and work experience.
A Bachelor’s Degree in Nonprofit Administration, Social Sciences, Communications, or a closely related field is preferred.
Ability to document identify and employment eligibility within three (3) days of original appointment as a condition of employment in compliance with Immigration Reform and Control Act requirements.
LICENSURE OR CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
State Motor Vehicle Operator’s License or demonstrable ability to gain access to worksite.
This job description in no manner states or implies that these are the only duties and responsibilities to be performed by the employee filling the position, who will be required to follow instructions and perform any duties required by the employee’s supervisor or designee.
Interested applicants should send their resume and cover letter to Colleen Walts, Marketing & Engagement Director at colleen.walts@uwloraincounty.org.
