DIRECTOR, DONOR EXPERIENCE

DIRECTOR of DONOR EXPERIENCE

Boston, MA

Who We Are and What We Believe:

Founded in 1997, Bottom Line is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization with a mission to partner with degree-aspiring students of color from under-resourced communities as they get into college, graduate, and go far in life. We achieve this mission by providing one-on-one guidance during the college application process through college graduation and the successful launch of their careers.

Our vision is to dramatically transform urban communities by producing thousands of new career-ready college graduates.

When you join Bottom Line, you will find a rewarding, fast-paced, results-oriented environment. We build strong relationships with our students and with each other. We take our work seriously, and we know that a focus on data and metrics is integral to our continued success. Experts in our fields, we are driven by our mission and extremely proud of the work we do.

What You Will Do:

The Director of Donor Experience supports Bottom Line’s successful engagement of all donors and prospects in the Boston area. The primary responsibility of this role is to implement a robust calendar of events, activities, and communications that attract, cultivate, and steward a diversified donor base. This includes leading a signature $1M fundraising event that generates a significant portion of the regional budget (25%).

Overview of the Role

A successful Director of Donor Experience is a detail-oriented project manager who thrives in a collaborative environment and can translate strategic goals into high-impact donor engagement. This role balances the demands of a large-scale annual fundraising event with the need to engage in a variety of donor segments throughout the year through thoughtfully designed events, communications, and experiences.

The Director works closely with the Boston development team in Boston to understand the needs of key donor groups – including corporate partners, foundations, and individuals – and creates opportunities that deepen their connection to Bottom Line’s mission. They also collaborate with program staff to ensure that all donor-facing experiences authentically reflect the voices and achievements of Bottom Line students and alumni.

With a successful Director of Donor Experience in place, frontline fundraisers can focus on building deep, personalized relationships with donors, while this role leads broader engagement efforts that reach and inspire groups of supporters. The Director also manages the donor communications calendar and strategy to ensure timely, relevant outreach across multiple channels, and oversees donor recognition efforts that celebrate generosity and reinforce a long-term commitment to Bottom Line’s mission.

Primary Responsibilities:

Strategic Donor Engagement Vision & Planning (10%)

• Collaborate with the Managing Director of Development, to shape the vision for donor experiences and communications that align with the region’s overall goals and development strategy.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive donor engagement strategy and plan, including an event slate tailored to various donor segments, a multi-channel communications calendar, and key messaging.
• Collaborate with the national Development Operations team and development colleagues in other regions to share best practices and learnings that support stronger and more successful annual galas and donor engagement efforts across the organization.
• Understand and apply Bottom Line’s branding guidelines across all events and communications, collaborating with the national External Affairs team on materials and messaging when appropriate.

Leadership of Signature Fundraising Events & Revenue Generation ($1M+ Goal) (40%)

• Lead the planning and execution of Bottom Line Massachusetts’ annual signature fundraising dinner, managing all aspects from concept to post-event follow-up.
• Partner with the Event Chair, Host Committee, and Regional Advisory Board to achieve the $1M+ goal through sponsorships and on-site giving (e.g., auctions, pledge drives).
• Execute a detailed event plan including goals, committee structure, staff roles, logistics and timelines.
• Provide tools and support to frontline fundraisers to help secure sponsorships and maximize donor participation.
• Oversee internal coordination and guest engagement strategies while collaborating closely with the national Development Operations team to ensure effective progress to goal tracking, data management, gift processing, and other operational supports that enable successful event execution and accurate revenue reporting.
• Manage vendor relationships (e.g., planners, caterers, AV), ensuring an inclusive selection process that aligns with Bottom Line’s DEI strategy.

Execution of Donor Cultivation Events & Experiences (20%)

• Design and execute a series of high-impact cultivation events and experiences, including volunteer opportunities and Career Connections, to deepen donor engagement and understanding of Bottom Line's mission.
• Oversee all logistics, communications, and reporting for these activities.

Support for Donor-Led and Third-Party Initiatives (10%)

• Collaborate on and when needed, serve as the lead for donor-led and third-party events, such as the Corporate Partner Breakfast and community-based fundraising initiatives like the Boston Marathon.
• Manage logistics, communications, and reporting for these initiatives.

Regional Donor Communications Strategy & Execution (20%)

• Develop and execute a segmented donor communications strategy aligned with regional development goals and vision for the overall donor experience.
• Partner with the External Affairs team to create compelling brand assets such as pitch decks, one-pagers, to support frontline fundraisers.
• Manage and segment mailing lists for targeted outreach.
• Serve as the first point of contact for new donors and inquiries before they are assigned to a portfolio manager, ensuring a warm and professional introduction to Bottom Line.

Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without advanced notice.

Work Schedule:

Monday - Friday 9 - 5 or 10 - 6 (local time), and flexibility may be requested; Additional hours as needed

Expected Travel:

Approximately 3 times a year for team meetings

Who Should Apply:

If you meet the qualifications below, you should apply.

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree and work authorization
• 3-5 years’ experience working in event planning, fundraising events, and relationship management
• Proven success in planning events with 300+ attendees
• Demonstrated commitment to Bottom Line’s Mission, Vision, and Core Values

Preferred:

• Experience using Salesforce preferred and event platforms such as Classy or GiveSmart
• Familiarity with the regional educational and nonprofit landscape a plus