Associate Director of Donor Relations

Position Summary

This is a newly adjusted role that will work under the direction of the Development Director. Our growing individual giving needs provided a new opportunity to divide a previous role into two new leadership roles, separating major gifts and annual giving. The Associate Director of Donor Relations will be responsible for the revenue strategy for major donors and prospects and will lead the setting and meeting of goals and metrics related to this constituency. The Associate Director of Donor Relations will be responsible for meeting individual fundraising and activity goals as an active fundraiser who manages a portfolio of 75-100 major gift donors and prospects. As a senior member of the Development team, the Associate Director of Donor Relations collaborates to implement initiatives, coordinate activities, and create alignment throughout the team. This role will also support the Development Director in meeting the revenue goals of the organization.

About Western Resource Advocates

WRA fights climate change and its impacts to sustain the environment, economy, and people of the West. Our team of policy experts, scientists, economists, and attorneys has a 30-year history of working where decisions are made, sweating the details, creating evidence-based solutions, and holding decision makers accountable. This on the ground work with policymakers and other advocates advances clean energy, protects air, land, water, and wildlife—and sustains the lives and livelihoods of the West.

Location

The position can work remotely from the Denver-Boulder metropolitan area, be based in either WRA’s Denver or Boulder office; or a hybrid of the two. Access to a major airport is required, as travel (30-40% depending on location) is required.

Responsibilities 

MAJOR GIFTS

• Develop and implement a comprehensive major giving strategy aligned with organization fundraising goals.
• Establish annual revenue, retention, and upgrade goals for major giving
• Monitor and analyze revenue, performance, and trends and prepare regular reports and forecasts for internal and external stakeholders.
• Manage and expand philanthropic major gift ($5,000-$249,999 gifts) revenue from individuals.
• Understand, build, monitor, report, and project major gift revenue.
• Recommend and monitor individual and team performance related to major gifts.
• Ensure major gift revenue data is consistent and up to date.
• Develop goals and metrics for and with the major gifts team.

PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT & FUNDRAISING

• Identify, manage and solicit a growing portfolio of largely individual donors and prospects to achieve increasing revenue goals.
• Grow the major gifts pipeline and portfolio by researching and qualifying prospects for personal engagement and growing relationships with donors and prospects.
• Personally solicit donors and prospects for financial support.
• Proactively support the Principal Gifts Team, made up of the President, Executive Vice President, and Development Director with their portfolios, prospecting, cultivation, and stewardship.
• Communicate with donors on a regular basis through a variety of activities: in person meetings, calls, video conferencing, email, texts, events, webinars, letters, publications, etc.
• Create and manage new opportunities for donors and partners to share their networks with WRA, growing our prospect pipeline as project lead for events, webinars, meetings, and other needs as assigned.
• Work in partnership with WRA staff (Marketing & Communications, Program, senior leadership teams, etc.) to create opportunities for funding, cultivation, and stewardship.

Cross-Team Collaboration

• Serve as a primary liaison between Donor Relations and other fundraising teams (Annual Giving, Operations, and Foundation Relations) to align donor strategy and avoid duplication.
• Collaborate closely with Marketing & Communications to ensure fundraising campaigns are integrated across channels.
• Work with program staff and organizational leadership to align fundraising priorities with organizational goals.

DATA, REPORTING AND EVALUATION

• Analyze fundraising performance, donor retention, and upgrade trends to inform strategy and continuous improvement.
• Prepare regular reports in partnership with the Development Operations Manager for Development leadership on Major Gift and individual prospecting performance.
• Use data to test and refine fundraising approaches, improving donor engagement and lifetime value.

MANAGEMENT TEAM

• Integrate and leverage strategies, planning, and activities across the development team, revenue streams, and fundraising constituencies.
• Build and use knowledge and expertise of revenue from individual donors and major gifts to help set and meet overall fundraising goals and metrics.
• Support the Development Director in developing OKRs and an integrated annual fundraising plan to achieve them.
• Help monitor and analyze revenue performance and trends.
• Help build and maintain a strong development team, fostering cohesion and collaboration.
• Implement activities and initiatives consistently across the department.
• Help problem solve issues that get in the way of accomplishing goals and objectives.
• Scope, plan, and implement projects as needed.

