Development & Donor Engagement Manager

The Development & Donor Engagement Manager works closely with the executive director to strengthen Hope Blooms’ fundraising efforts and cultivate meaningful relationships with donors, sponsors and community supporters. This position helps build a strong pipeline of support by engaging current donors, identifying prospective supporters, securing sponsorships and creating thoughtful experiences that deepen people’s connection to the Hope Blooms mission.

This relationship-centered role engages current supporters, introduces new people and businesses to the mission and creates thoughtful experiences that deepen their connection to Hope Blooms. The development & donor engagement manager also helps identify major donor prospects, pledge opportunities and other key relationships for strategic handoff and continued cultivation.

Reports to: Hope Blooms Executive Director

Location: Hope Blooms, 758 34th St. N., Suite O, Fargo, ND 58102

Commitment: 40 hours per week. Some evenings and weekends required for special events and community initiatives.

Classification: Full time/exempt position

Compensation: Salary range based on experience ($50,000-61,699 annual salary), 21 PTO days and 8 paid holidays, $25 monthly cell phone stipend, work-related mileage reimbursed. No other benefits are currently offered.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Donor Development & Stewardship

• Cultivate and manage relationships with assigned donors, business supporters, sponsors and prospective supporters
• Identify prospective donors and introduce them to the mission through outreach, meetings, tours, events and other engagement opportunities
• Solicit donations and sponsorships within established responsibilities and organizational fundraising priorities
• Create retention and stewardship strategies that recognize supporters, deepen relationships and encourage continued or increased giving
• Work closely with the executive director to identify major donor prospects, pledge opportunities and relationships with significant giving potential
• Facilitate thoughtful handoffs to the executive director by providing relevant relationship history, interests and engagement information, then continue supporting stewardship, when appropriate
• Support donor communications, fundraising appeals and annual campaigns in collaboration with the executive director and communications staff
• Represent Hope Blooms at meetings, presentations, networking events and community gatherings
• Maintain accurate donor and prospect records, including engagement activity, commitments and follow-up needs

Community Engagement Sponsorships & Group Experiences

• Own and grow the community engagement sponsorship program, serving as the primary fundraising and relationship lead for corporate teams, businesses and community groups
• Identify and cultivate prospective group sponsors, present sponsorship opportunities and secure financial commitments
• Learn each sponsor’s interests and goals to help connect the group with a meaningful Hope Blooms experience
• Work closely with the community engagement manager to confirm program availability and organizational capacity before sponsorship details are finalized
• Provide complete sponsor information to the community engagement manager, who leads scheduling, participant communication, volunteer coordination and day-to-day experience logistics
• Maintain the sponsor relationship, including financial communication, recognition, appreciation and post-experience stewardship
• Participate in group experiences as appropriate to welcome participants, strengthen relationships and connect supporters more deeply with the mission
• Cultivate opportunities for group sponsors to become recurring sponsors, event supporters or donors, involving the executive director when a strategic handoff is appropriate
• Track sponsorship prospects, commitments, revenue, participation and follow-up activity

Special Events & Fundraising Initiatives

• Lead fundraising initiatives for Hope Blooms’ special events, fundraisers and select giving campaigns
• Develop event sponsorship strategies and cultivate, solicit and steward new and returning sponsors
• Solicit silent auction items, raffle prizes, in-kind donations and other event contributions from businesses and individuals
• Coordinate sponsor commitments, benefits, recognition and follow-up in collaboration with the executive director and communications staff
• Maintain organized records of sponsorships, auction items, in-kind contributions and donor commitments, and track progress toward revenue goals
• Collaborate with staff, volunteers and event committees to create welcoming, mission-centered fundraising experiences
• Support event giving opportunities and donor outreach before, during and after events
• Evaluate results and recommend opportunities to strengthen future fundraising efforts

Development Planning & Administration

• Work with the executive director to establish annual fundraising goals, strategies and activity plans
• Maintain a development calendar and systems for managing campaigns, solicitations, renewals, deadlines and stewardship activities
• Monitor fundraising performance and prepare reports for the executive director, organizational leadership and board of directors
• Track key development metrics, including revenue, donor retention, sponsorships, prospects and engagement
• Support budget planning and revenue projections for assigned fundraising initiatives
• Honor donor intent, confidentiality, organizational policies and applicable fundraising practices
• Participate in staff planning and organization-wide initiatives, and perform other responsibilities as assigned by the executive director

IDEAL ATTRIBUTES & REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, communications, business, marketing or a related field preferred (A combination of relevant education and experience will be considered)
• Three or more years of experience in fundraising, donor relations, sponsorship development, sales, account management or a related role
• Experience soliciting financial support and coordinating fundraising events or donor engagement experiences
• Mission-driven, warm and confident with a talent for building authentic, long-term relationships
• Comfortable initiating conversations, conducting outreach, making funding requests and following up with prospective supporters
• Strong written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to share Hope Blooms’ impact in a compelling, people-centered way
• Highly organized, self-motivated and able to manage multiple relationships, events and deadlines with strong attention to detail and follow-through
• Collaborative, creative, flexible and comfortable working closely with staff, volunteers and community supporters
• Professional and discreet when handling confidential donor, financial and organizational information
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and Google Workspace
• Experience with a donor database or customer relationship management system
• Comfortable speaking to groups and representing Hope Blooms throughout the community
• Available for occasional evening and weekend events and willing to travel throughout the Fargo-Moorhead-West Fargo area and surrounding rural communities
• Able to lift up to 50 pounds as needed
• Possesses a valid driver’s license and reliable vehicle and must pass a background check

HOW TO APPLY
Submit a cover letter, resume and three references.

ABOUT HOPE BLOOMS
Hope Blooms is a budding nonprofit that repurposes donated flowers by rearranging them into beautiful bedside bouquets and delivering them to community members in need. All with one message: you matter. We are dedicated to nurturing the social and emotional well-being individuals who are experiencing isolation, loneliness and hardship. Hope Blooms serve seniors in hospice care, nursing homes, long-term care facilities and assisted living and memory care centers. We also partner with many area nonprofits to serve the community shelters, food pantries, supportive housing, women's facilities, recovery centers, cancer centers and mental health facilities. Since its founding in 2016, Hope Blooms has created more than 123,000 moments of joy for community members in need.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $50,000.00 - $61,699.00 per year

Benefits:

• Paid time off

Work Location: In person

Salary : $50,000 - $61,699