Senior Manager or Director of Donor Relations

Senior Manager or Director of Donor Relations

Way to Win | Fully Remote

Reports to: Executive Vice President / Chief Operating Officer

Compensation:

• Senior Manager: 115,000 - 130,000

• Director II: 140,000 - 160,000

We are recruiting for one position that may be filled at the Senior Manager or Director level based on the selected candidate's experience, demonstrated capabilities, and alignment with the responsibilities of the role.

About Way to Win

Way to Win brings together donors, strategists, organizers, and movement leaders to build and resource strategies that advance durable multiracial political power.

We believe that moving resources strategically is essential to building long-term political power. Through our family of organizations, we connect philanthropic and political investments with strategies, organizations, and leaders working to advance racial, gender, economic, and social justice.

Our work requires people who can think strategically, build trusted relationships, execute with discipline, and translate complex political strategies into compelling opportunities for engagement and investment.

The Opportunity

Way to Win is seeking a dynamic, relationship-centered, and results-driven Senior Manager or Director of Donor Relations to help grow, steward, and deepen relationships with the donors and members who resource our work.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced fundraising or donor engagement professional who combines strong relationship-building skills with the ability to turn relationships into meaningful financial commitments and sustained engagement.

The successful candidate will manage a portfolio of individual donors and prospective members, developing personalized strategies for cultivation, solicitation, recruitment, renewals, upgrades, and stewardship.

We are looking for someone who is equally comfortable leading a thoughtful donor conversation, making a significant financial ask, preparing an executive briefing, communicating political strategy, and ensuring that every commitment is supported by strong systems and consistent follow-through.

We are open to candidates at two levels:

Senior Manager: An experienced professional who can independently manage a significant donor portfolio, execute established fundraising and engagement strategies, cultivate relationships, secure contributions, and consistently deliver measurable results.

Director: A seasoned fundraising leader who can develop and lead donor strategies, identify opportunities for significant investment, manage complex donor relationships, drive portfolio growth, and contribute strategic direction to organizational fundraising priorities.

Both levels require initiative, excellent judgment, accountability, collaboration, and a demonstrated ability to move work forward without continuous supervisory direction.

What You'll Do

Build and Grow Donor Relationships

• Manage an assigned portfolio of individual donors, members, and prospective supporters.

• Develop trusted relationships through personalized communication, political education, strategic engagement, and thoughtful stewardship.

• Identify, research, qualify, and cultivate prospective donors through outreach, referrals, and relationship-building opportunities.

• Connect donors' interests and priorities with Way to Win's political and philanthropic strategies.

• Develop and implement individualized cultivation, solicitation, renewal, and upgrade plans.

• Build relationships that support sustained investments and long-term engagement.

Drive Fundraising and Membership Growth

• Advance donor commitments through direct solicitations, personalized investment opportunities, and strategic follow-up.

• Identify opportunities to increase donor investments, secure multi-year commitments, and expand the organization's network of supporters.

• Execute recruitment and renewal strategies aligned with organizational fundraising priorities.

• Establish and monitor portfolio goals, fundraising pipelines, and engagement activities.

• Identify risks to donor retention and develop recommendations to strengthen relationships and fundraising results.

• Partner with organizational leaders to prepare for and conduct significant donor conversations and solicitations.

Connect Donors to Political Strategy and Impact

• Develop a strong working knowledge of Way to Win's theory of change, political strategies, philanthropic investments, and organizational priorities.

• Translate complex political and philanthropic information into clear, compelling, and actionable investment opportunities.

• Help members understand how their contributions support broader strategies to build durable political power.

• Partner with Political, Program, and Executive Team colleagues to develop personalized giving recommendations and donor-facing materials.

• Identify opportunities for donors to deepen their participation through briefings, convenings, political education, and strategic engagement.

Deliver Excellent Donor Experiences

• Develop thoughtful engagement plans that reflect each donor's interests, giving history, and relationship with Way to Win.

• Prepare donor meeting briefs, agendas, talking points, solicitation materials, and follow-up plans.

• Coordinate closely with executives and colleagues to ensure donor meetings are productive and strategically aligned.

• Support member engagement through regional and national events, house parties, briefings, and other relationship-building opportunities.

• Ensure timely and personalized stewardship, acknowledgment, and follow-through on commitments.

• Help create a consistent, responsive, and high-quality experience for donors and members.

Own Portfolio Execution and Fundraising Systems

• Maintain accurate and timely donor records in Salesforce, including communications, giving history, pipeline status, commitments, and next steps.

• Use portfolio dashboards and fundraising data to identify opportunities, monitor progress, and inform decision-making.

• Develop and manage work plans, timelines, and deliverables to ensure fundraising priorities move forward.

• Coordinate across Donor Relations, Membership, Grants and Fundraising, Political, Communications, and Operations teams.

• Identify gaps in processes, anticipate challenges, and recommend improvements to strengthen execution.

• Take ownership of assigned responsibilities from strategy and planning through implementation and results.

What We're Looking For

We are looking for a collaborative, ambitious, and highly capable professional who understands that excellent donor relations requires both strong relationships and measurable results.

You may be a great fit if you:

• Are a natural connector and relationship builder who can engage donors with authenticity, confidence, and purpose.

• Have demonstrated success cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding individual donors.

• Are comfortable making significant financial asks and advancing conversations toward commitments.

• Understand how to manage a donor portfolio, maintain a strong pipeline, and drive fundraising outcomes.

• Can communicate complex political or philanthropic strategies clearly and persuasively.

• Bring strong project management skills, attention to detail, and exceptional follow-through.

• Can work independently, exercise sound judgment, and proactively identify opportunities and solutions.

• Are comfortable collaborating with senior executives, donors, political leaders, and colleagues across multiple teams.

• Understand that Salesforce and other relationship management systems should inform strategy, not simply document activity.

• Share our commitment to advancing racial, gender, economic, and social justice and building durable multiracial political power.

Experience and Qualifications

We welcome candidates with backgrounds in fundraising, philanthropy, donor advising, political organizing, development, advancement, donor networks, or related fields.

Senior Manager candidates should bring:

• Approximately 5–7+ years of relevant professional experience.

• At least three years of hands-on donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship experience.

• Demonstrated success independently managing donor relationships, fundraising pipelines, and portfolio deliverables.

• Experience securing meaningful financial commitments, preferably including major gifts.

• Strong organizational, communication, and relationship management skills.

Director candidates should bring:

• Approximately 8–10+ years of relevant experience in relational fundraising, development, advancement, or donor advising.

• At least three years of frontline major gifts fundraising experience, including significant five- to seven-figure giving opportunities.

• A demonstrated record of developing and leading donor strategies that grow fundraising revenue and deepen relationships.

• Experience managing complex donor portfolios, securing significant investments, and advancing multi-year commitments.

• Strong strategic judgment and the ability to translate organizational priorities into fundraising plans and measurable results.

Especially valuable experience includes:

• Political fundraising, progressive philanthropy, donor networks, or social justice movements.

• Community organizing and relationship-based resource mobilization.

• Working with high-net-worth individuals and major donors.

• Salesforce or comparable CRM systems.

• Familiarity with political and philanthropic giving structures, including 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), and PAC organizations.

What Success Looks Like

Success in this role means donors experience Way to Win as a thoughtful, strategic, responsive, and trusted partner.

Donor relationships are deepening. New supporters are being cultivated. Members are renewing and increasing their investments. Fundraising opportunities are advancing through a well-managed pipeline. Meetings result in meaningful next steps, and commitments are consistently fulfilled.

The successful candidate brings both relational intelligence and operational discipline, ensuring that donor engagement translates into sustained financial support and meaningful political impact.

At the Director level, success also includes shaping and leading portfolio strategies, identifying significant fundraising opportunities, and contributing strategic leadership to the organization's broader fundraising goals.

Compensation and Benefits

The position may be filled at either the Senior Manager or Director level, depending on experience and qualifications.

• Senior Manager: 115,000 - 130,000

• Director II: 140,000 - 160,000

Way to Win offers a fully remote work environment and a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Health Coverage: 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision premiums for eligible employees and covered dependents.

• Retirement: 401(k) with a 6% employer contribution, subject to plan terms.

• Paid Time Off: Flexible paid time off and approximately 30 days of organizational holiday and seasonal office closures.

• Health Reimbursement Arrangement: $2,000 annually, subject to eligibility.

• Paid Family Leave: Up to 12 weeks for qualifying employees.

• Insurance: Employer-paid life, disability, and accidental death and dismemberment coverage.

• Professional Development: Annual stipend for professional learning and growth.

• Work-from-Home Support: $150 monthly mobile phone stipend.

• Additional Benefits: Flexible spending accounts and confidential Employee Assistance Program resources.

All benefits are subject to applicable organizational policies, eligibility requirements, and plan terms.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Way to Win is committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. We welcome candidates whose professional and lived experiences strengthen our ability to advance racial, gender, economic, and social justice.

Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, citizenship status, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.

Join Our Team

If you are passionate about building relationships, mobilizing resources, and connecting donors to strategies that advance lasting political change, we encourage you to apply.

We are interested in candidates who bring both the heart for relationship-building and the discipline to deliver results. Whether your experience aligns more closely with a Senior Manager or Director position, we welcome the opportunity to learn about your background and the contributions you could make to Way to Win.