Donor Relations Manager

About EMA

EMA shifts power and resources to our partners and practices care-based philanthropy to support and nurture a dynamic network of small social impact organizations with the goal to learn collectively, bridge differences, and work towards equity. Through our dynamic storytelling and learning platform, rhizōma, we amplify underrepresented voices by sharing stories and resources related to the work of our funding partners and creating a vital space for empathy where we can recognize our shared humanity and build pathways toward understanding.

EMA is committed to providing meaningful and power-building opportunities for value-aligned young professionals motivated by our mission and the work of our partners. Our intergenerational team fosters a care-based workplace culture rooted in collaboration, mentorship, mutual accountability, and the fact that we all bring unique perspectives to the work. EMA employs a decentralized, non-hierarchical organizational structure through which young professionals are valued personally, nurtured intentionally, and developed professionally. We empower our staff to take charge of their work and to excel within the spaces held for and with them. We also have a knack for making the work fun.

About the Role

We are seeking an energetic and dynamic Donor Relations Manager to accelerate EMA’s growing fundraising efforts. In this role, you will partner with the Executive Director, Director of Strategy, development consultant and team to co-create and implement EMA’s fundraising strategy and serve as the lead fundraiser responsible for identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major gift prospects. As EMA advances in the effort to spend down its original assets, the Donor Relations Manager will play a vital role in supporting the achievement of EMA’s strategic goals for the stability and growth of the organization and our impact network of nonprofit partner organizations. This person will bring the energy and track record needed for successful growth in alignment with EMA’s values as a trust and care-based funder.

Primary responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to:

Donor Cultivation & Relationship Management

• Build and codify a major gifts program with a portfolio of 50+ donors and prospects, with an emphasis on high-net-worth individuals and foundations
• Conduct prospect research and strategically identify prospective donors
• Develop and implement individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for prospects and donors based on their history of giving, relationship to EMA and knowledge of the donor’s potential
• Work collaboratively with Executive Director and EMA Network Advisors to leverage relationships and enhance donor engagement

Fundraising Strategy & Donor Engagement

• Maintain a culture of trust-based philanthropy among the organizations’ individual networks, collaborating with the Communications Team to craft compelling fundraising appeals and solicitation pitches
• Support the creation of compelling content for donor communications, including newsletters, appeal letters, and impact reports, to keep donors informed and engaged
• Coordinate and manage special donor engagement opportunities and other potential major gifts events (estimated between 2-5 events by end of calendar year 2025)

Data Management

• Manage processes for oversight of donor information, tracking of gifts, and regular data review to support effective fundraising
• Co-create, monitor, and report on major gift fundraising metrics; analyze trends in donor data to assess the effectiveness of fundraising strategies and recommend improvements
• Liaise with Director of Administration to ensure gift tracking processes align with accounting procedures and disclosure requirements

Necessary Qualifications:

• Passion for and commitment to the mission and vision of EMA of social justice, equity, and community building
• Three or more years of experience in major gifts fundraising with a proven track record of cultivating prospects and closing five- and six-figure gifts
• Prior experience with capital campaigns is an advantage
• Demonstrated success in personally building effective, long-term relationships with new and prospective donors, in addition to success in retaining existing donors
• Accurate and current knowledge of trends, movements, and developing policy to inform emerging changemaking opportunities in the nonprofit sector
• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, including ability to engage confidently with individuals from various backgrounds, including those of high-net-worth, while exhibiting professionalism, sensitivity, confidence, and discretion
• Experience in or familiarity with the issue areas of EMA’s partners: migration, education and storytelling, and decolonization and Indigenous healing
• Proficiency with CRM platforms (e.g., HubSpot) and project management tools (e.g., Asana and Google Suite)
• Experience with email marketing platforms (e.g., Mailchimp)
• Willingness to travel, as needed
• Ability to work autonomously and thrive in a collaborative, remote environment

Job Type: This position is part-time, 25-hours a week, exempt. Role may be considered for a transition to full-time as early as January 1, 2026, contingent on the success of fundraising activities in supporting the sustainability of future operations.

Location: This position is fully remote with the invitation for in-person meetings and events; as such a computer and consistent access to the internet are required.

Team: EMA adopts a remote-first approach with a team of 15 staff members located in different cities across the United States, including but not limited to Juneau, AK; Boston, MA; New York City; the San Francisco Bay Area, and Southern California.

Compensation and Benefits: Base annual salary is $54,000 with an additional stipend of $5,000 paid in biweekly installments to cover incidental expenses (such as internet and cellphone) as well as any benefits not currently provided by EMA.

Equity in the workplace is demonstrated at all levels at EMA and among the remote team we operate according to the values of learning, belonging, and community. Our commitment to all staff members is to support them with a livable wage and access to resources to support holistic well-being, personal growth, and professional development.