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Donor Relations Jobs in Iowa (NOW HIRING)

Philanthropy Internship

Cedar Rapids, IA · On-site

$14.75 - $19.75/hr

... donor engagement while supporting Tanager's mission to inspire, empower, and heal children and ... Nonprofit Management, Business Administration, Marketing, Communications, Public Relations ...

Executive Assistant

Cedar Rapids, IA · On-site

$35K - $36K/yr

The Executive Assistant manages the donor data base, personnel data management, provides support ... relations skills, team working skills, and organizational skills. • This position consists of ...

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Donor Relations information

See Iowa salary details

$30.1K

$56.3K

$82.7K

How much do donor relations jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 31, 2026, the average yearly pay for donor relations in Iowa is $56,320.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $45,600.00 and $65,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is donor relations?

A Donor Relations job focuses on building and maintaining relationships with donors to ensure their continued support. Professionals in this role develop stewardship programs, communicate impact, and organize appreciation events to engage contributors. They often work closely with fundraising teams to retain donors and encourage long-term giving. Effective donor relations help strengthen an organization's financial stability and mission success.

What are the typical daily responsibilities of someone working in donor relations?

In a Donor Relations role, your daily tasks often involve communicating with donors through calls, emails, and personalized letters to express appreciation and keep them informed about the impact of their support. You'll maintain and update donor databases, coordinate thank-you events or recognition activities, and collaborate with fundraising and communications teams to develop donor stewardship strategies. It's common to track donation activity, generate reports, and help plan engagement campaigns. This variety ensures a dynamic workday focused on building and nurturing strong donor relationships to help advance the organization's mission.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in donor relations, and why are they important?

To succeed in Donor Relations, you typically need a background in fundraising, communications, or nonprofit management, along with strong relationship-building abilities. Familiarity with donor management systems (such as Raiser's Edge or Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud) and experience using CRM software are often required. Exceptional interpersonal skills, attention to detail, and persuasive written and verbal communication help you forge meaningful donor connections. These qualifications are critical for effectively engaging supporters, retaining donors, and securing ongoing philanthropic support for an organization.

How to get into donor relations?

To enter donor relations, candidates typically need a bachelor's degree in fields like nonprofit management, communications, or related areas. Gaining experience through internships or entry-level roles in fundraising or development helps build relevant skills such as communication, relationship management, and knowledge of donor databases like Raiser's Edge. Certifications in fundraising or nonprofit management can also enhance prospects.

What are the most commonly searched types of Donor Relations jobs in Iowa?

The most popular types of Donor Relations jobs in Iowa are:

What are popular job titles related to Donor Relations jobs in Iowa?

For Donor Relations jobs in Iowa, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Donor Relations job openings in Iowa as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 80% Full Time, 17% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $56,320 per year, or $27.1 per hour.

$50K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 5 days ago


Job description

Implements strategies to secure philanthropic support for University of Iowa fundraising priorities, focusing on annual giving of less than $50,000.  Collaborates with colleagues to implement strategic approaches to increase the donor base and build a robust pipeline for major gift support for the university. 

**Position allows for telecommuting/work from home (2-3 days per week depending upon business need and leader approval). Our office is located in Iowa City, IA.** 

Identification

• Works with the Prospect Management staff to identify prospects (based on capacity, giving, history, and affiliation) from among pools that may include alumni, fans, patients, or other supporters of the university.

• Completes significant volume of proactive outreach calls and messages to secure annual gifts.

• Conducts all activities, particularly those involving patient data, according to established laws, policies, procedures, and standards and with the full support of UICA, UI, and UI Hospitals and Clinics as relevant

 

Qualification

• Builds qualification pool of potential prospects with the goal of building a continuous pipeline of donors capable of making gifts of $1,000-$49,999

• Learns and applies the processes of active listening and structured questioning to validate prospect’s capacity and inclination and understand strength of affinity

• Uses gathered information and input from supervisor or skilled colleagues to determine whether prospects qualify for a major gift portfolio or continue to remain in the leadership annual giving portfolio

• Serves as a trusted philanthropic advisor, practicing transparent communication and educating donors about the giving process

 

Cultivation

• Manages portfolio of active leadership annual giving prospects and works with the donors to document their readiness to advance to major gifts 

• Works with supervisor and colleagues to implement donor-centric cultivation strategies 

• Builds knowledge of funding priorities within and beyond assigned unit, consulting with UICA colleagues as needed

Negotiation

• Meets expectations for solicitations, gifts closed, and average gift size (goals established annually with the supervisor in alignment with organization-wide metrics)

• Knows how to employ communication and meeting preparation tools to achieve stated objectives for each step of the process

• Works with supervisor and others to ensure documentation reflects donor intent and sets expectations for stewardship

Stewardship

• Develops, implements, and participates in appropriate stewardship activities for donors as relevant, working with supervisor and stewardship staff as needed

• Maintains integrity of constituent database through timely submittal of interaction reports

Education & Experience: Bachelor’s degree required. 1-3 years of relevant experience preferred.