Donor Relations Associate - Gift & Estate Planning @ Kansas City, MO

Job Objective:

The Donor Relations Associate Gift & Estate Planning serves a portfolio of existing and potential new donors by initiating, building and maintaining dynamic, reciprocal relationships with individuals, couples and families who have a desire to partner financially with The Salvation Army through their estate. The portfolio will also include existing and new relationships with professional advisors of donors.

The Donor Relations Associate Gift & Estate Planning is responsible for overseeing a range of activities that result in donors feeling appreciated, developing deeper bonds with and greater affection for The Salvation Army and its mission, and understanding that their gifts are critically important, thus increasing the likelihood they will maintain or increase their level of giving now or in the future. Candidate will partner with leaders, colleagues, and members of the Development Department to achieve organizational goals.

Essential Functions:

• Maintain positive work atmosphere by behaving and communicating in a manner that fosters and maintains positive relationships with co-workers and supervisors. This would include but not be limited to such actions: resolution of conflicts in a positive manner; courteous treatment of staff, clients and visitors; respect of others' property and person, professional and appropriate communication to and about co-workers, supervisors and subordinates. Support the Mission of The Salvation Army by treating every donor, contact and colleague with respect and dignity, and without discrimination of any kind
• Manage a portfolio of 400+ of the organization's existing and new gift planning donors
• Manage all donor correspondence from Hope Brigade and Will Planning Guide mailings
• Meet with the Sr. Dir. of Gift & Estate Planning on a weekly basis for accountability and to discuss strategy and moves
• Cultivate relationships by updating, appreciating, and serving donors to deepen their partnership with The Salvation Army
• Execute strategy through phone, email, and USPS communication. Face-to-face communication is possible at special events
• Capture new information for entry into the donor's database record regarding donor's interests, relationships, life events, and information about capacity for philanthropic giving
• Learn and stay current about Salvation Army programs and projects and effectively communicates the mission to donors
• Identify triggers regarding high-capacity potential for referral to Sr. Dir. of Gift & Estate Planning
• Conduct oneself in a professional, friendly, and truthful manner to donors
• Work collaboratively with the Gift & Estate Planning team to identify gift planning opportunities
• Engage with front-line fundraisers to assess the need for materials that 'tell the programmatic story' of Salvation Army service as a means to encourage giving; develop collateral to align with donor/prospects interests
• Coordinate with other team members and volunteers and work within budget to implement touch points and events. Responsible for planning and execution of Hope Brigade events
• Demonstrate the ability to respond with urgency to the needs and requests of others, internally and externally, and ensure a high degree of responsiveness to all donors without regard to giving level

Time Distribution of Responsibilities:

• 40% Portfolio cultivation, stewardship and moves management. Includes Hope Brigade and professional client advisor relationships
• 40% Response management of gift planning marketing campaigns
• 15% Data recording, reporting and analysis
• 5% Performs other related duties as assigned by Sr. Dir. of Gift & Estate Planning

Minimum Qualifications:

Education: Bachelor's degree; relevant experience in lieu of degree will be considered

Experience: minimum of three years of experience in a non-profit fundraising role, or similar role, with a proven track record of stewarding relationships. Gift and estate planning experience preferred

Certifications/Licenses: None

Skills/Abilities:

• High level of honor in dealing with confidential information and attention to detail
• Familiarity with estate, trust and tax concepts and terminology preferred
• Effective interpersonal, conversational and presentation skills, demonstrating emotional intelligence, situational awareness, excellent writing abilities
• Ability to embrace, support and reflect well on The Salvation Army's mission and values through one's professional responsibilities and behavior at all times
• Proven expertise in developing and maintaining positive relationships with diverse individuals, including executives, leadership volunteers and wealthy donors, as well as internal stakeholders and leadership
• Ability to problem solve, think strategically and creatively, and take initiative with good follow through
• Possess a high level of comfort with direct donor interaction is a must, including discussions of personal and family finances
• Function as a team player, able to check ego at the door, with an ability to collaborate effectively with officers, staff and volunteers for successful achievement of position and department goals
• Able to work independently in a fast-paced environment without extensive admin support. Must be highly organized and able to effectively manage multiple projects and competing priorities with professionalism and grace. Must keep good documentation through contact reports and activity tracking, according to Salvation Army protocols
• Demonstrated orientation to achieving goals, with a drive to achieve agreed upon goals within agreed upon timeframes

Supervisory Responsibility: None

Physical Requirements: The position requires sitting; climbing and/or balancing; stooping, kneeling, bending, stretching, crouching and/or crawling; standing; walking; manual dexterity and eye-hand coordination; use of vision; driving a vehicle; pushing/pulling/lifting/carrying 25 pounds; traveling by airplane; both outdoor and indoor navigation of settings, and standing and/or walking up to 12 hours per day. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions of this job.

Mental Demands:

• Work under stressful conditions
• Interact with others with courtesy and tact
• Manage and prioritize multiple projects in an organized and efficient manner to meet tight deadlines
• Respond to crisis situations in a calm and effective manner
• Complete projects on schedule
• Maintain confidentiality
• Maintain regular and punctual work attendance

Communication Demands:

The position requires: professionally communicating verbally with co-workers, other departments and program staff, clients, vendors, donors, volunteers, board members, philanthropic decision-makers, and officers; written communication; talking on the telephone; responding to written or verbal requests; training/giving verbal and written instructions; receiving verbal and written instructions; writing/composing written language; reading; visiting/working at other worksites and non-worksite locations; communication via the latest technologies.

Travel: None

Driving: Driving is required. Must possess a valid driver's license from the state of residences. Must be approved through The Salvation Army Fleet Safety Program to drive either a Salvation Army or personal vehicle on Salvation Army business.

Working Conditions: Daily work is performed in a typical office environment; may require some weekend and evening work. Event work may include hotels, indoor/outdoor venues, Corps Community Centers, and other public venues.

All employees recognize that The Salvation Army is a church and agree that they will do nothing as an employee of The Salvation Army to undermine its religious mission.

The Salvation Army Mission:

The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.