Donor Experience Manager

POSITION: Donor Experience Manager (Level 5)

REPORTS TO: Vice President, Donor Experience

LOCATION: New York, NY

FLSA STATUS: Exempt

WEBSITE: www.thenytrust.org

START DATE: February 2025

ABOUT US

As New York's largest community foundation, The New York Community Trust fosters and engages in enduring and innovative philanthropy, making grants that bring together the local knowledge and expertise of its team, nonprofits, and partners to help donors fulfill their vision for the causes they love. From education and the arts to health care and the environment, The New York Community Trust seeks to improve every aspect of the cultural and civic life of New York City, Long Island, and Westchester. The Trust is a regional philanthropic leader, delivering nearly $200 million in grants in 2023 and more than $2 billion in the past decade. In addition to a distinguished competitive grantmaking program, The Trust hosts donor-advised funds (DAFs) that make grants throughout the United States as well as funder collaboratives that work on the leading edge of philanthropy to improve the lives of New Yorkers. Celebrating its centennial anniversary this year, The Trust has long been a leader in the field, with innovations ranging from establishing the first donor­-advised fund in the 1930s to making landmark grants, including some of the first to fight AIDS, build The High Line, support immigrant communities in the region, and respond quickly in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Donor Experience Manager (“DEM”) is mid-level member of staff reporting to the Vice President, Donor Experience and collaborating with other members of the Donor Experience team, and additionally the larger development team.

The DEM provides key support to the VP of Donor Experience (“VP”) in the management and stewardship of important donor/advisor relationships alongside the successful operations of The Trust’s donor advised fund program (“DAF”). The Trust’s DAF program grants about $140M annually, about 70% of total annual grantmaking, in approximately 10,000 grants. The efficient operations and expansion of our DAF program is a key element of The Trust’s future growth strategy and mission.

This position involves providing excellent customer service to a portfolio of donor/advisors as they carry out their charitable giving, and proactively maintains and builds donor relationships with the goal of increased donor participation in The Trust. The position also provides an opportunity for the DEM to further engage donors more deeply in the mission of The Trust and its activities throughout the 8-county region that The Trust serves including Westchester and Long Island.

The DEM is a new position created to support The Trust’s larger efforts to support and promote our donor advised fund offering and provide meaningful services and interactions with donors. As a new position, the successful candidate will bring broad capabilities, experience and flexibility to the job responsibilities, which have the potential to grow and evolve over time.

The Donor Experience Manager will ensure that donors have a fulfilling and seamless experience with The Trust.

The Donor Experience Manager will report to the Vice President, Donor Experience.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Development

• Develop a portfolio of donor relationships in coordination with the VP, with the goal of regular interactions and the capture and updating of key information.
• Cultivate and deepen relationships with the above-cited regular individuals, identifying those with attributes of wealth and an inclination to be more generous
• Document and refer such above-cited individuals, as appropriate, to the development team for planned giving and other fundraising.
• Work with the VP to engage prospects and gather information about the establishment of new donor-advised funds.
• Liaise with and support a larger development team on institutional fundraising initiatives and priorities.

Fund Management

• Draft and manage donor communications and inquiries on various topics connected with donor-advised funds.
• Work directly with donor/advisors recommending grants, recording succession plans, seeking grantmaking guidance, etc.
• Work within The Trust’s database, consistently entering key information on donors' activities and interests.
• Work with donor/advisors as they learn and use MyGrants, The Trust’s online portal for making grants from DAFs and tracking activity.
• Attend selected committee meetings, take minutes, develop content and agenda with the VP.

Donor Relations

• General donor relations regarding their advised funds at the direction of the VP.
• Work directly with donors who may need special guidance in carrying out their charitable goals.
• Communicate with and gather information from organizations undergoing review concerning The Trust’s due diligence project for approving grantee organizations.
• Create and maintain contact records for donor/advisor interactions.
• Working with VP, and others to resolve various complex advisor and fund-specific governance issues.

Other

• Other tasks and special projects that may occur occasionally, as assigned by the supervisor.

Requirements

• 5-7 years of substantive, relevant full-time experience in development, grantmaking and nonprofits.
• Past work experience with high-net-worth individuals is highly desirable.
• Bachelor's degree is required, and a Master’s degree in a related field is a plus.
• A commitment to quality, attention to detail, and the ability to manage projects and tasks independently.
• Excellent writing and communication skills, as well as the ability to interact with donors, the public, and co-workers in a friendly and confident manner.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office platforms (e.g., Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and integrated database programs; experience working with e-marketing platforms (e.g., ConstantContact, Emma) and with Salesforce or similar CRM/fundraising databases is a plus.
• Ability to meet concurrent deadlines and organize time and priorities appropriately.
• Attend donor engagement events (estimated 12 per year)

Competencies

• Understand The Trust's unique value proposition and maintain a strong familiarity with the organization's grantmaking and programmatic work.
• Ability to communicate enthusiasm for Trust activities and mission to donors/advisors and other external audiences.
• Ability to participate in and embrace change within the department (new staff and shift in responsibilities & operations) constructively while maintaining a positive and motivating outlook.
• "People person" who is also an active listener with a talent for building deep and long-lasting relationships with donors/advisors and others.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills; ability to keep track of multiple projects at a given time.
• Ability to thrive in an interconnected staff ecosystem and collaborate with colleagues and departments.

COMPENSATION

The annual starting salary range for the position is $90,000-$105,000 and commensurate with the candidate's experience and education. The position is on-site at our New York office, and we adhere to a hybrid work model (four days in the office and one remote, seasonal remote weeks, and flexible remote days during the year). The Trust offers excellent benefits, including a pension plan, an 8% employer contribution to a 403(b)-retirement plan, partially subsidized medical insurance coverage & tiered medical plan offerings, generous paid time off, fully paid family bonding leave, and other benefits.

The Trust is a qualifying nonprofit organization defined by the Public Service Loan Forgiveness ("PSLF") Program. As such, Trust employees may claim their employment time on their application.

HOW TO APPLY

Please apply through The Trust's HRIS platform, Paylocity. Please upload your resume, cover letter, and a one-page writing sample as a PDF document. The candidate should solely draft the sample as an author, and strong writing skills and fundraising acumen should be demonstrated (redacted memos to professional advisors and donors, etc.).

We are committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in our recruitment process. The Trust strongly encourages members of underrepresented communities and individuals who meet most job requirements to apply.

The Trust is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based on age, color, national origin, ethnic origin, citizenship status, disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law in its employment policies. In addition, The Trust will provide reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire.