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Donor Relations Associate Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Student Assistant, Donor Relations The Student Assistant supports the Donor Relations team under general guidance by preparing donor correspondence, including postcards, letters and ThankView video ...

Donor Relations Clerk I

Ashland, MT · On-site

$12 - $13.81/hr

Donor Relations Clerk I Job Title: Donor Relations Clerk I Department: Development Reports To: Donor Relations Manager FLSA Status: Nonexempt - 12 month position Salary Grade: 3B ($12.00- $13.81-$15 ...

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The Donor Relations and Operations Coordinator is also responsible for managing the overall ... Associates degree and two-to-five years' experience in customer service, sales, or marketing in a ...

Donor Relations Specialist

Houston, TX · On-site

$55K - $65K/yr

Donor Relations Specialist Department: Donated Goods Program (DGP) Reports To: Director of Donor ... all associates. • Track critical data relevant to donations' quantity, quality, and value and ...

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Donor Service Associate Full-time $16-$19/hr. Monday through Friday 8 am - 4 pm Paid time off 10 ... Community Relations Promote good relations with all those who interface with the milk bank ...

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Donor Relations Associate information

See salary details

$34.5K

$51.4K

$65.5K

How much do donor relations associate jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for donor relations associate in the United States is $51,354.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $45,000.00 and $57,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Donor Relations Associate vs Fundraising Coordinator?

AspectDonor Relations AssociateFundraising Coordinator
Primary FocusBuilding and maintaining donor relationshipsPlanning and executing fundraising campaigns
ResponsibilitiesDonor communication, acknowledgment, stewardshipEvent planning, donor outreach, campaign management
Required SkillsCommunication, relationship management, CRM proficiencyOrganizational skills, event planning, communication
Work EnvironmentNonprofit organizations, development departmentsNonprofits, fundraising firms, development teams

While both roles support nonprofit fundraising efforts, the Donor Relations Associate primarily focuses on maintaining strong relationships with existing donors through communication and stewardship. In contrast, the Fundraising Coordinator is more involved in planning and executing fundraising campaigns and events. Both roles require excellent communication skills and familiarity with nonprofit environments, but their core responsibilities differ in scope and focus.

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

To thrive as a Donor Relations Associate, you generally need strong communication and organizational skills, a background in fundraising or nonprofit management, and a bachelor's degree in a related field. Familiarity with donor management systems (such as Raiser's Edge or Salesforce) and proficiency in Microsoft Office are typically required. Exceptional interpersonal skills, attention to detail, and a service-oriented mindset help build lasting donor relationships and ensure effective stewardship. These skills are vital for maintaining donor satisfaction, supporting fundraising goals, and fostering long-term organizational support.

What Does a Donor Relations Associate Do?

A donor relations associate helps build relationships between the philanthropy community and worthy causes. In this role, your responsibilities include fundraising and developing strategies to meet financial goals. Duties involve organizing and planning events and identifying potential donors and other opportunities. You may solicit a prospect for a gift or handle administrative tasks such as applying for grants or overseeing promotions and advertising. You assist other team members with press releases, media contacts, and other public relations activities. This job may also involve frequent travel.

What does a Donor Relations Associate do?

A Donor Relations Associate is responsible for maintaining and strengthening relationships with donors to ensure their continued support of an organization. This role typically involves acknowledging donations, organizing donor events, managing donor databases, and communicating updates and impact stories to donors. They work closely with fundraising teams to personalize outreach and ensure donors feel valued. The position is crucial for building long-term donor loyalty and supporting the organization’s financial sustainability.

How does a Donor Relations Associate typically collaborate with other departments within a nonprofit organization?

