Donor Engagement & Stewardship Officer

Description : SUMMARY

SUMMARY

The Donor Engagement & Stewardship Officer serves in a strategic role responsible to engage with churches, donors, and key constituents to achieve advancement objectives of the Evangelical Covenant Church.

• The donor officer is responsible to : develop and implement comprehensive strategies to deploy an effective annual giving program;
• develop and lead planned giving efforts in collaboration with Covenant Trust Company; manage a portfolio of churches and individuals, with intentional focus on major gifts to support to sustain Covenant mission and ministry;
• work collaboratively to create and deliver advancement materials that demonstrate the value and impact of philanthropic investment and communicate distinctive and unique stewardship opportunities for the vast ministry of the Covenant;

and provide effective stewardship programs that strengthen donor connections to the Covenant's mission.

This position must be able to travel an average of 50%% of the time and work evenings and weekends as needed.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Create and implement an annual giving program. Establish annual team fundraising goals, set personal performance goals and work to achieve both team and individual targets.

Lead and provide emphasis on planned giving opportunities working in collaboration with Covenant Trust Company.

Manage donor portfolio of approximately 100 churches and individuals, working closely with the Director of Prospect Research & Donor Information Services to curate portfolio, develop donor visit plans and gift strategy.

Hold meetings with constituents of portfolio. Meet with pastors and church leadership to invite churches into 3StrandStrong tithe of 6.

5% to denomination and 3.5% to their conference. Meet with individuals inviting them to make an annual gift in support of the Covenant Mission & Ministry Fund.

Identify, cultivate and solicit select prospects capable of making a major of $25,000 to grow the number of major donors.

Cultivate and retain sustaining gifts of $1,000 and up to the President's Circle.

Champion 3StrandStrong with conference and church leadership to encourage participation and positive mutuality with the Covenant.

Contribute to the Advancement communication and engagement strategy. Develop meaningful messages and deliver materials that promote a culture of generosity, inspire commitment to mission & ministry, demonstrate the value and impact of donor investment and communicate stewardship opportunities for Covenant ministry.

Engage in analytics, leverage data and information from RE and other sources to communicate accurate and innovative reports to constituents.

Develop effective stewardship program for churches and individuals.

Steward churches thanking them for their giving partnership, delivering the annual 3StrandStrong mailing indicating percentage giving, regular communication offering resources, being responsive to inquiries or needs to foster a trusted and healthy engagement with denomination.

Steward individuals with regular interactions of thanking donors through telephone calls, letters, emails etc. Responsive to individual needs and concerns to foster trusted and healthy engagement with denomination.

Generate stewardship contact and summary reports housed in RE.

Partner with and support the President and Covenant leadership in cultivating donors and soliciting transformative gifts.

Offer information, strategy and provide resources necessary to conduct a successful engagement.

Work collaboratively with staff, as requested, to provide leadership and advice on unique ministry area fundraising initiatives and projects when applicable.

Requirements :

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Required : A bachelor's degree in related field. Minimum of five years engagement in an advancement, fundraising or similar non-profit environment with heavy customer service emphasis.

Proven track record of success in donor cultivation, stewardship and visits resulting in gifts. Experience in closing gifts of $25,000 or more.

Direct experience with local church ministry. Knowledge of Raiser's Edge and fundraising management systems.

Preferred : Three to five years personal engagement or affiliation with the Covenant

SKILLS

Knowledge of best practices in all key areas of advancement.

Proven ability to work independently and handle multiple relationship situations concurrently.

Self-starter in developing prospect leads and pursuing gift plans for prospective donors.

Ability to set goals. evaluate, adjust, and regularly report progress toward goals.

A diplomatic, collaborative demeanor; ability to navigate a complexity; the desire and ability to gain trust and build strong collaborative relationships across the diversity of the denomination.

Exemplary interpersonal and listening skills; impeccable attention to detail and superb follow-through; strong personal integrity, flexibility, and work ethic.

Superior written and oral communication skills; clarity and crispness in writing and speaking; superb storytelling skills with the ability to succinctly communicate a vision and mission constituents.

Excellent judgment and creative problem-solving skills, including the ability to resolve conflict.

Enthusiasm for contributing to the growth and nurturing of a generosity culture.

Monitor mission area budget and ensure compliance with fiscal responsibilities.

Proficient computer skills : Microsoft Office, software platforms and database management.

Flexibility to travel and to work evenings and weekends.

Ability to use discretion, maintain confidentiality of information and other related matters.

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