Supervisory Responsibilities: 

• Provide direction, guidance, professional development, and support to ensure staff are highly functioning and impactful.
• Recruit, interview, hire, onboard, and train new staff.
• Oversee the daily workflow of Major gifts
• Manage staffing of key functions, including through vacations, sabbaticals, and parental leave, as needed.
• Provide constructive feedback and timely performance evaluations.
• Handle discipline and termination of employees in accordance with organizational policy.

Qualifications & Competencies

Any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience, that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of this position, will be considered.  For example, the requisite experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities would include:

• At least 10 years of experience cultivating, managing, and soliciting a portfolio of donors and prospects, and/or equivalent relevant experience.
• Proven ability to execute fundraising practices and research, and donor-centric outreach experience.
• Ability to distinguish, identify, and prioritize strategic donor opportunities.
• Strong foundation and understanding of development methods, mechanisms, and donor stewardship.
• Experience in developing a pipeline of individual prospects.
• Experience coaching, advising, and collaborating with non-development staff to steward networks.
• Expertise in donor management software, Raiser’s Edge preferred.
• Commitment to ethical fundraising practices and donor-centered engagement.
• Experience directly managing staff.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Attention to detail and highly organized.
• Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and goals.
• Comfort and skill in communicating with a variety of donors, constituencies, and audiences.
• Ability to build relationships and collaborate effectively with a variety of stakeholders.
• Ability to break down complex subject matter into understandable and compelling language.

Working Environment and Physical Requirements

The work environment and physical demands described here are representative of those required by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job with or without reasonable accommodation including:

• A typical office environment with minimal exposure to excessive noise or adverse environmental issues.
• Prolonged periods of time at a desk and working on a computer.
• Position requires some travel by automobile, airplane, etc.

Travel Requirements:

Travel to meetings, conferences, donor events, and other work-related events is required within WRA’s region. This is in addition to travel required for retreats, and other internal organizational meetings. Typically, there is at least one all-staff retreat and one Development retreat in our region each year at which attendance is required. Access to a major airport is required. This is approximately 30-40% of the time depending on the location of work.

Salary And Benefits

The salary range for an Associate Director of Donor Relations is $97,750 – 115,000 annually; salary depends on relevant experience and new staff rarely start at the top of the range. WRA’s excellent benefits package includes a 401(k)-retirement plan with up to 5% matching and health, dental, vision, and life & disability insurance with 100% of premiums paid by WRA. Annually, staff receive seventeen days paid vacation leave to start, twelve paid sick days, one paid volunteer day, twelve paid holidays, and WRA is closed for Winter Break between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day for additional paid time off. Employees are eligible for up to twelve weeks of parental leave, and after five years, staff are eligible for up to twelve weeks of paid sabbatical leave. Position is full-time exempt.

Deadline To Apply: Open Until Filled with priority review beginning on Monday, March 9, 2026.

Diversity and inclusion are a critical component of our strategy, mission, and vision. We welcome candidates from an array of backgrounds and experiences to join our team. Learn more about our commitment here:

https://westernresourceadvocates.org/diversity-equity-inclusion/

WRA is an equal opportunity employer (EOE) and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, marital status, amnesty, or veteran status.

Apply To Be WRA’s Associate Director of Donor Relations!

Thank you for your interest in the Associate Director of Donor Relations position with Western Resource Advocates. You will need to upload the following in PDF format:

• Cover letter to the attention of Associate Director of Donor Relations Hiring Panel, describing your relevant qualifications and the reason for your interest in this position.
• Resume
• Please include a writing sample (no more than 3 pages) of a donor stewardship touchpoint you have created.

Please direct any questions about this position or application process to hiring@westernresources.org.