Donor Relations Specialist Jobs
Donor Relations Specialist jobs are open across nonprofits, universities, healthcare foundations, and arts organizations, at every level from coordinator to director, with specializations in stewardship, major gifts cultivation, and planned giving. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Position Overview:
The Donor Relations Officer, Principal Gifts reports to the Director, Principal Gifts and Board Relations and supports the work of the Principal Gifts team, including the Chief Advancement Officer, Principal Gifts Officer, and Director, Gifts of Art. Working as an integral part of a broader team of development professionals, the Donor Relations Officer complements the external, face-to-face donor responsibilities of the fundraisers. The Officer drafts gift proposals; recommends and implements communication and engagement strategies; stewards donor gifts. Efforts are focused on the Museum's highest net worth donors and prospective donors.
This role is a term position with an end date of 1/1/2030.
Essential Functions:
Planning and Administration
- Prepares prospect briefings, customizes communications, and drafts correspondence on behalf of the Director, Principal Gifts and other key stakeholders.
- Plans itineraries of strategic meetings and activities for prospects visiting the Museum, as well as at off-site destinations.
- Partners with the Special Events team to conceive of and manage tailored cultivation and stewardship events. Compiles invitation lists, drafts remarks and provides other support for events.
- Coordinates donor meetings with curators and other staff who are the recipients of donor funds.
- Assists in the creation and design of messaging and communications targeted to individuals and/or specific audiences, in both print and digital formats.
- Attends meetings when called upon to track donor strategy and engagement.
- Drafts agendas for meetings with the Director and Chair, Development Committee mindful of priorities for the program.
- Coordinates the sharing of donor correspondence and other information related to Principal Gifts with the larger Development team as needed.
Donor Engagement and Gift Development
- Proactively explores opportunities to advance prospective donors’ interests in the Museum and its priorities, based on deep understanding of the background of each prospect and in support of Principal Gift cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for individuals.
- Supports gift officers through the process of proposal, approval, and documentation. Drafts gift agreements and submits them to the Stewardship Officer for review and approval.
- Assists in the development of comprehensive giving plans, including unrestricted, restricted, and planned gift components.
Collaboration/Coordination
- Collaborates with the Stewardship Officer to coordinate and ensure appropriate and timely stewardship of gifts, including tracking of stewardship activities and drafting complex stewardship reports for key donors.
- Collaborates with the Director’s Office in support of donor visits locally and nationally.
- May be called upon to provide support for Campaign Planning Group meetings.
- Contributes to donor-centric, team-based structures through interactions with Development Research, Stewardship, Special Events, Board Relations and other program areas within External Relations to support relationship development, prospect management, and communication.
- Attends events (may be evenings or weekends) in support of Principal Gift prospect advancement and larger departmental goals.
- Works as an integral part of a team of development professionals.
Qualification Requirements and Characteristics:
- Bachelor’s degree required
- Demonstrated experience in fundraising or a related field (e.g., marketing, communications, research); 3+ years preferred
- Excellent writing, editing, and proofreading skills
- Strong communicator (both verbally and in writing)
- Ability to successfully manage a high-volume workload and competing priorities
- A creative and entrepreneurial spirit
- An ability to work with and to gain the respect of colleagues within External Relations, the Director’s Office, and broadly across the Museum – as well as with high-level prospects
- Must be committed to the Museum’s inclusion, diversity, equity and access efforts and initiatives
- Demonstrated willingness to engage in a collaborative approach
- Strong attention to detail
- Ability to function independently with minimal oversight
- Experience with design software, communications, marketing, and/or social/new media desirable
- Commitment to fostering respectful communication and collaboration within a diverse community
- Ability to handle delicate and confidential material
- Some evening and weekend work required
Salary Range
Full-time Salary, 35 hours per week
Starting Salary: $65,000 - $67,000
This is a term position with an end date of 1/1/2030.
