Reporting to the President/CEO, the Director of Donor Engagement is seasoned, dynamic, creative, and organized
with a great interest in helping United Way of Northwest Michigan thrive and grow. The Director of Donor
Engagement is responsible for new donor identification, cultivation, and stewardship of existing donors to increase
overall retention and giving levels, and relationship management between donors and others on the board and staff
who work with them. The Director of Donor Engagement will also be responsible for leading appeal campaigns and
growing the organization’s first planned giving program.
Responsibilities:
• Leverages and aligns United Way of Northwest Michigan (UWNWMI)’s unique strengths and abilities to
support donor development and stewardship
• Promotes awareness of UWNWMI’s mission which encourages lifelong relationships between UWNWMI
and its donors including foundations, corporations, and individuals
• Provides leadership and direction in the design and implementation of integrated strategies that deliver
results on the donor development agenda
• Assesses priorities, creates and executes timelines, continuously monitors and evaluates goals
• Works with internal and external teams to successfully execute strategies and develop related tasks
• Provides progress reports to the President/CEO on a monthly basis on donor relations development
• Researches potential donors, foundations, and other development opportunities
• Coordinates and executes fundraising campaigns to meet UWNWMI’s targets
• Maintains existing relationships with individual and corporate donors, including acknowledgment and
recognition
• Provides a consistent and positive experience for donors
• Fosters a spirit of teamwork and unity among the department and work effectively together to enable each
employee and the department to succeed
• Safeguards all confidential information used in the performance of duties
• Other duties as assigned
Qualifications, Skills, and Abilities:
• Ability to conceive, plan, and execute a major gifts program, including annual giving, special events, and
special projects/campaigns
• Ability to master use of databases/CRM and other web-based tools
• Excellent written and public speaking skills
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office suite
• Ability to plan, organize and facilitate meetings and presentations
2
• Ability to initiate action and work independently or as part of a team
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to develop and manage budgets
• Ability to multi-task and work in fast-paced environments at times
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in fundraising and donor relationship building
• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in relevant field
Competencies:
United Way Core Competencies for all Staff:
• Mission-Focused: Catalyze others’ commitment to mission to create real social change that leads to better
lives and healthier communities; this drives their performance and professional motivations
• Relationship-Oriented: Understands that people come before process and is astute in cultivating and
managing relationships toward a common goal
• Collaborator: understands the roles and contributions of all sectors of the community and can mobilize
resources (financial and human) through meaningful engagement
• Results-Driven: Dedicated to shared and measurable goals for the common good; creating, resourcing,
scaling, and leveraging strategies and innovations for broad investment and impact
• Brand Steward: Steward of the brand and understands his/her role in growing and protecting the
reputation and results of the greater organization
Supervisory or Managerial Responsibility
None
Residency and Travel
It is preferred that applicants reside in the service area and are available to attend early morning, evening, and/or
weekend meetings on a periodic basis, and should be able to travel independently throughout Northwest Michigan.
50% travel within service area
Physical Demands
Physical demands are representative of the requirements necessary for an employee to successfully perform the
essential functions of this position. The employee is required to actively listen and communicate clearly. The
employee is required to stand and publically speak. The employee is required to walk, reach with arms and hands,
climb, balance, twist, lean, move from one location to another, and to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. Vision abilities
required by this job include close and far. Ability to operate a computer keyboard and mouse, and lift files and
reports is required. Employee must be able to lift and carry 25 pounds.
The employee is required to talk and hear. The employee is often required to sit and use their hands and fingers to
handle or feel. Reliable transportation and a clean driving record are required as the employee will need to
travel throughout Northern Lower Michigan to visit with community members/stakeholders at their preferred
meeting locations and to travel to donor engagement events. Set-up and take down for community
events. Participation in early morning and evening meetings and events will be required. The noise level in the work
environment is usually quiet to moderate.
3
This job description describes the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this position.
It should not be construed as an exhaustive list of all required duties, responsibilities, and skills. Reasonable
accommodations may be made to enable disabled individuals to perform the essential functions of the job.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement
We value the visible and invisible qualities that make each of us who we are and we welcome that every person
brings a unique perspective and experience to advance our mission.
We strive to ensure that all community members, donors, volunteers, advocates, employees, and representatives of
United Way of Northwest Michigan have equal access to solving community problems.