Donor Relations Manager

Job Title: Donor Relations Manager

Department: Donor Relations

Supervisor: Director of Donor and Member Relations

FLSA Status: Full-time, Regular, Exempt

Pay: $84,321

Application Submission Deadline: 8/2/26

General Statement:

The Donor Relations Manager builds meaningful, long-term donor relationships to inspire philanthropic investment in the ACNC’s mission of animal care, conservation, and creates meaningful experiences to connect people with wildlife and nature. Reporting to the Director of Donor and Member Relations, this role serves as a trusted philanthropic guide, connecting donor passions and values to opportunities within the organization to create lasting impact.

The Donor Relations Manager will strengthen pathways from annual support to major giving and legacy commitment. The successful candidate will be an experienced relationship-builder with a demonstrated ability to grow philanthropic investment through meaningful donor engagement, strategic portfolio management and donor-centered stewardship.

Essential Duties:

• Provide exceptional guest service to internal and external stakeholders by maintaining a WILD (friendly, helpful, positive, and professional) working attitude and appearance.
• Drive measurable portfolio growth and philanthropic engagement by maintaining a strategic portfolio of approximately 125–150 households, by cultivating, soliciting and stewarding philanthropic support through major gifts, capital campaign projects, gifts of appreciated assets, donor-advised funds, IRA giving, blended gifts and introductory estate conversations.
• Advance the ACNC’s philanthropic pipeline by establishing personalized relationship strategies, measurable portfolio objectives and meaningful donor experiences that strengthen retention, increase philanthropic investment and advance supporters toward major, capital and legacy commitments, partnering with leadership and gift planning resources as appropriate.
• Build authentic relationships within the community to identify, cultivate and deepen engagement with individuals whose philanthropic interests and values align with the ACNC’s mission and future growth.
• Develop meaningful donor experiences, proposals, tours, stewardship opportunities and mission-driven engagement in partnership with the organization's leadership, animal care experts, conservation teams and staff to demonstrate impact and deepen donor connection.
• Leverage Salesforce, MarketSmart, prospect research and donor intelligence to identify, qualify and prioritize prospective donors, uncover new philanthropic opportunities and develop strategic engagement plans. Maintain timely and accurate donor strategies, activity, move management and next-step documentation to support portfolio performance and organizational planning.
• Represent the Phoenix Zoo professionally at donor meetings, events and community engagements while contributing to a culture of philanthropy grounded in collaboration, accountability and donor-centered service.
• Maintain current knowledge of charitable giving strategies, tax-advantaged giving vehicles, and philanthropic trends to serve as a trusted resource for donors.
• Support fundraising events through sponsorship solicitations, donor cultivation and strategic engagement opportunities that strengthen philanthropic relationships and revenue.
• Evaluate new opportunities and develop strategies that support organizational priorities through internal stakeholder meetings.

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required
• 5–7 years of fundraising or CFRE experience preferred
• Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities and advance strategic fundraising initiatives with a high degree of accountability, initiative and sound judgment.
• Success building trusted donor relationships and securing philanthropic support.
• Knowledge of charitable giving strategies, including major gifts, appreciated assets, donor-advised funds, IRA giving and introductory planned giving concepts required.
• Strong relationship-building, communication, organization and strategic planning skills
• Experience with Salesforce CRM systems preferred
• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.
• Ability to pass pre-employment background check, drug test, DMV check, and clear annual TB test.