Donor Relations Manager

at  First Place for Youth

First Place For Youth-Join Our Team Video!
Are you dedicated to empowering and supporting youth, regardless of their background? We’re searching for passionate individuals to make a positive impact on the lives of foster youth. Become an integral part of their transformative journey and join the First Place for Youth team.
About First Place for Youth, We’re a leading non-profit organization dedicated to supporting foster youth in their transition to adulthood, with a focus on education, employment, and housing. We believe that all young people deserve the opportunity to thrive and lead successful, independent lives. Our comprehensive programs empower foster youth to overcome the unique challenges they face and build the skills, confidence, and connections they need to succeed.

Why Work at First Place For Youth:

• Meaningful Impact: Help to transform the lives of foster youth on the cusp of adulthood. Your role will support them in their journey to conquer challenges, achieve independence, and fulfill their aspirations.
• Innovative Approach: We thrive on innovation, pushing the boundaries of foster care support. Your voice here matters, and you’ll contribute to programs that redefine the futures of these young lives.
• Collaborative and Supportive Environment: Embrace a dynamic and supportive workplace, where every team member is valued. Together, we’re a force dedicated to uplifting youth. Expect professional growth, fueled by teamwork and collaboration.
• Comprehensive Benefits: We value the well-being of our employees and offer a comprehensive benefits package. From health and wellness benefits to retirement plans, we ensure that our team members are taken care of so they can focus on their important work supporting foster youth.
• Culture of Diversity and Inclusion: We celebrate diversity in every form. At First Place for Youth, inclusivity reigns, creating a workplace where all voices are heard, respected, and empowered.

POSITION SUMMARY: The LA Donor Relations Manager helps grow First Place for Youth’s fundraising in Southern California as the organization prepares for significant growth and expansion efforts in the region. The position will focus primarily on donations made by individuals by planning strategic moves management, co-managing annual campaign appeals and stewardship, and collaborating on donor communication and events but will also play a role in all fundraising activities, including working with institutional funders and corporate partners. This role will help key staff and members of the Board to identify and engage current and potential high-capacity donors, as well as maintain a portfolio of donors and prospects with whom they will engage directly in stewardship and cultivation activities. Reporting to the Chief Development Officer, this Manager collaborates with our Northern California Donor Relations Manager to develop strategies to engage and solicit individual donors to make generous gifts to the organization. The individual in this role will regularly interact with current and prospective donors out in the community, through meetings, events, and presentations.

Qualification and Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Minimum 5+ years of experience in fundraising.
• Minimum 2+ years of experience with best practices in prospect to research, donor cultivation techniques, and database/records management as well as a variety of fund-raising strategies and methods.
• Minimum 2+ years of experience Gathering and analyzing data and information to prepare reports and other materials.
• Collaborative, self-motivated individual with a strong customer service mindset and the flexibility and willingness to perform a variety of assignments.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision on a collaborative team.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and communications skills including strong writing and proofreading skills for donor mass communications, correspondences, and proposals.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to effectively communicate with a wide range of individuals and constituencies in a diverse community.
• Ability to meet deadlines and manage multiple priorities. Well organized and detail oriented.
• Raiser’s Edge, ResearchPoint and IWave familiarity and experience preferred.
• Have strong computer skills, including experience with Microsoft Office Suite, and the ability to learn new computer software programs.
• Availability for occasional evening and weekend work and some travel as needed.
• Commitment to cultural competency and diversity – Deep commitment to social justice and systems change that addresses barriers based on race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity

