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Director Donor Relations Jobs (NOW HIRING)

$82K - $136K/yr

The Donor Relations team provides a comprehensive, donor-focused program that enriches a donor ... Reporting to the Executive Director, Donor Relations, the Director, Donor Fund Compliance will ...

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Director Donor Relations information

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$36.5K

$75.6K

$110.5K

How much do director donor relations jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for director donor relations in the United States is $75,605.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $60,000.00 and $90,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Director of Donor Relations, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Director of Donor Relations, you need expertise in fundraising strategy, donor stewardship, and relationship management, often supported by a degree in nonprofit management, communications, or a related field. Familiarity with donor management systems (like Raiser's Edge or Salesforce) and certification in fundraising (e.g., CFRE) are highly beneficial. Strong interpersonal communication, leadership, and strategic thinking skills set top candidates apart. These abilities are crucial for building long-term donor engagement, driving philanthropic support, and ensuring the organization’s fundraising success.

What does a Director of Donor Relations do?

A Director of Donor Relations is responsible for developing and implementing strategies to engage, steward, and retain donors for a nonprofit organization or institution. They oversee donor communications, recognition programs, and events to ensure donors feel valued and informed about the impact of their contributions. This role often involves collaborating with fundraising teams to enhance donor experiences and foster long-term relationships. By maintaining positive relationships, the Director of Donor Relations helps secure ongoing support for the organization’s mission.

What are some common challenges faced by a Director of Donor Relations, and how can they be addressed?

A Director of Donor Relations often faces the challenge of maintaining strong, personalized connections with a diverse donor base while managing multiple fundraising campaigns. Balancing relationship-building with administrative responsibilities requires excellent organizational and communication skills. Adopting donor management software, segmenting outreach strategies, and fostering close collaboration with development and communications teams can help address these challenges. Regularly analyzing donor feedback and campaign results also ensures continuous improvement in engagement and stewardship efforts.

What is the difference between Director Donor Relations vs Development Manager?

AspectDirector Donor RelationsDevelopment Manager
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree, experience in fundraising or donor relationsBachelor's degree, experience in fundraising or donor relations
Work EnvironmentStrategic planning, high-level donor engagement, leadershipCampaign execution, donor outreach, event planning
Employer & Industry UsageNonprofits, educational institutions, healthcare organizationsNonprofits, educational institutions, healthcare organizations
Search & Comparison IntentHigh-level donor relations, leadership rolesFundraising, donor management roles

The main difference between a Director Donor Relations and a Development Manager lies in their scope and focus. The Director typically oversees strategic donor engagement and manages senior relationships, while the Development Manager handles day-to-day fundraising activities and donor outreach. Both roles require similar credentials and are common in nonprofit and educational sectors, but the Director position is more strategic and leadership-oriented.

More about Director Donor Relations jobs
What cities are hiring for Director Donor Relations jobs? Cities with the most Director Donor Relations job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Donor Relations jobs? The most popular types of Donor Relations jobs are:
What states have the most Director Donor Relations jobs? States with the most job openings for Director Donor Relations jobs include:
Infographic showing various Director Donor Relations job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 99% Full Time, and 1% Part Time. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $75,605 per year, or $36.3 per hour.
Executive Director, Donor Relations

Executive Director, Donor Relations

Hackensack Meridian Health

Iselin, NJ

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 12 days ago


Hackensack Meridian Health rating

7.8

Company rating: 7.8 out of 10

Based on 358 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

133rd of 877 rated healthcare providers


Job description

Our team members are the heart of what makes us better.

At Hackensack Meridian Health we help our patients live better, healthier lives — and we help one another to succeed. With a culture rooted in connection and collaboration, our employees are team members. Here, competitive benefits are just the beginning. It’s also about how we support one another and how we show up for our community.

Together, we keep getting better - advancing our mission to transform healthcare and serve as a leader of positive change.

The Executive Director of Donor Relations leads the development and implementation of a comprehensive system-wide stewardship program supporting Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation. Reporting to the Vice President of Strategic Programs, this position provides the expertise to advance the mission, interests and priorities of Hackensack Meridian Health by directing a program that improves donor retention and fosters trust and loyalty among our donors while tracking, reporting and recommending best practices around donor stewardship efforts. The Executive Director works in close collaboration with the site foundation leadership and hospital/care transformation leadership.


