Annual Fund and Event Manager

Salary Range: $58,000.00 To 70,000.00 Annually
Position Summary

Western Resource Advocates (WRA) is hiring an Annual Fund and
Event Manager to join our Development Team in Colorado. The Annual
Fund and Event Manager will work to develop a multi-channel,
donor-centric annual fund program, which includes donor societies,
sponsorships, giving days, email communications, and collaboration
with the Marketing and Communications department, as well as
members of front-line fundraising teams. This position will require
high collaboration, project management, motivation, and skill in
creating and executing compelling annual giving strategies,
developing content for both mail and email campaigns and planning
prospecting and donor engagement events. The Annual Fund and
Event Manager will work with and report directly to the
Associate Director of Development Operations. This position
will be involved in the growth and expansion of WRA’s donor base,
generate leads for the major gifts team, achieve annual fund goals
and contribute to the overall success of the development team
goals. 

About Western Resource Advocates

WRA fights climate change and its impacts to sustain the
environment, economy, and people of the West. We respect the
different needs of diverse people and partner with them to develop
a shared vision for progress—one that advances communities while
protecting biodiversity.

Our team of policy experts, scientists, economists, and
attorneys has a 30-year history of working where decisions are
made, sweating the details, creating evidence-based solutions, and
holding decision makers accountable. This on the ground work with
policymakers and other advocates advances clean energy, protects
air, land, water, and wildlife—and sustains the lives and
livelihoods of the West.

Location

This position has the option to work from WRA’s Boulder or
Denver office, remotely from anywhere within the Boulder-Denver
metro area, or a hybrid of the two. Travel to meetings,
conferences, donor events, and other work-related events is
required within WRA’s region. This is in addition to travel
required for retreats, and other internal organizational meetings.
Typically, there is at least one all-staff retreat and one
Development Team retreat in our region each year at which
attendance is required. 

Responsibilities And Activities

ANNUAL GIVING

Plan, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive annual giving
program that builds on a growing foundation of annual donors and
activities

Execute strategies and tactics that include developing a
calendar of activities, writing appeals, segmenting mailing lists,
executing giving days, and planning events

Manage annual giving appeals and materials, which includes
developing campaign themes, drafting content, working with the
graphic designer, segmenting lists, and coordinating print and
mailing

Create and automate programs and work closely with donor groups
such as  workplace giving, first-time donors, and recurring
donors, incorporating appropriate stewardship and communication to
influence moves management

Work with Donor Relations Officers and other development staff
to integrate major gift donors as needed into annual giving and
stewardship opportunities

Manage the sponsorship program, solicit renewals and new
sponsorships solo and with other development or program staff, and
track and manage benefits

Work closely with the marketing staff to integrate and execute
digital engagement and giving

Cultivate, solicit, and steward annual fund donors, and
recommend qualified donors for moves management

Set goals, track, and analyze metrics to increase performance
of direct mail, giving programs, including retention, increased
giving, and acquisition of new donors

Recommend and track a budget for annual giving program

Input appropriate information in Raiser’s Edge donor database,
update constituent records to maintain data health and actions, and
extract data as needed

Support the fundraising goals and mission of the
organization

Stay abreast of industry standards and best practices to guide
annual giving program

EVENT COORDINATION

Plan and execute new and existing stewardship and cultivation
events for annual fund and major gift donors

Work with internal stakeholders and vendors to create seamless
execution of events

Manage events calendar for Development Team

Maintain accurate records and reporting on event metrics
including tracking attendance, ROI and budget

Stay abreast of industry standards and best practices
fundraising event planning

Required Qualifications

Any equivalent combination of education, training, and
experience, which provides the required knowledge, skills, and
abilities to perform the essential functions of this position, will
be considered. For example, the requisite experience, knowledge,
skills, and abilities would include: 

Three or more years of experience working with
donors or external stakeholders and considerable knowledge of
annual giving best practices 

Demonstrated experience in planning and executing fundraising
events

Strong interpersonal and written communication skills,
including the ability to communicate and connect with diverse
audiences

Ability to communicate technical content to non-technical
audiences

Project management skills with the ability to adapt
quickly

Coordination, collaboration, and creativity in daily
work

Proficient writing and editing skills

Well versed in direct mail and digital solicitation best
practices and implementation

Demonstrated track record of developing and executing
successful annual fundraising strategies

Interest in and growing knowledge of best practices in
fundraising and fundraising events

Ability to collect and analyze data

Preferred experience in donor database (not required)

Physical Requirements

Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a
computer. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable
individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Some travel is required.

Salary And Benefits

The salary range is $58,000-$70,000 annually; salary
depends on relevant experience and new staff rarely start at the
top of the range. WRA’s excellent benefits package includes a
401(k) retirement plan with up to 5% matching and health, dental,
vision, and life & disability insurance with 100% of premiums
paid by WRA. Annually, staff receive seventeen days paid vacation
leave to start, twelve paid sick days, one paid volunteer day,
twelve paid holidays, and WRA is closed for Winter Break between
Christmas Day and New Year’s Day for additional paid time off.
Employees are eligible for up to twelve weeks of parental leave,
and after five years, staff are eligible for up to twelve weeks of
paid sabbatical leave. Colorado staff receive a RTD EcoPass.
Position is full-time exempt.

Deadline To Apply: Open Until Filled with priority
review beginning on Monday, May 13, 2024.