Hiring Organization Information
Position Information
WTA is looking for a Donor Relations Officer who is passionate about deepening relationships with key donors, fostering an equitable and inclusive hiking community, and inspiring trail users to invest in our vision for trails for everyone, forever. The Donor Relations Officer will be a senior member of WTA’s Development team and the team member specifically responsible for recruiting and sustaining WTA’s Leadership Circle–individuals who contribute $5,000 or more annually to our work. Our Leadership Circle is an important pillar of our community that has seen steady growth over the last three years, with an annual fundraising goal of more than $1.2 million. The Donor Relations Officer will be excited to nurture and grow this community of supporters in order to achieve WTA’s vision. This full-time, exempt role reports to the Development Director and is based in Seattle.
- Build, execute and track a plan to raise over $1.2 million in major gifts annually, with an eye toward growth in 2025 and beyond.
- Cultivate and manage a portfolio of 100+ current and prospective Leadership Circle members and establish activity metrics to effectively steward relationships.
- Identify and recruit new Leadership Circle members and support strategies for mid-level (Fireside Circle) and general membership engagement.
- Oversee stewardship activities that foster community among Leadership Circle members and encourage engagement with WTA’s mission and impact.
- Maintain contact and opportunity records in Salesforce.
- Facilitate and support CEO, Development Director and other staff and board members in cultivating, soliciting and stewarding relationships with current and prospective Leadership Circle members.
- Manage and develop strategy for legacy & planned giving programs that provide philanthropic opportunities to donors through trusts, charitable annuities, life insurance, wills, and bequests.
- Contribute to team fundraising strategy and innovation around topics like funding opportunities, data analysis, fundraising program design and audience segmentation.
- Collaborate with the development team on prospect strategies, crafting a compelling case for support and funding proposals. Engage with cross-functional teams as needed to support fundraising activities as well as organizational planning and culture-building.
Candidates will be evaluated on the full range of their lived and learned experience, professional background, volunteer experience, and direct or transferable skills. WTA seeks candidates with a compelling combination of attributes, so we encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet all the qualifications listed.
- Maintain a strong commitment to WTA’s mission and vision for trails for everyone, forever.
- An authentic and proactive communicator who is able to persuasively communicate across diverse audiences in ways that instill confidence and inspire people to make a concrete impact through their giving.
- At least three years of successful track record of moving individuals toward taking action and making investments, ideally in a mission-driven industry or context.
- Experience with direct fundraising, including annual giving, individual solicitations, planned giving programs, strategic donor engagement, or complex fundraising project management. Previous experience as a donor relationship manager or major gifts officer preferred.
- A strategic and data-driven thinker who is eager to build fundraising strategies that achieve income growth through a combination of proven approaches and explorations of new funding opportunities.
- Ability to manage up in supporting donor relationship management for the relationships held by the CEO and Development Director.
- High ethical standards and diligent record-keeper to maintain confidential donor information.
- Technology proficiency and relationship management database familiarity, ideally with Salesforce or similar CRM.
- Dedicated to advancing the organizations’ goals for diversity, equity and inclusion and a demonstrated ability to work with people of diverse races, ages, genders, abilities and economic backgrounds.