A day in the life of a Executive Director of Donor Relations at Hackensack Meridian Health includes:

  • Sets vision, goals and strategies for a comprehensive donor relations program to achieve annual goals for donor retention and other donor relations metrics that support the fundraising efforts of Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation.
  • Designs, builds and directs a donor-centered and mission-driven donor relations program that strategically targets all levels of giving for Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation, from conceptualization to implementation to assessment. This includes system-wide donor acknowledgements processes, recognition, stewardship reporting, engagement and other donor relations activities.
  • Creates and recommends system-wide standards and best practices in donor relations to nurture engagement with donors and prospective donors.
  • Leads the Donor Relations department, which currently includes a director of donor relations, a manager of donor relations, two (2) donor relations coordinators, and donor relations interns and volunteers.
  • Oversees principal and major gift donor stewardship, including custom stewardship reports and individual stewardship plans to strengthen donor relationships with the organization.
  • Drives additional major gifts through targeted principal and major gift donor stewardship activities.
  • Develops and manages system-wide donor relations policies and procedures for recognition.
  • Directs individual recognition, campaign recognition and special recognition projects, including digital recognition.
  • Develops, maintains and oversees gift agreement process, including development of templates, review/approval and managing follow-up inquiries regarding special conditions.
  • Tracks, measures, and analyzes donor retention and engagement metrics to establish priorities and make informed decisions about future direction of stewardship activities.
  • Partners with Special Events team on donor appreciation and stewardship events, with a focus on individual donor events.
  • Maintains strategic relationships and ongoing communication with Executive Directors and Development Officers for each of the hospital foundations, as well as system leadership, hospital leadership and appropriate site staff, board members, committee chairs and members and other key constituents.
  • Strategizes with the Foundation Communications Department to ensure that foundation communication demonstrates donor-centered impact to the organization.
  • Develops and manages the Donor Relations department budget annually and collaborates with individual hospital foundations to develop budget allocations for donor relations activities.
  • Has the authority to review and negotiate contracts and invoices with all donor relations vendors.
  • Serves as the liaison with the risk and legal team for all donor relations contracts.
  • Other duties and/or projects as assigned.
  • Adheres to HMH Organizational competencies and standards of behavior.

Education, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

  • Bachelor's Degree in related field from four-year university or college.
  • Ten or more years of experience in donor relations.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Strong experience in developing and leading a comprehensive donor relations program.
  • Management experience and skills in coaching and guiding team members.

Education, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Preferred:

  • Experience in a healthcare setting at a large multi-hospital system.
  • Masters level degree or specialized certification in related field.
  • Experience working with Raisers' Edge and RE NXT.
  • Experience working with the legal and finance departments. 

If you feel that the above description speaks directly to your strengths and capabilities, then please apply today!      


Minimum rate of $156,062.40 Annually
HMH is committed to pay equity and transparency for our team members. The posted rate of pay in this job posting is a reasonable good faith estimate of the minimum base pay for this role at the time of posting in accordance with the New Jersey Pay Transparency Act and does not reflect the full value of our market-competitive total rewards package.
The starting rate of pay is provided for informational purposes only and is not a guarantee of a specific offer. Posted hourly rates may be stated as an annual salary in the offer and posted annual salaries may be stated as an hourly rate in the offer, depending on the level and nature of the job duties and credentials of the candidate. The base compensation determined at the time of the offer may be different than the posted rate of pay based on a number of non-discriminatory factors, including but not limited to:
Labor Market Data: Compensation is benchmarked against market data to ensure competitiveness.
Experience: Years of relevant work experience.
Education and Certifications: Level of education attained, including specialized certifications, credentials, completed apprenticeship programs or advanced training.
Skills: Demonstrated proficiency in relevant skills and competencies.
Geographic Location: Cost of living and market rates for the specific location.
Internal Equity: Compensation is determined in a manner consistent with compensation ranges for similar roles within the organization.
Budget and Grant Funding: Departmental budgets and any grant funding associated with the job position may impact the pay that can be offered.
Some jobs may also be eligible for performance-based incentives, bonuses, or commissions not reflected in the starting rate. Certain positions may also be eligible for shift differentials for work performed on evening, night, or weekend shifts.
In addition to our compensation for full-time and part-time (20+ hours/week) job positions, HMH offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, vision, paid leave, tuition reimbursement, and retirement benefits.

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