• Actively manage a portfolio of high-capacity mid-level donors to encourage renewed investment.
• Act as the regional point of contact for Southern California foundations, helping to coordinate and lead site visits and meetings.
• Work with Northern California Donor Relations Manager to evaluate and refine donor engagement and appeal strategy and execution including fall campaign, winter online campaigns, and spring and lapsed donor appeals.
• Manage the organization’s pipeline of Southern California donors, including identifying and cultivating prospects.
• Co-Manage online giving strategy: working with Communications Associate and Northern California Donor Relations Manager, develop and monitor online donor content and results: giving forms, seasonal web campaigns; impact and annual reports.
• Manage donor details of regional donor events, including house parties and friend-raisers (re: targets, strategy). Collaborate with communications staff to produce donor events and collateral.
• Assess impact of donor engagement activities, adjusting and refining as needed throughout the year.
• Manage strategy for workplace giving, automobile donations, and other electronic donor outreach among Southern California supporters.
• Strategize and support Development Director, Chief Development Officer, and Chief Executive Officer with Individual Donor Stewardship.
• Create giving goals for all Southern California individual donors, based on history of giving and knowledge of potential.
• Oversee LA donor moves management strategies for the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Development Officer, the Development Director and members of the Board of Directors/Los Angeles Regional Board members
• Create individual communication and marketing plans tailored for donors in each portfolio.
• Develop meeting briefing materials; gather stories; write proposals and reports as assigned.
• Calendar CDO, CEO, Development Director and Board members to execute plan on a timely basis to retain and upgrade donors.

Optimize Development Data Utilization

• Work with Northern California Donor Relations Manager to lead the team’s use of research tools including IWave, ResearchPoint and Target Analytics.
• Work closely with the Development Officer to optimize data system usage for campaign reporting, donor research, prospecting, and wealth screenings to identify and qualify new donors, and ensure donor database accuracy, consistency, and timelines.
• Working closely with the Northern California Donor Relations Manager and the Development Associate, manage the look, presentation, and content of campaign dashboards, and milestone briefings for accuracy and awareness of progress to goal.
• Collaborate with Northern California Donor Relations Manager to oversee and train development team on best practices for donor research and database utilization to grow utilization, customize touchpoints, and encourage greater giving
• Professionally and effectively represent the agency to external audiences, including donors and other stakeholders.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualification and Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Minimum 5+ years of experience in fundraising.
• Minimum 2+ years of experience with best practices in prospect to research, donor cultivation techniques, and database/records management as well as a variety of fund-raising strategies and methods.
• Minimum 2+ years of experience Gathering and analyzing data and information to prepare reports and other materials.
• Collaborative, self-motivated individual with a strong customer service mindset and the flexibility and willingness to perform a variety of assignments.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision on a collaborative team.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and communications skills including strong writing and proofreading skills for donor mass communications, correspondences, and proposals.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to effectively communicate with a wide range of individuals and constituencies in a diverse community.
• Ability to meet deadlines and manage multiple priorities. Well organized and detail oriented.
• Raiser’s Edge, ResearchPoint and IWave familiarity and experience preferred.
• Have strong computer skills, including experience with Microsoft Office Suite, and the ability to learn new computer software programs.
• Availability for occasional evening and weekend work and some travel as needed.
• Commitment to cultural competency and diversity – Deep commitment to social justice and systems change that addresses barriers based on race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity.

Benefits:

• 15 days of vacation time in the first year
• 12 days of sick time
• 2 floating holidays
• 15 paid holidays
• Employee’s choice of Kaiser or UCH HMO/PPO with up to 90% of the premium covered by First Place on certain plans
• Principal dental and vision coverage with up to 90% of the premium covered by First Place
• Paid baby bonding leave
• Healthcare and Dependent care FSA plans
• Principal basic life and voluntary life insurance coverage
• Employee Assistance Program
• 401(k) retirement savings plan with matching contributions
• Annual reimbursement for continuing education
• Paid sabbatical
• Paid maternity and paternity leave
• We do not offer relocation assistance Local candidates preferred
• Pay will be determined based on Education and Experience.

If you are passionate about making a difference in the lives of transition age foster youth and want to join a dynamic and impactful organization, we invite you to apply. Together, let’s empower transition age foster youth to achieve their dreams and build a brighter future. To learn more about First Place For Youth and view our current job openings, please visit our website at www.firstplaceforyouth.org/careers.
We are unable to sponsor work visas now or in the future.
First Place will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and applicable law. You do not need to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you. Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting the California Civil Rights Department Fair Chance Act webpage or reviewing this guidance provide by the City of San Francisco. For additional information regarding your rights, please also review the Summary of Your Rights Under the FCRA.