Director of Donor Engagement

Director of Donor Engagement

Location: Fully Remote with strong preference for candidates in: Georgia, California, Colorado, Texas, Florida, Ohio, Kentucky, Missouri, Wisconsin, Virginia)

Position Type: Full-time

Department: Donor Development

Reports to: SVP, Development

About Living on the Edge

Living on the Edge exists to help Christians live like Christians. Established in 1995 as a radio ministry of pastor and author Chip Ingram, it has grown into an international discipleship ministry. We create Biblical teaching and tools that challenge and equip spiritually hungry Christians around the world to become mature disciples of Jesus, transforming families, churches, and communities for the glory of God.

Position Overview

The primary mission of this position is to communicate Christian ethos of Living on the Edge (to help Christians live like Christians) and demonstrate a quality of spiritual life that is an example to others.

This position provides strategic leadership for the major-donor function, manages a portfolio of high-capacity and high-potential donors, and works collaboratively across the development and ministry teams to cultivate, solicit, steward, and grow philanthropic partnerships.

Core Values

All employees are expected to embrace and exemplify Living on the Edge’s core Christian values.

• Live it out: Spiritually mature individual involved in a Christian church and committed to becoming a mature, authentic disciple of Jesus Christ (see Romans, chapter 12).
• Own Your Stuff: High desire for excellence in serving others and capability in leading the business functions of the ministry; additionally, humble and willing to admit mistakes and “own” errors of judgment or decisions regardless of consequences. We are a no-excuse/no finger pointing organization.
• Think Team: Team oriented, not a solo worker. Must have an interest and ability to integrate into a team atmosphere.
• Everybody Matters & Everything Belongs to God: We serve other people not ourselves; we are stewards of what God has given us. Must have an “It’s not about me,” attitude.

Biblical Philosophy of Fundraising

We believe that God provides for His ministry, eliminating the need for high-pressure fundraising or coercion. We view giving through a relational, spiritual lens:

• Minister First: Focus on friendship without an agenda; discover needs and offer prayer and Biblical resources.
• Learn & Connect: Ask meaningful questions to discover donor passions and interests.
• Share Vision: Clearly articulate the impact of God’s work through Living on the Edge.
• Present Opportunities: Invite partners to financially support specific projects aligned with their passions.
• Express Gratitude & Reinvest: Deliver genuine, God-centered thanks and continuously invest in their personal spiritual growth with no strings attached.

Key Responsibilities & Duties

Major Donor Strategy, Portfolio Management & Revenue

• Develop and execute individualized strategies for a portfolio of major donors and qualified prospects, moving relationships through qualification, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, renewal, and upgrade.
• Meet or exceed annual major-gift revenue goals through strategic portfolio management, relationship development, and personal solicitation.
• Maintain a healthy portfolio mix of qualified prospects, donors in cultivation, active solicitations, and donors requiring stewardship and renewal.
• Establish and implement strategic contact plans for top-tier donors using the donor’s preferred method of personalized interaction.
• Identify major-gift opportunities among existing donors, prospects, event participants, referrals, and other sources, including donors with potential for planned or complex gifts.
• Maintain accurate, timely, and strategic records of donor interactions, next steps, interests, commitments, and opportunities in LOTE’s donor management system.

Donor Cultivation, Solicitation & Stewardship

• Build authentic, long-term relationships with donors through personal interaction, with an emphasis on face-to-face engagement when appropriate and other personalized communication based on donor preference.
• Learn donors’ interests, passions, philanthropic priorities, and capacity, and connect those interests with relevant Living on the Edge programs, initiatives, and ministry opportunities.
• Develop and execute individualized cultivation and solicitation strategies, including preparing for and personally making major-gift requests.
• Provide compelling information, proposals, impact stories, and reporting that demonstrate the difference donors are making.
• Provide thoughtful, timely, and personalized stewardship that deepens donor connection to the mission and encourages continued partnership.
• Engage donors appropriately in ministry opportunities, events, and experiences that strengthen their relationship with Living on the Edge.

Strategic Collaboration & Gift Opportunities

• Partner with other development team members to identify opportunities, share intelligence, coordinate donor strategies, and ensure a seamless donor experience.
• Recognize opportunities for complex giving options, including planned giving, Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs), appreciated assets such as stock, and connect the donor with people and resources to pursue those types of giving.
• Collaborate with ministry leaders and other LOTE colleagues to translate ministry priorities into compelling opportunities for donor partnership.
• Help plan, oversee, and/or facilitate donor events and donor-related activities as needed.

Performance & Professional Development

• Consistently achieve established goals for major-gift revenue, donor retention, upgrades, qualified prospects, solicitations, engagement, events, campaigns, and assigned projects.
• Use donor data, portfolio analytics, and performance reporting to inform decisions and improve results.
• Seek and participate in approved professional development opportunities related to major gifts, donor engagement, philanthropy, and ministry fundraising.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Measures of Success

Success in this role will be evaluated through a balanced combination of revenue, relationship, portfolio, and pipeline measures, including:

• Achievement of annual major-gift revenue goals.
• Growth in donor retention, upgrades, and lifetime giving.
• Development and health of the major-gift pipeline.
• Progression of donors through qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship stages.
• Quality, consistency, and strategic effectiveness of donor engagement and relationship management.

Qualifications & Requirements

Education & Experience

• Education: Bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent combination of education and relevant nonprofit professional experience.
• Experience: Must have a minimum of 6 years of progressive experience in major gifts, individual giving, development, or philanthropy.
• Preferred experience: Prior experience working in a ministry or faith-based setting highly preferred.

Skills & Competencies

• Alignment with Living on the Edge’s Statement of Faith.
• Exemplary ability to manage relationships, people, and expectations.
• Highly Proficient in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, and Power Point), Adobe Acrobat, Slack. Familiarity with Dropbox and Google Workspace is helpful.
• Experience using a CRM or donor management system.

Schedule & Travel Capabilities

• Schedule Flexibility: Ability to occasionally work non-standard hours (evenings or Saturdays) to accommodate donor schedules.
• Travel: Approximately 50% travel required, with flexibility for additional travel based on donor needs, events, and strategic opportunities.