A Donor Relations Associate works closely with teams such as fundraising, communications, and program staff to ensure effective donor stewardship and engagement. They often coordinate with the fundraising team to track gift acknowledgments and donor recognition efforts, and collaborate with communications to craft personalized messages for donors. Additionally, they may partner with program staff to gather impact stories and updates to share with supporters. This cross-departmental teamwork helps maintain strong relationships with donors and supports the organization's overall mission.
What cities are hiring for Donor Relations Associate jobs? Cities with the most Donor Relations Associate job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Donor Relations jobs? The most popular types of Donor Relations jobs are:
Who are the top companies hiring for Donor Relations Associate jobs? The top employers for Donor Relations Associate jobs are:
What states have the most Donor Relations Associate jobs? States with the most job openings for Donor Relations Associate jobs include:
Infographic showing various Donor Relations Associate job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 65% Full Time, 33% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 95% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $51,354 per year, or $24.7 per hour.

Associate Director of Donor Relations

Vassar

Poughkeepsie, NY

$70K - $77K/yr

Full-time

Posted 18 days ago


Job description

Department

Advancement

Job Family

Administrator

Vassar College is deeply committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees by promoting an environment of transparency and respect for differences. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds who meet the qualifications of a posting. If you need to request an accommodation to fully participate in the search process, please contact careers@vassar.edu.

Job Description

Position Summary

Reporting to the Director of Donor Relations, the Associate Director of Donor Relations serves as the primary executor of the acknowledgment process. The position leads reporting and stewardship for an assigned portfolio of grouped and individual funds, including named endowed faculty chairs, internships, Dean of the Faculty, and Presidential discretionary funds, as well as select individually managed funds requiring tailored stewardship. This position will also manage the Student Ambassador program within Advancement and write donor updates and stories that showcase philanthropy and its role in advancing the College's mission.

Responsibilities

  • Lead the College's donor acknowledgment program, ensuring timely, accurate, and personalized expressions of gratitude; write special correspondence on behalf of the President and Vice President and oversee all related communications, including tribute gifts, donor-advised funds, and condolences.

  • Manage the Student Ambassador Program, including selection, onboarding, training, mentorship, supervision, retention, and the hiring and supervision of the Lead Student Ambassador, along with the growth of the program. Guide the development and execution of the annual photo shoot, video shoot, student acknowledgment letter, and ambassador-driven engagement programming.

  • Prepare personalized fund updates and donor communications that demonstrate impact and reinforce alignment with institutional priorities for assigned individual funds, to include discretionary, internship, lecture, and prize.

  • Provide consolidated donor updates for a portfolio of funds, to include scholarship and faculty chair reports, communicating philanthropic impact and highlighting key College programs and institutional priorities.

  • Manage scholarship notification communications to students and facilitate the connections between donors and scholarship recipients, and staff and scholarship recipients.

  • Monitor emerging trends and best practices in donor relations to strengthen processes, enhance engagement, and improve efficiency through effective use of technology.

  • Write donor stories that showcase philanthropy and its role in advancing the College's mission, as needed.

  • Utilize donor management systems to track stewardship activities, ensuring compliance and accurate reporting.

Required knowledge, skills and abilities

  • Bachelor's degree.

  • A minimum of three to five years of professional experience, preferably in a writing or research-intensive field.

  • Exceptional writing and editing skills, with the ability to synthesize research and tailor tone and content for a range of donor audiences.

  • Proficiency with a variety of technology platforms, including experience working with Google Workspace; customer relationship management (CRM) systems; project management tools; and the ability to manage workflows effectively.

  • Creative, adaptable problem solver and quick learner.

Preferred knowledge, skills and abilities

  • Demonstrated ability to manage multiple concurrent projects in a deadline-driven environment, communicate effectively with diverse internal and external stakeholders, and handle sensitive information with sound judgment and discretion.

  • Ability to supervise and support students from diverse backgrounds.

  • Experience working in higher education or other complex organizations is preferred, particularly in donor relations, advancement, or related fields.

Compensation

The compensation for this position is $70,000 - $77,000 (USD) per year.

When extending an offer, Vassar College considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, budget, and other market and organizational considerations. The starting salary range represents the College's good faith and reasonable estimate at the time of posting.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

To complete your application, you will be required to attach your resume and cover letter.