Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Donor Engagement Manager

Class: Management | Exempt status: Exempt | Grade: L

Under the direction of management, the Donor Engagement Manager develops, plans, implements, and evaluates aspects of fundraising, including principal gifts, major gifts, planned gifts, corporate and foundation relations, volunteer management, and Board activity. The position works closely with the College leadership and Foundation Board to identify and develop funding priorities and establish annual targets and metrics to ensure strategic goals are met and successful fundraising campaigns achieved. The incumbent actively manages a major and principal gift portfolio and implements strategic direction to ensure goals are met. The position supervises administrative services professionals, technical/support and/or classified staff.

Typical Duties and Responsibilities

1. As part of the Foundation leadership team, participates in setting, measuring, and meeting the Foundation’s fundraising goals and strategic priorities.
2. Leads major gift team and provides direction to increase capacity at the major and principal gift level. Applies fundraising techniques in support of donor education, compliance, and building donor relations.
3. Partners with College leadership to identify fundraising priorities and determine capacity and opportunity to engage with philanthropic partners on new programs and initiatives.
4. Manages a portfolio of major gift and principal gift donors, including individual donors, grant makers and organizations, soliciting gifts and meeting related fundraising goal metrics. Cultivates, stewards, and solicits donors through targeted appeals, campaigns, and individual meetings. Creates donor proposals, writes donor correspondence, and organizes collateral as needed to support major gift work.
5. Collaborates with donors and PCC programs in designating gifts such as estate gifts, memorial/honorary gifts, student scholarships, and special project or program initiatives
6. Works with management to facilitate high quality board engagement, including support for board development and agenda preparation. At the direction of management, serves as key contact and donor manager for members of the Board and lead staff for Foundation Board Committee(s).
7. Makes data-informed recommendations for metrics and fundraising goals of fundraisers.
8. Manages the Foundation’s donor stewardship program for major gift donors including space namings, legacy society recognition, and other special recognition plans.
9. Leads Foundation’s efforts to secure, identify and segment donors, research for special projects, and produces database reports and queries to track campaigns status and success.
10. Advises College leadership, faculty, and staff on a variety of Foundation policies and practices as related to campus, student and programmatic areas.
11. Prepares and delivers presentations regarding assigned programs; facilitates meetings on program services and issues; attends professional conferences and training sessions.
12. Plays a key role in campaign strategic planning including the management and direction of feasibility studies, development of case statements, and engagement of volunteers and staff to achieve campaign targets and goals.
13. Partners with Foundation’s Marketing Manager to develop fundraising communications strategies for internal and external audiences, including content development for signature events, campaigns and annual and special appeals.
14. Manages research function of the foundation, helping to identify and prioritize prospective PCC donors and develop informed strategy to deepen relationships and giving opportunities.
15. Analyzes data and makes appropriate adjustments to project budgets and activities to ensure strong results
16. Supervises academic professionals, technical/support and/or classified staff.  Reinforces staff’s development of PCC’s leadership competencies. Evaluates, supports, and provides guidance on professional development plans and goals for staff in accordance with practices, policies, and collective bargaining agreements. Hires, evaluates, trains, disciplines, and recommends dismissal of staff as necessary.
17. Participates in appropriate College and Foundation events.
18. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Work Environment

Work environment includes frequent disruptions and changes in priorities. Work is generally performed in an office environment with frequent interruptions and irregularities in the work schedule. Working hours may vary and some evening or weekend work is required. In-district travel to other locations is required and possession of a current driver’s license. No special coordination beyond that used for normal mobility and handling of everyday objects and materials is needed to perform the job satisfactorily.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree in Administration, Education, Communications or related field. Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience related to fundraising, building donor relations, and campaign planning, including two (2) years of supervisory experience.

OR Bachelor’s Degree in any field AND seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience related to fundraising, building donor relations, and campaign planning, including two (2) years of supervisory experience.

OR nine (9) years of progressively responsible experience related to fundraising, building donor relations, and campaign planning, including two (2) years of supervisory experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of:

• Individual, corporate and foundation major gift management in a higher education or non-profit organization;
• Applied and theoretical knowledge of fundraising database systems and database management;
• Trustee and volunteer management techniques;
• Comprehensive campaigns including preplanning, launch and completion;
• Stewardship and ethics, including Association of Fundraising Professionals code of ethical conduct;
• Fundraising including community-centric partnerships, marketing and research strategies and techniques;
• Personal solicitation of major gifts, volunteer training and estate planning principles and practices;
• Program and grant management;
• Budget administration principles and practices;
• Analytical methods and techniques.

Skills in:

• Leadership and management principles;
• Connecting with donors, understanding their values, and inspiring support from a variety of constituent groups;
• Raising gifts of more than $25,000;
• Developing and maintaining effective relationships with all levels of management, board of directors, trustees, staff, and external partners;
• Speaking in public, presenting information, group facilitation, influencing and negotiating;
• Compiling, analyzing, and interpreting data and information and making appropriate recommendations based on findings;
• Managing multiple projects and priorities simultaneously;
• Analyzing problems, identifying alternative solutions, projecting consequences of proposed actions and making recommendations in support of goals;
• Effectively directing multiple fundraising initiatives in support of College priorities;
• Building and expanding private philanthropy;
• Directing and supervising staff, outsourced support, and vendors.

Ability to:

• Work with internal and external partners, volunteers, donors, faculty, staff, and students from diverse communities with respect and attention to justice, equity, diversity and inclusion;
• Serve as Foundation leader when Executive Director not present;
• Work independently and as part of the Foundation Team to set priorities and manage multiple projects simultaneously with competing deadlines;
• Manage and execute successful donor cultivation;
• Maintain a positive attitude and collaborative style that fosters workplace excellence and Collegial teamwork;
• Use computer technology and standard software programs, fundraising databases, and database reporting systems for communication and activity reporting;
• Communicate effectively in both verbal and written form.

Revised: 7/2019; 12/2021
Reviewed: 12/2018
New: 9/2016