Donor Relations Specialist

​To apply, CLICK HERE to submit resume and cover letter (all items are required).

​Job Title: Donor Relations Specialist
Department: Development
Reports To: Chief Financial Officer
Salary: $42,000 - $47,000 based on experience

General Summary:
JOURNEYS | The Road Home is seeking a dedicated, innovative, and detail-oriented professional to join our team as a Donor Relations Specialist. This critical role will be instrumental in advancing our mission by fostering meaningful relationships with mid-level loyal donors, enhancing community awareness, and supporting strategies to grow our donor base and revenue.

Overview:
Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, the Donor Relations Specialist will design and implement strategic initiatives that enhance donor engagement, increase philanthropic contributions, and strengthen the connection between donors and JOURNEYS’ mission. This position involves personalized donor stewardship, relationship cultivation, and executing innovative fundraising and friend-raising campaigns to further our organization’s impact.
 
The successful candidate will be an organized and professional communicator, passionate about supporting those impacted by poverty and homelessness. They will have experience building and maintaining donor relationships, a strong commitment to philanthropy, and the energy and vision necessary to inspire and engage supporters at all levels.
 
Ideal Requirements for Donor Relations Specialist:

1. Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, English, Communications, or related field
2. Superior engagement, interpersonal, and public speaking skills
3. Excellent written and verbal communication, problem solving and organizational skills
4. Familiar with the communities within JOURNEYS service area
5. Ability to work in stressful situations with a positive attitude while meeting deadlines and budget goals is a must
6. Technological competency and willingness to learn new platforms
7. Availability to occasionally work extended or irregular hours, nights, weekends or holidays
8. Subscription to and integration of the agency’s core values of Respect, Teamwork, Mission-Driven, and Commitment

 
Core Competencies:

1. Demonstrate effective communication skills
2. Adapt to changing work priorities
3. Maintain composure under stressful situations
4. Maintain confidentiality
5. Apply common sense understanding to carry out duties
6. Take initiative in problem solving

  
Essential Functions:
RELATIONSHIP BUILDING | 80%

1. Secure and track all mid-level individual giving for the organization by creating and successfully executing annual fund strategies and appeals.
2. Collaborate with clerical associate to update and maintain donor database
3. Collaborate with both CFO and Communications Manager to create and disseminate communication tools including impact reports, solicitation letters, e-blasts, invites, and newsletters to keep internal and external stakeholders engaged in mission and programming.
4. Maintain annual stewardship calendar and process for all assigned donors
5. Attend funding meetings and schedule donor visits as appropriate
6. Respond to all donors’ inquiries through written correspondence, telephone contact, personal contact, and email
7. Interface with other professionals through membership in selected professional organizations as well as at workshops and networking meetings

 
ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS | 20%

1. Process and maintain updated donor records and interactions in donor database
2. Create and maintain giving plan templates and automations in donor database
3. Maintain accounts for corporate giving and affiliate giving programs and coordinate documentation in donor database

 
Benefits:

1. Health insurance
2. Dental insurance
3. Paid time off
4. 401k

 
No Calls Please.
 
JOURNEYS is a safe, inclusive workplace and encourages all who may be interested in the position to apply. We strongly encourage those with the following identities to apply: Black and indigenous people, Latinx people, other people of color, LGBTQIA+, women and non-binary people, people with disabilities, and others with lived experience of homelessness and/or as being part of marginalized communities. While we have a list of preferred qualifications, if you have other experience that you think is related, please apply and tell us about it.
 
Note: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the individual(s) assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required. In addition, reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.
 
This work is primarily sedentary and requires travel throughout the service area as well as within the greater Chicago area. The work schedule varies depending on the needs and services of the organization. Evening and weekend work is necessary in order to attend meetings or to participate in events. This position will require exerting up to 40 pounds of force occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.