Associate Director of Donor Relations

Position Summary

Western Resource Advocates (WRA) is hiring an Associate Director of Donor Relations to join our Development Team. Under the direction of the Development Director, this role will be responsible for the revenue strategy for major, midlevel, and annual fund donors and prospects. The Associate Director of Donor Relations will lead the setting and meeting of goals and metrics related to this constituency.

As a member of the Development Management Team, the Associate Director of Donor Relations will collaborate to implement initiatives, coordinate activities, and create alignment throughout the team, in addition to supporting the Development Director in achieving the revenue goals of the organization. The Associate Director of Donor Relations will supervise the Annual Fund Manager and will be an active fundraiser who manages a portfolio of 75-100 major gift donors and prospects.

About Western Resource Advocates

WRA fights climate change and its impacts to sustain the environment, economy, and people of the West. We respect the different needs of diverse people and partner with them to develop a shared vision for progress—one that advances communities while protecting biodiversity.

Our team of policy experts, scientists, economists, and attorneys has a 30-year history of working where decisions are made, sweating the details, creating evidence-based solutions, and holding decision makers accountable. This on the ground work with policymakers and other advocates advances clean energy, protects air, land, water, and wildlife—and sustains the lives and livelihoods of the West.

Location

The position can work remotely from the Denver-Boulder metropolitan area, be based in either WRA’s Denver or Boulder office; or a hybrid of the two. Access to a major airport is required, as travel (30% or more depending on location) is required.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

MANAGEMENT TEAM

• Integrate and leverage strategies, planning, and activities across the development team, revenue streams, and fundraising constituencies.
• Build and use knowledge and expertise of revenue from individual donors and major gifts to help set and meet overall fundraising goals and metrics.
• Support the Development Director in developing OKRs and an integrated annual fundraising plan to achieve them.
• Help monitor and analyze revenue performance and trends.
• Help build and maintain a strong development team, fostering cohesion and collaboration.
• Implement activities and initiatives consistently across the department.
• Help problem solve issues that get in the way of accomplishing goals and objectives.
• Scope, plan, and implement projects as needed.

MAJOR GIFTS

• Lead major gift initiatives.
• Monitor and analyze revenue, performance, and trends and prepare regular reports and forecasts for internal and external stakeholders.
• Manage and expand philanthropic major gift revenue from individuals.
• Understand, build, monitor, report, and project major gift revenue.
• Recommend and monitor individual and team performance related to major gifts.
• Ensure major gift revenue data is consistent and up to date.
• Develop goals and metrics for and with the major gifts team.

PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT & FUNDRAISING

• Manage and solicit a growing portfolio of largely individual donors and prospects to achieve increasing revenue goals.
• Grow the major gifts pipeline and portfolio by researching and qualifying prospects for personal engagement and growing relationships with donors and prospects.
• Personally solicit donors and prospects for financial support.
• Proactively support the Principal Gifts Team, made up of the President, Vice President, and Development Director with their portfolios, prospecting, cultivation, and stewardship.
• Communicate with donors on a regular basis through a variety of activities: calls, video conferencing, email, texts, events, webinars, letters, publications, etc.
• Work in partnership with WRA staff (Marketing and Communications, Program Staff, etc.) to create opportunities for funding, cultivation, and stewardship.

ANNUAL GIVING

• Oversee the donor experience and moves management from Annual Fund Donor to Principal Gifts.
• Guide the Annual Fund Manager and Annual Giving Team (i.e., collaborative Marketing and Communications and Development group) in their acquisition and retention of donors who give $1-$5,000 annually
• Support and continue to develop a robust Midlevel Giving Program, Recurring Giving Society, Sponsorship Program, Workplace Giving, and Peer to Peer Giving campaigns executed by the Annual Fund Manager.
• Collaborate with the Senior Development Writer and Associate Director of Marketing to ensure donor centric language is utilized in any corporate and individual giving opportunities.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide direction, guidance, professional development, and support to ensure staff are highly functioning and impactful.
• Recruit, interview, hire, onboard, and train new staff.
• Oversee the daily workflow of Major gifts and Annual Fund. Manage staffing of key functions, including through vacations, sabbaticals, and parental leave, as needed.
• Provide constructive feedback and timely performance evaluations.
• Handle discipline and termination of employees in accordance with organizational policy.

Qualifications & Competencies

• 10 years or more of experience cultivating, managing, and soliciting a portfolio of donors and prospects, and/or equivalent relevant experience.
• Experience directly managing staff.
• Proven ability to execute fundraising practices and research, and donor-centric outreach experience.
• Ability to distinguish, identify, and prioritize strategic donor opportunities.
• Experience coaching, advising, and collaborating with non-development staff to steward networks.
• Strong foundation and understanding of development methods, mechanisms, and donor stewardship.
• Experience in developing a pipeline of individual prospects.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Expertise in donor management software, Raiser’s Edge preferred.
• Attention to detail and highly organized.
• Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and goals.
• Strong written and oral communication abilities.
• Comfort and skill in communicating with a variety of donors, constituencies, and audiences.
• Ability to build relationships and collaborate effectively with a variety of stakeholders.
• Ability to break down complex subject matter into understandable and compelling language.

Travel Requirements

Travel to meetings, conferences, donor events, and other work-related events is required within WRA’s region. This is in addition to travel required for retreats, and other internal organizational meetings. Typically, there is at least one all-staff retreat and one Development retreat in our region each year at which attendance is required. Access to a major airport is required. This is approximately 30% of the time depending on the location of work.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

The work environment and physical demands described here are representative of those required by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job with or without reasonable accommodation including:

• A typical office environment with minimal exposure to excessive noise or adverse environmental issues.
• Prolonged periods of time at a desk and working on a computer.
• Position requires some travel by automobile, airplane, etc.

Salary And Benefits

• The salary range for the Associate Director of Donor Relations is $97,750$

115,000 annually; salary depends on relevant experience and new staff rarely start at the top of the range. WRA’s excellent benefits package includes a 401(k)-retirement plan with up to 5% matching and health, dental, vision, and life & disability insurance with 100% of premiums paid by WRA. Annually, staff receive seventeen days paid vacation, twelve paid sick days, one paid volunteer day, twelve paid holidays, and WRA is closed for Winter Break between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day for additional paid time off. Employees are eligible for up to twelve weeks of parental leave, and after five years, staff are eligible for up to twelve weeks of paid sabbatical leave. Position is full-time exempt.

Deadline To Apply: Open Until Filled with priority review beginning on August 28, 2025.

Diversity and inclusion are a critical component of our business strategy, mission, and vision. We welcome candidates from an array of backgrounds and experiences to join our team. Western Resource Advocates is an equal opportunity employer (EOE) and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, marital status, amnesty, or veteran status.

Apply To Be WRA’s Associate Director of Donor Relations!

Thank you for your interest in the Associate Director of Donor Relations position with Western Resource Advocates. You will need to upload the following in PDF format:

• Cover letter describing your relevant qualifications and the reason for your interest in WRA and this position. Addressed to: Kimberly Bell, Human Resources Manager
• Resume

Please direct any questions about this position or application process to hiring@westernresources.org.

westernresourceadvocates.org