Donor Relations Specialist

Donor Relations Specialist

The Donor Relations Specialist is responsible for securing support for Catholic Social Services by building and strengthening relationships with donors through meaningful stewardship, engagement, and donor care. This position manages a portfolio of mid-level donors, helping identify donor interests and passions, and connecting them with opportunities to support the mission and programs of CSS. The Donor Relations Specialist oversees gift processing and donor stewardship activities, ensuring timely acknowledgements, accurate gift entry, and exceptional donor service. The position works independently to prioritize donor engagement activities, maintain donor relationships, and make recommendations that support fundraising goals and donor retention. The Donor Relations Specialist serves as a liaison between Development, Finance, and the Data Team, coordinating gift processing, donor records, reporting needs, and data integrity efforts. This position works closely with the Data Team on database administration and reporting to ensure accurate donor information and effective fundraising analysis. Through strategic relationship building, stewardship, and donor engagement, the Donor Relations Specialist helps strengthen donor retention, increase donor involvement, and grow philanthropic support for Catholic Social Services.

CSS is a Catholic human and social services agency and behavioral health care provider that welcomes people of all faiths through its programs and employment. We provide help for our Alaskan neighbors through a variety of supportive service programs, including emergency shelter, food stability, housing, case management, and refugee assistance. CSS empowers individuals and families on their path to permanent stability, creating thriving communities for all. Located in Anchorage, Alaska, CSS is a nationally accredited organization through the Council on Accreditation (COA), which recognizes that CSS provides high quality services that meet best practice standards in the social service field.

Mission: To promote the physical, spiritual and mental welfare of persons in need in the community. This mission is achieved by:

• Offering charitable assistance to those in need, especially persons who are poor
• Developing and conducting programs to strengthen and support families and the dignity of the human spirit
• Administering the Corporal Works of Mercy and Gospel of Jesus Christ as defined by the magisterium of the Roman Catholic Church and envisioned by the traditional concepts of Catholic Social Teaching and Action through the laity
• And advocating for social justice for the common good of all

The Development team is responsible for raising funds from individual, corporate, and foundation donors to support the mission of our agency. The Development team works closely with the Communications team to engage supporters in the mission of Catholic Social Services through giving - whether the giving is financial, in-kind, or volunteer. We share stories with our supporters to demonstrate the needs (and the successes!) of our guests and clients and to appeal for support in helping people get the resources they need to move along a path to permanent stability. The Development team interacts with all the programs of Catholic Social Services, from three emergency shelters to a food pantry, case managers, multiple shelter locations and Refugee Assistance and Immigration Services.

Required Competencies:

Mission Orientation:

• Passion for the mission of Catholic Social Services and compassion for the people we serve.
• Maintain confidentiality and treat all people with dignity and respect.
• Enthusiasm for communicating the mission and impact of Catholic Social Services.
• Possesses the ability to engage respectfully and compassionately with individuals from diverse backgrounds and life circumstances, always preserving their dignity and treating them with respect.

Competency:

• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Exceptional customer service and relationship-building skills.
• Strong organizational and time-management abilities.
• Self-motivated and able to work independently.
• Detail-oriented with strong follow-through.
• Ability to build trust and rapport with donors and community partners.

Knowledge:

• Knowledge of stewardship, donor relations, and gift processing.
• Experience with donor CRM software (Bloomerang preferred); event and volunteer management systems a plus.
• Knowledge of or willingness to learn grants and funding request processes.
• Strong reporting and data analysis skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office products, especially Excel and Word
• Experience generating fundraising and donor reports.

Responsibilities:

Donor Relations & Stewardship:

• Manage a portfolio of mid-level donors.
• Conduct donor outreach through phone calls, meetings, emails, handwritten notes, and stewardship activities.
• Identify donor interests and connect donors with meaningful opportunities to support CSS programs.
• Develop and implement stewardship plans to increase donor engagement and retention.
• Coordinate donor recognition and acknowledgement activities.
• Assist with donor visits, tours, and cultivation events.
• Track donor interactions and engagement within Bloomerang.
• Support annual giving, recurring giving, and planned giving initiatives.

Gift Processing & Finance Coordination:

• Process financial and in-kind gifts accurately and timely.
• Ensure donor acknowledgements and tax receipts are issued promptly.
• Coordinate monthly gift reconciliation with the Finance Department.
• Maintain gift processing procedures and documentation.
• Assist with audit requests and financial reporting related to donations.

Database Administration & Reporting:

• Coordinate with the Data and Finance Team on donor database administration and reporting.
• Maintain donor records and data integrity within Bloomerang.
• Assist with donor segmentation, list management, and campaign tracking.
• Support fundraising reporting and dashboard needs.
• Participate in ongoing data cleanup and record maintenance efforts.

Events & Engagement:

• Support donor cultivation and stewardship events.
• Assist with volunteer and community engagement activities as needed.
• Represent CSS at community events and outreach opportunities.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Minimum Education Requirement: Bachelor's degree in fundraising, communications, business, marketing, nonprofit management, or related field. Four (4) years of experience may be substituted for the degree.

Minimum Experience Requirement: Two (2) years of experience in fundraising, donor relations, customer service, nonprofit development, or related field. Experience working with donor databases and gift processing preferred.

A relevant combination of education and experience may be considered.

Work Environment:

Work is performed in a standard indoor office environment. Occasional lifting of up to 25 pounds. Frequently sitting or standing at a desk for several hours at a time.

Travel out of Alaska is rare. Occasional travel within Anchorage is required. This position may be required to visit other program locations.

Location: 4600 Debarr Road, Anchorage, AK