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Donor Relations Specialist

Word on Fire
Village, IL Full Time
POSTED ON 5/27/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 7/27/2026

Donor Relations Specialist

Reports to Director of Annual Giving

Word on Fire Catholic Ministries is a nonprofit global media apostolate that supports the work of Bishop Robert Barron and reaches millions of people to draw them into—or back to—the Catholic faith. 

The Donor Relations Specialist provides support across all aspects of Word on Fire fundraising efforts. The Donor Relations Specialist works closely with the entire Development team in areas of donation tracking and acknowledgement, record keeping, and prospect research. The Donor Relations Specialist also supports the administration of Word on Fire’s planned giving program.

Location: Elk Grove Village, IL

Employment Type: Full-time

Responsibilities

  • Record donations from a variety of sources, including pledges, foundation grants, planned gifts, stock transfers, etc.
  • Prepare acknowledgement data and actively participate in contacting donors for gift acknowledgements
  • Support data integrity and accuracy/expansion of donor information captured through various sources
  • Respond to incoming inquiries from supporters via phone, email, and/or mail 
  • Serve as liaison with the finance/operations team to reconcile monthly financials for the Development department categorized by individual revenue sources
  • Facilitate administration of Word on Fire’s planned giving program by responding to requests for information, documenting intentions, and sending welcome packages
  • Work with third-party planned giving partners to monitor and report on outreach and engagement results; update or enter new constituent information into donor database
  • Collaborate with the Development team to assign relationship managers and identify appropriate cultivation and stewardship opportunities
  • Enter and manage product orders for the Works of Mercy Fund, College Bible program recipients, and various special requests
  • Prepare ad hoc reporting requests related to key donor metrics and profiles for Development leadership
  • Aid in researching donors and prospects to identify and qualify prospects for financial support 

Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, marketing, business or related field, or equivalent experience
  • 2 years of experience in a similar role, non-profit fundraising experienced preferred
  • Commitment to the mission of Word on Fire
  • Knowledge of Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce, or other donor database softwares
  • Knowledge of various gift types and methods
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Proficient utilizing Microsoft Excel and/or Google Sheets to collect, manipulate and present data
  • Possesses basic data analytic skills  
  • Ability to travel as needed

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience with Microsoft Office and Google Drive
  • Strong project management skills and ability to juggle multiple projects and priorities
  • Ability to speak with people from a variety of backgrounds and patiently troubleshoot any customer service issues they are facing
  • Familiarity with the work of Bishop Robert Barron and Word on Fire

Compensation and Benefits

The estimated base pay range for this position is $60,000 - $72,000 annually. Word on Fire determines individual compensation on several factors, including but not limited to, experience, skills, alignment with the role’s responsibilities, and geographic location. This role may be eligible for annual merit increases based on individual performance.

Word on Fire also offers its team members a robust benefits package that includes:

  • Work-from-home Wednesdays and up to 20 additional work-from-home days throughout the year
  • Several 100% Word on Fire-paid insurance benefits: life, short-term disability, and long-term disability
  • Other insurance benefits: medical, dental, vision, HSA, FSA, accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity
  • A retirement plan with a 3% target employer contribution
  • Generous paid time off and paid holidays
  • Paid parental leaves at 100% of base salary
  • Access to Word on Fire’s incredible wealth of content and resources and more!

Word on Fire is founded upon and intent on prioritizing its Catholic religious mission and principles above all else. Word on Fire's religious mission may therefore require that it make employment decisions based on an individual's religion and adherence to the principles of the Catholic Church.

Salary : $60,000 - $72,000

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