Donor Relations and Development Manager

The Les Turner ALS Foundation provides comprehensive care and support services to people living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and their families. Through research, support services, and advocacy, we strive to improve the quality of life for those living with ALS and ultimately find a cure for this devastating disease.

Position Description

The Donor Relations and Development Manager is responsible for managing a portfolio of individual donors and prospects, cultivating and soliciting gifts, and deepening relationships to grow philanthropic support. This role plays a crucial part in developing comprehensive donor engagement strategies, ensuring data-driven decision-making, and aligning donor stewardship with the Foundation’s overall fundraising goals. The successful candidate will be a confident frontline fundraiser with a proven track record in donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.

Reports to

Chief Development Officer

Key Responsibilities

Donor Cultivation and Stewardship

Conduct donor meetings, calls, and outreach with the goal of increasing annual and major gift support.

Participate in donor solicitation and closing of gifts, in collaboration with the CDO and CEO.

• Manage a portfolio of individual donors and prospects; develop and execute customized cultivation and solicitation plans to grow donor investment and retention.
• Oversee the Foundation’s donor acknowledgment and stewardship program, ensuring timely, personalized, and meaningful communication with donors at all levels.
• Collaborate with the Chief Development Officer to develop customized cultivation strategies for high-net-worth individuals and prospects.
• Work closely with the Events and Partnerships team to integrate donor engagement opportunities into fundraising events, ensuring meaningful donor recognition and involvement.
• Lead donor impact storytelling initiatives, gathering and sharing compelling donor and patient narratives that highlight the impact of philanthropic support.

Donor Communication & Engagement

Create mission-aligned, personalized communications that inspire and retain donors.

Ensure donors feel informed, appreciated, and connected to the impact of their giving through strategic messaging, storytelling, and coordinated outreach.

• Partner with the Marketing and Communications team to develop and execute a donor communications plan, including impact reports, thank-you letters, and campaign updates, ensuring messaging is compelling and mission-aligned. Collaborate on donor-focused newsletter content to highlight impact and strengthen donor relationships.
• Ensure consistency in branding, messaging, and storytelling across all donor-facing materials by working closely with the Marketing and Communications team.
• Develop personalized engagement plans for key donors, incorporating exclusive briefings, personalized updates, and unique stewardship experiences to deepen relationships.
• Work with program staff to identify donor-supported initiatives and craft compelling stories that showcase the direct impact of philanthropy.
• Leverage donor data and giving trends to refine stewardship strategies, enhance retention efforts, and identify new engagement opportunities.

Reporting, Analysis & Strategy Development

Use donor portfolio data to evaluate progress toward fundraising goals and identify opportunities to increase donor engagement and giving.

• Track and evaluate donor engagement metrics, fundraising performance, and campaign effectiveness using data insights and reports.
• Provide regular analysis and insights to the Chief Development Officer and leadership team to inform strategy and decision-making.
• Work with the Chief Development Officer to identify growth opportunities, such as pipeline development for major gifts, planned giving, and mid-level donor engagement.
• Develop and oversee annual stewardship impact reporting, demonstrating donor impact and increasing transparency.

Team Collaboration & Leadership

Actively contribute to fundraising planning sessions and campaign strategy development. Assist in onboarding or mentoring development staff with a focus on fundraising and donor pipeline best practices.

• Partner with the Chief Development Officer and Development team to ensure alignment across donor cultivation, events, and stewardship initiatives.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with program, finance, marketing, and events teams to create donor engagement opportunities that connect donors to mission impact.
• Lead internal discussions to enhance donor-centered culture across the organization.
• Act as a mentor and resource for junior development team members, guiding donor relations best practices.

Qualifications

Proven experience managing a donor portfolio and securing 4- or 5-figure gifts from individuals.Strong understanding of moves management, donor lifecycle strategy, and relationship-based fundraising.

• Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, business, communications, marketing, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in nonprofit fundraising, including frontline donor engagement, portfolio management, and direct solicitation of individual donors.
• Proficiency in donor management software (e.g., Virtuous, Charity Engine, OneCause) and CRM best practices.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to craft compelling donor messages.
• Experience analyzing donor data, fundraising metrics, and donor trends to inform engagement strategies.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple projects and priorities effectively.
• Collaborative mindset with a passion for building relationships and advancing the Foundation’s mission.
• Understanding of fundraising best practices, donor lifecycle management, and moves management.

Preferred Experience (a Plus, but Not Required)

• Experience supporting capital campaigns, including donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. (move this bullet to the top of the section)
• Involvement in anniversary or milestone fundraising campaigns, leveraging special occasions to drive donor engagement and giving.
• Experience in planned giving and legacy donor engagement strategies.
• Knowledge of grant writing, corporate partnerships, or sponsorship strategy.
• Familiarity with peer-to-peer fundraising strategies and donor pipeline development.

This role offers an exciting opportunity to build and strengthen donor relationships, shape the Foundation’s donor engagement strategies, and contribute to the long-term sustainability of our mission.

Benefits

• The salary for this position is $70,000/year
• Comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, retirement plan with organizational match, generous paid time off, ten paid holidays, summer hours, disability and life insurance.
• Opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the ALS community and contribute to finding a cure for ALS.

Our team works a hybrid schedule – generally 60% in the office, on days selected by the employee. Located in Skokie, IL, the office is easily accessible by car and CTA/Pace public transportation.

To Apply

Please submit a resume and cover letter outlining your qualifications and interest in the position to cpaesel@lesturnerals.org

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

The Les Turner ALS Foundation is an equal-opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We encourage individuals from underrepresented backgrounds to apply. We will not discriminate and will take affirmative action measures to ensure against discrimination in employment, recruitment, advertisements for employment, compensation, termination, upgrading, promotions, and other conditions of employment against any employee or job applicant on the basis of race, color, gender, religion (creed), national origin (ancestry), age, marital status, disability, military status, sexual orientation or gender expression.

The Donor Relations and Development Manager is a full-time, salaried, exempt position. The Foundation complies with the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act.