This position is affiliated with the UAW union
The MFA is an equal opportunity employer. The community and audience we serve is diverse, and we wish to foster that diversity in our workplace. Toward that end, the MFA does not discriminate against individuals in hiring, employment or promotion on the basis of race, religion, color, sex/gender, gender identity and gender expression, age, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, citizenship, handicap or disability, veteran or military status, political belief, pregnancy, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by law.
Position Overview:
The Donor Relations Officer, Principal Gifts reports to the Director, Principal Gifts and Board Relations and supports the work of the Principal Gifts team, including the Chief Advancement Officer, Principal Gifts Officer, and Director, Gifts of Art. Working as an integral part of a broader team of development professionals, the Donor Relations Officer complements the external, face-to-face donor responsibilities of the fundraisers. The Officer drafts gift proposals; recommends and implements communication and engagement strategies; stewards donor gifts. Efforts are focused on the Museum's highest net worth donors and prospective donors.
This role is a term position with an end date of 1/1/2030.
Essential Functions:
Planning and Administration
- Prepares prospect briefings, customizes communications, and drafts correspondence on behalf of the Director, Principal Gifts and other key stakeholders.
- Plans itineraries of strategic meetings and activities for prospects visiting the Museum, as well as at off-site destinations.
- Partners with the Special Events team to conceive of and manage tailored cultivation and stewardship events. Compiles invitation lists, drafts remarks and provides other support for events.
- Coordinates donor meetings with curators and other staff who are the recipients of donor funds.
- Assists in the creation and design of messaging and communications targeted to individuals and/or specific audiences, in both print and digital formats.
- Attends meetings when called upon to track donor strategy and engagement.
- Drafts agendas for meetings with the Director and Chair, Development Committee mindful of priorities for the program.
- Coordinates the sharing of donor correspondence and other information related to Principal Gifts with the larger Development team as needed.
Donor Engagement and Gift Development
- Proactively explores opportunities to advance prospective donors’ interests in the Museum and its priorities, based on deep understanding of the background of each prospect and in support of Principal Gift cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for individuals.
- Supports gift officers through the process of proposal, approval, and documentation. Drafts gift agreements and submits them to the Stewardship Officer for review and approval.
- Assists in the development of comprehensive giving plans, including unrestricted, restricted, and planned gift components.
Collaboration/Coordination
- Collaborates with the Stewardship Officer to coordinate and ensure appropriate and timely stewardship of gifts, including tracking of stewardship activities and drafting complex stewardship reports for key donors.
- Collaborates with the Director’s Office in support of donor visits locally and nationally.
- May be called upon to provide support for Campaign Planning Group meetings.
- Contributes to donor-centric, team-based structures through interactions with Development Research, Stewardship, Special Events, Board Relations and other program areas within External Relations to support relationship development, prospect management, and communication.
- Attends events (may be evenings or weekends) in support of Principal Gift prospect advancement and larger departmental goals.
- Works as an integral part of a team of development professionals.
Qualification Requirements and Characteristics:
- Bachelor’s degree required
- Demonstrated experience in fundraising or a related field (e.g., marketing, communications, research); 3+ years preferred
- Excellent writing, editing, and proofreading skills
- Strong communicator (both verbally and in writing)
- Ability to successfully manage a high-volume workload and competing priorities
- A creative and entrepreneurial spirit
- An ability to work with and to gain the respect of colleagues within External Relations, the Director’s Office, and broadly across the Museum – as well as with high-level prospects
- Must be committed to the Museum’s inclusion, diversity, equity and access efforts and initiatives
- Demonstrated willingness to engage in a collaborative approach
- Strong attention to detail
- Ability to function independently with minimal oversight
- Experience with design software, communications, marketing, and/or social/new media desirable
- Commitment to fostering respectful communication and collaboration within a diverse community
- Ability to handle delicate and confidential material
- Some evening and weekend work required
Salary Range
Full-time Salary, 35 hours per week
Starting Salary: $65,000 - $67,000
This is a term position with an end date of 1/1/2030.
