Donor Engagement Officer

Organization Overview 

For over 52 years, the Greater Washington Community Foundation has ignited the power of philanthropy to respond to critical community needs and build a thriving region where every person prospers. The Community Foundation is a trusted advisor and navigator helping thousands of individuals, families, businesses, and government partners to identify nonprofits and support the greater good in the communities we call home. As the region’s largest local funder, we have invested more than $1.7 billion to build equitable, just, and thriving communities across DC, Montgomery County, Northern Virginia, and Prince George’s County. To learn more, visit www.thecommunityfoundation.org. 

Position Summary

The Donor Engagement Officer provides exceptional customer service to prospective, new, and existing Community Foundation donors in Montgomery County, Maryland and the surrounding region. This position also serves as the donors’ liaison to the Finance, Communications, Community Leadership teams as well as the other arms of the Development & Philanthropic Engagement department.

Through coordination of donor and partner programs such as Sharing Montgomery, this role will build relationships and expand the work of The Community Foundation. As we near the conclusion of a three-year $75 million campaign designed to establish new programs and to grow The Community Foundation’s reach, this role will have the opportunity to evolve into further engagement of new partners and prospects, growing an ever-expanding portfolio. In taking on greater responsibilities, the candidate will have the full support of a retooled Development office, offering infrastructure, reports, analytics, and collateral materials for proposals and grant submissions to our partners.

This position works closely with the Executive Director for Montgomery County, key volunteers and Board members, and other development staff to develop strategies to network, share The Community Foundation’s mission and programs, and to offer client service and stewardship to fund holders. The ideal candidate will be able to provide friendly customer service, demonstrate high attention to detail, show quick but thorough follow-through, and will be able to manage multiple priorities with competing deadlines.

Responsibilities

This position requires skill and aptitude for engaging internal and external stakeholders to advance The Community Foundation’s mission. The principal responsibilities include the following:

Donor Services & Engagement:

• Provide excellent customer service and follow-up support on account management for Montgomery County donors to both facilitate their replenishment giving into their funds as well as grants out to nonprofits. Daily tasks include technical assistance on Donor Central and drafting materials to provide giving guidance (at the instruction of the Executive Director).
• Assist donors with grants processing, reaching out when necessary to clarify information about grant recommendations, alerting the Grants department of special instructions, etc.
• Serve as the liaison and support staff for Montgomery County funds that require additional philanthropic advisory services and support on fundraising.
• Support and manage the planning and design around events led by the Montgomery County office and oversee logistics (at least 4-6 annually) for donors/prospects to learn more about community needs and best practices that can deepen the impact of their philanthropy.
• Manage an active stewardship program (letters, emails, calls) to acknowledge the donors who support our local community leadership initiatives and report out on the impact.
• Coordinate efforts for high-priority funds that require specialized/additional support.

Administration:

• Track and coordinate with the finance team around replenishment gifts so that they are booked and acknowledged quickly and properly.
• Serve as the liaison with the finance team to ensure speedy and accurate setup of all new funds and receipt of establishing gifts.
• Support the MC Executive Director on engagement of each CFMC Board member around development of our outreach list of advisors and prospects.
• Support cultivation, solicitation and stewardship activities around the Together, We Prosper campaign and existing leadership initiatives.

Development:

• Manages and develops a portfolio of major donor prospects.
• Develops prospect and donor cultivation strategies, tracks all cultivation/solicitation activity and carries a portfolio of prospects and donors that includes campaign, annual giving and planned giving performance goals. Regularly engages with Board members, leadership, and key volunteers.
• Collaborates with Development team members to understand goals and strategies.
• Supports proposal development for corporations, foundations, and individuals.
• Conducts prospect identification and research to understand donor networks in the region.
• Develop and execute events, marketing, and digital communications in coordination with the Executive Director and Communications department.

CFMC Advisory Board:

• Coordinate the meeting planning and preparation for the quarterly meetings of the CFMC Advisory Board plus sub-committees.
• Support the MC Executive Director and Donor Services Officer on follow-up activities to leverage the knowledge, connections, and outreach of the CFMC Advisory Board around our development, donor engagement, and community leadership work.

Community Leadership:

• Facilitate the grantmaking processes for the Montgomery County focused leadership funds: Sharing Montgomery and Neighbors in Need Montgomery. i.e., draft the annual Letter of Inquiry and Proposal guidelines, oversee the collection of LOIs and proposals and creation of dockets to be shared with the grants committee, facilitate in-person and virtual site visits per year, complete necessary internal paperwork required for approval of grants, and manage communications to approved/declined applicants.
• Assist the MC Executive Director as needed around reporting, visibility, and special events related to the giving initiatives in Montgomery County.
• Manage communications with nonprofit grantees in order to prepare Bethesda Magazine’s annual Guide to Giving.

Events and Marketing:

• Assist in the selection of the annual Montgomery County Philanthropist of the Year honoree.
• Support the planning, marketing, fundraising and logistics of the annual ‘Celebration’ event.

Administrative and Office Management Duties:

• Process check requests and other mail related to the MC office.
• Maintain appropriate FIMS/Raiser’s Edge records and email distribution lists.

Requirements:

• 3-4 years of relationship management, fundraising, stewardship and cultivation, and/or service-related experience with a particular focus on providing services to individual donors.
• Proven experience in fundraising, including face-to-face solicitations, and strategic relationship management.
• Technology fluency with Raiser’s Edge, database development/maintenance, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint software; and electronic communications.
• Expertise with prospect management and development strategies.
• Experience working with a foundation or community foundation preferred.
• Exceptional planning, project management, and organizational skills.
• Outstanding communication skills (written and verbal), interpersonal skills, the ability to work well with a wide range of colleagues, and the ability to interact respectfully with people of diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and cultures.
• Working knowledge of concepts and demonstrated commitment to advancing racial equity and inclusion.
• Sound judgment: ability to manage time effectively; flexibility; self-discipline and initiative; ability to work with minimal supervision.
• Strong interest in philanthropy or nonprofit sector/community work as evidenced through education and/or previous jobs, or volunteer experience.

Salary and Benefits 

The Community Foundation values transparency and equity. The salary range for this position is $70,100 to $77,800.00, commensurate with qualifications and experience.

We offer benefits and programs that inspire a culture of engagement and productivity, such as a hybrid work schedule and Summer Friday schedule; employee events, a professional development stipend, thirteen paid holidays and Paid Time Off (PTO). The benefits package includes company-paid health, vision, and dental insurance for employees; flexible spending accounts; retirement plan with employer contribution; Universal Life and Long-Term Care Insurance, and more.