Summary
STRATEGY
The Annual Giving Manager serves as a key development team leadership member and an active thought partner working with the Executive Director in strategy affecting Spirit Rock. They will be instrumental in engaging the Board, Executive Director, and the executive management team in the creation and implementation of an innovative and strategic fund development strategy that can sustain and strengthen all development needs for the entire organization.
More than 40,000 people participate in programs at Spirit Rock every year, many on a continuing basis. This deep connection with Spirit Rock and the experience people have form a unique relationship that makes financial support and generosity a core part of the relationship. Annual giving provides an opportunity for our community to express the benefit of being connected to our work. The Annual Giving Manager will have an understanding of that and will forge connections for the organization with our donors.
The Annual Giving Manager will help forge new relations by integrating and implementing annual giving into a comprehensive plan by engaging long term and new individual donors and foundations. They will partner with the communication and marketing team to engage donors, growing resources from the more participants and supporters in California, nationally and internationally, encouraging our community to provide investments in annual operations and in program expansion.
OPERATIONS
The Annual Giving Manager develops, implements and manages the execution of a high quality relationship-building, fully integrated, multi-channel Annual Giving program, including but not limited to: strategic identification, qualification, cultivation and stewardship activities for annual donors and our $1k plus gift circle; solicitation of those donors via in person, direct mail, email and online; manages external vendors and internal staff who support the fundraising process throughout the year; produces innovative solicitation and stewardship events; strategic management of list segmentation using Raiser’s Edge and ensures high quality record keeping; produces annual giving appeal analysis and reports; operates with a data-driven approach to create and adjust tactics; and generally establishes creative ways to engage donors.
Status: Full time 37.5 hours per week, exempt. Hybrid with 2 days a week required onsite.
Reports to: Executive Director.
Reporting Relationships: Works in partnership with development staff and volunteers.
Specific Responsibilities
- Develop and execute a three-year annual giving plan and create a yearly calendar of activities.
- Set annual goals/revenue projections; develop annual fund budget with other department leaders.
- Prepare all direct mail, email and online solicitations—write solicitations; work with graphic designers, printers to produce and distribute materials.
- Cultivate and solicit donors for larger annual gifts and develop specific strategies for renewing and upgrading each donor segment.
- Be self-motivated to connect on-going with personal/written/phone contact for all donors/potential donors and create systems for donor recognition and stewardship.
- Manage the Sure Heart Sangha—Spirit Rock’s $1k plus giving circle, including solicitation of donors by mail and in person alongside the annual giving calendar, collaborate with teacher champions to deliver first-class stewardship, participate in occasional stewardship and cultivation events.
- Uphold and ensure high standards donor database management for annual giving in collaboration with the Development Operations Manager. Assure accuracy of the database and that it’s used to full capacity and as a moves management tool.
- Manage special events as needed, which will occasionally include working after hours and on weekends.
- Attend development team meetings plus meetings with the Executive Director.
- Analyze database statistics and prepare specific financial projections for the annual fundraising budget and monthly reporting; track and analyze segment financial results and make changes if necessary to improve financial returns.
- Develop specific strategies for identifying and soliciting new prospects, and be self-motivated to steward and cultivate all donors.
- Stay abreast of and research best practices in annual fundraising through active learning online and printed sources.
- Adhere to the highest ethical standards, demonstrate empathetic disposition, and perseverance, reflect an optimistic and positive attitude, and convey sensitivity to needs of the donors.
- Manage the selection, hiring and oversight of other vendors as needed.
- Handle special projects/requests as they arise to include: special campaigns, requests to volunteer, providing logistics related to special gifts, and gifts-in-kind.
- Attain a sense of joy and fun throughout the annual fund cycle.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree in a related field required.
- 3-5 years’ development experience, annual giving experience preferred.
- Knowledge of annual giving development principles and practices.
- Experience tracking, reconciling, and analyzing results.
- Committed to a donor-centric and relationship-building approach to fundraising.
- Fundraising database proficiency required; Raiser’s Edge experience preferred.
- Exceptional interpersonal skills, very outgoing and friendly.
- Attention to detail and quality.
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
- Well-organized and detail-oriented with the ability to take responsibility for and follow through on projects assigned in an ever-changing and fast-paced environment.
- Big-picture oriented.
- Strong computer skills and experience, including MS Windows, MS Outlook, MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Raisers Edge (fundraising software/database).
- Ability to maintain a professional attitude in stressful times and safeguard confidential information.
- Commitment to the mission and values of Spirit Rock.