This position is affiliated with the UAW union
The MFA is an equal opportunity employer. The community and audience we serve is diverse, and we wish to foster that diversity in our workplace. Toward that end, the MFA does not discriminate against individuals in hiring, employment or promotion on the basis of race, religion, color, sex/gender, gender identity and gender expression, age, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, citizenship, handicap or disability, veteran or military status, political belief, pregnancy, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by law.
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Who's Hiring
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in donor relations specialist jobs.
- Bachelor's degree in communications, nonprofit management, or a related field
- Experience with donor management CRM platforms such as Raiser's Edge or Salesforce
- Strong written communication skills for drafting acknowledgment letters and impact reports
- Two or more years of experience in fundraising, stewardship, or development support roles
- Ability to manage a large portfolio of donor records with accuracy and confidentiality
- Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) credential preferred for senior-level positions
Tips for Your Donor Relations Specialist Job Search
Quantify donor retention on your resume
Hiring managers in donor relations want to see concrete outcomes, not task lists. Highlight the number of donors you stewarded, renewal rates you maintained, or acknowledgment turnaround times you improved. Specific results separate you from candidates who list generic duties.
Tailor your resume to each mission
Nonprofits and foundations screen hard for alignment with their cause. Mirror the organization's language around stewardship, donor engagement, or impact reporting in your resume and cover letter. Generic submissions get screened out before anyone reads your experience section.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists donor relations specialist openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Name your CRM experience explicitly
Job postings for donor relations roles frequently require proficiency in a specific donor management platform. Call out the systems you have used by name in your skills section so your application clears keyword filters in applicant tracking systems before a recruiter ever sees it.
Prepare a stewardship portfolio for interviews
Bring two or three examples of donor communications you wrote or campaigns you managed, including thank-you letters, impact reports, or recognition event summaries. Concrete artifacts demonstrate your writing quality and relationship-building approach better than any verbal description.
Negotiate scope not just compensation
When you receive an offer, ask about portfolio size, event budget authority, and whether the role owns major donor relationships or supports a frontline fundraiser. These details define your day-to-day far more than title, and clarifying them early prevents mismatched expectations.
Donor Relations Specialist Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most donor relations specialists?
The most active employers for donor relations specialists right now are Mosaic, The Salvation Army, and Museum of Fine Arts, and the most openings are in Massachusetts, Nebraska, and California, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Universities, hospital foundations, and large national nonprofits consistently post the highest volume of these roles.
How many donor relations specialist jobs are remote?
About 63% of donor relations specialist openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting broader flexibility across the nonprofit sector. Stewardship writing, gift acknowledgment, and reporting work is most likely to be remote, while roles that include in-person donor events or on-campus engagement tend to require at least a partial on-site presence.
How do you become a donor relations specialist?
Start with a bachelor's degree in communications, nonprofit management, public relations, or a related field, then gain experience through development assistant, annual fund, or alumni relations roles. Learn at least one major donor management platform, build writing samples such as acknowledgment letters or stewardship reports, and get involved with professional associations in the fundraising field to expand your network and credentials.
Can you get hired as a donor relations specialist without direct fundraising experience?
Yes, transferable skills from adjacent roles carry real weight in this field. Hiring managers often consider candidates with backgrounds in constituent relations, alumni engagement, event coordination, or nonprofit communications. Emphasize any experience managing relationships with an audience, producing donor-facing writing, or working inside a CRM, and pair that with a cover letter that speaks directly to the organization's stewardship goals.
What does the donor relations specialist interview process look like?
Most processes include an initial screening call with HR, followed by a panel or one-on-one interview with the development director and at least one team member. Expect a writing exercise asking you to draft a gift acknowledgment letter or stewardship update. Final-round interviews often focus on how you would manage a large donor portfolio and your approach to building long-term relationships with major contributors.
Where can I find and apply to donor relations specialist jobs?
You can find and apply to donor relations specialist jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Search the listings to find roles that match your background, then apply directly to each one that fits.
See All 44 Donor Relations Specialist Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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