Manager of Annual Philanthropy and Donor Engagement

Job Description

Classification: Full-time; Exempt

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Reports to: Chief Philanthropy Officer

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Date created/reviewed/revised: October 2026

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JOB DESCRIPTION

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Organization Profile:

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Historic Charleston Foundation’s mission is to advocate for a future for Charleston that honors and protects its people, places, culture, and community.

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Historic Charleston Foundation (HCF) is a non-profit organization advancing the broad mission of historic preservation and protecting the livability of the community. As historic preservation has evolved into more than a movement to simply save historic buildings, the Foundation has broadened its scope into balancing the needs of modern society with protecting the significant cultural fabric of our historic communities. The Foundation’s three main mission pillars are Preservation, Advocacy, and Museums.

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Position Summary:

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As a member of the Philanthropy team, the Manager of Annual Philanthropy and Donor Engagement is responsible for increasing annual fundraising support, both unrestricted and restricted, for Historic Charleston Foundation (HCF) through donor acquisition, retention, reactivation, upgrades, and stewardship, as well as through effective annual giving strategies. A key focus is growing and stewarding the National Advisory Council.[OL1]  as well as the newly established 1947 Society, which recognizes donors who contribute $1,947 or more annually.

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Working closely with the Chief Philanthropy Officer (CPO), the Manager organizes, develops and executes programs to increase revenue, raise awareness of the organization’s mission and community impact, attract new donors, and steward relationships with HCF stakeholders. This is done in coordination with fellow members of the Philanthropy team, senior HCF leadership, and Board volunteers. This position also plans and helps facilitate donor cultivation and stewardship events, such as the annual Fall Gala[LO2] , and develops a comprehensive fundraising strategy to engage donors throughout the year.

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Key Responsibilities:

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Annual Giving

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·       Develop and execute HCF's annual giving strategy and fundraising calendar to increase donor participation, retention, and overall philanthropic support. The Annual Fund is the priority, with support for restricted fund priorities also included. 

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·       Establish strategies to convert event attendees and supporters into long-term annual donors.

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·       Assist the CPO with the planning and execution of the semi-annual National Advisory Council gatherings.

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·       Collaborate with colleagues in the Philanthropy and Communications Offices to develop annual giving appeals (direct mail, email, digital), donor communications, and stewardship materials.

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·       Support the work of the Philanthropy Committee and other fundraising efforts involving HCF Board of Trustee members and volunteers. Build recurring and multi-year annual giving opportunities.

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1947 Society

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·       Implement a 1947 Society plan each year, including a series of annual events. Grow and steward donors through personal engagement, recognition, communication, and event-based activities.

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·       Identify and solicit prospects with potential to join or upgrade within the Society.

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·       Manage annual renewal, recognition, communications, and engagement strategies for Society members.

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·       Develop cultivation and stewardship opportunities that strengthen member relationships with HCF. Leverage strategic matching gifts and challenge opportunities to acquire, reactivate and upgrade donors.

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Donor Relations and Stewardship

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·       Manage a portfolio of leadership-level annual donors and prospects.

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·       Conduct monthly donor visits and personalize outreach to cultivate, solicit, and steward donors.

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·       Work with the CPO to create and implement strategies to identify prospective institutional funders, new major gift prospects, business partners, and sponsors.

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·       Support donor cultivation and stewardship events that strengthen donor engagement and affinity for HCF.

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·       Participate in community and donor engagement activities on behalf of HCF.

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·       Develop first-time donor, renewal, upgrade, and lapsed-donor strategies.

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Performance and Reporting

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·       Establish annual giving goals and performance measures in partnership with the CPO.

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·       Monitor annual giving performance and 1947 Society performance toward fundraising goals.

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·       Record and maintain timely, complete, and accurate contact reports in the donor database.

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·       Collaborate with the Manager of Philanthropy Operations[LO3] [dR4]  to track appeal effectiveness, donor retention, acquisition, reactivation, upgrades, recurring giving, and event-to-donor conversion.

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Qualifications:

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·       Bachelor’s degree required.

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·       Three to five years of experience in annual giving, fundraising, donor relations, sales, business development, or related nonprofit administration.

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·       Knowledge of preferred fundraising principles and stewardship practices.

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·       Familiarity with CRM systems such as Altru or similar donor databases.

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·       Knowledge of the Charleston community and philanthropic landscape preferred.

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Work Environment:

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Work is generally in an office environment with some outdoor work, walking, and lifting up to 30 lbs. required during special events.

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Time Requirements:

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·       Work is generally in an office environment with some outdoor work, walking, and lifting up to 30 lbs. required during special events.

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·       Flexibility to work an altered and non-traditional work schedule necessary to attend evening or weekend events and meet deadlines. 

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·       Office Hours: Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

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Benefits:

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·       Salary $70,000 - $90,000 commensurate with experience

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·       Competitive benefits including medical, dental, vision, short-term disability, life insurance

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·       403(b) plan with qualifying match up to 6%

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·       Free parking, reciprocity Pass (+1), retail shopping discount, Flex Fridays

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The employment relationship with Historic Charleston Foundation is at-will and may be terminated by either you or the foundation at any time, for any reason. Neither this form, or any oral or written policy or procedure, nor any representation by any HCF employee, supervisor or officer can or will change the at-will nature of your employment.

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To be considered for the position, please submit a cover letter and your resume

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via email to View email address on ziprecruiter.com and reference ad source.

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Historic Charleston Foundation is a nonprofit organization with a mission to advocate for a future for Charleston that honors and protects its people, places, culture, and community.

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