Title: Donor Engagement Manager
Department: Development
Reports to: Director of Development
Salary Range: $64,000–$72,000
Location: Fairfax, Virginia
FLSA Status: Exempt

About Us

Shelter House was established in 1981 as a grassroots responder to the homelessness crisis in Fairfax County. Since the organization’s inception, we have adapted and grown to meet community needs, all while working in partnership with government and private partners and community members.

Today, Shelter House is a successful and reputable organization of over 200 employees committed to preventing and ending homelessness and domestic violence. In the last year, our compassionate team changed the lives of nearly 2,000 individuals, half of whom were children.

Our culture is built on our core values of Inclusivity, Collaboration, Accountability, Respect, and Empowerment (i.C.A.R.E.).

About the Role:

The Donor Engagement Manager supports the planning and execution of Shelter House’s fundraising initiatives, with a focus on increasing community visibility, strengthening stakeholder relationships, and aligning donor engagement activities with the organization’s mission and goals. This role plays a central part in developing and implementing comprehensive fundraising strategies, including individual giving, corporate sponsorships, and foundation support.

Working closely with the Director of Development and other team members, the Donor Engagement Manager is responsible for cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding a portfolio of donors, with an emphasis on donor retention and long-term relationship building. This includes managing fundraising campaigns, preparing donor communications and proposals, and supporting community engagement efforts that enhance Shelter House’s profile and impact.

This is an individual contributor position with no supervisory responsibilities. The ideal candidate is results driven, strategic, and proactive, with strong relationship management skills and the ability to collaborate across teams and with external partners to drive philanthropic support.

Responsibilities:

Fundraising & Resource Development

• Collaborate with the Director of Development to achieve fundraising goals.
• Raise funds through various campaigns and events, aiming for a 15%-20% increase over the previous year's fundraising efforts.
• Plan and lead friend-raisers/fundraisers benefiting Shelter House and manage all logistics.
• Conduct prospect research to identify 3-5 new potential major donors monthly, providing a foundation for future cultivation and solicitation efforts.
• Develop and maintain a robust pipeline of prospective donors and sponsors, regularly updating records in Salesforce and reporting progress to the Director of Development.
• Collaborate with the Director of Development to brainstorm cultivation strategies and plan personalized outreach for key prospects.
• Increase the number of leads generated for potential donors and community partners by 15%-20% compared to the previous year, demonstrating proactive outreach and relationship building skills.
• Keep abreast of emerging trends and best practices in fundraising and incorporate innovative approaches to maximize fundraising effectiveness.
• Achieve personal and team fundraising goals, consistently meeting quarterly and annual targets to support organizational growth.

Community Engagement

• Serve as the primary contact for engagement inquiries.
• Function as a collaborative and supportive member of the Development team in the implementation of department and agency-wide goals.
• Work with corporate and community partners (civic and faith groups) and steward relationships that encourage giving and support Shelter House’s mission.
• Support the organization’s work to expand its demographic reach by engaging diverse community supporters and advancing audience growth and expansion.
• Implement feedback mechanisms to gather input from at least 100 community members and donors annually, allowing us to make data-informed improvements to our engagement strategies.

Events

• Assist the Director of Development in planning and executing Shelter House’s major fundraising events and campaigns.
• Ensure that all agency and third-party events are mission-focused and function to deepen relationships with prospects, donors, and volunteers.
• Represent Shelter House at networking and community engagement events such as resource fairs, tabling events, and events benefiting or engaging Shelter House and its clients.
• Conduct presentations and on-site or virtual tours of Shelter House Programs for donors, funders, and community partners.

Other

• Maintain compliance with all agency personnel policies.
• Proficiently utilize Microsoft products as a part of day-to-day work requirements.
• Exemplify the Shelter House core values of (iCARE): Inclusivity, Collaboration, Accountability, Respect, and Empowerment.

About You:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
• Minimum of four (4) years related professional experience in fundraising and community engagement.
• Experience working with senior-level executives.
• Capacity to be self-directed while working as a member of a larger team.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, and deadlines with minimal supervision.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
• Experience with Salesforce (CRM) software.
• Valid Driver’s License.
• Ability and willingness to work outside of normal business hours, including nights and weekends, as needed.

Physical Requirements:

• Annual TB Test is required.
• Ability to sit or stand for long periods.
• Ability to lift items weighing 10–20 pounds.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
• 401K contributions with a 4% employer match
• 13 Paid Holidays, 2 Floating Holidays and the opportunity to take your Birthday Off
• Four Annual Team Building Events

Equal Employment Opportunity:

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy: Shelter House is committed to providing equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants. All employment-related decisions will be made and carried out without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age (over 40), sex, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability unrelated to the individual's ability to perform his or her job or any other legally protected status. Shelter House will also provide reasonable accommodations to pregnant and qualified employees with disabilities to enable them to perform the essential functions of their job, and to employees with respect to their observance of their religious beliefs, in accordance with applicable law. Any job applicant or employee who would like or needs an accommodation may request an accommodation by contacting the Human Resources department.

Drug and Alcohol-Free Workplace Policy:

Drug-Free Workplace: Shelter House is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace. Employment is contingent upon compliance with our Drug-Free Workplace Policy, which prohibits the unlawful manufacture, sale, distribution, dispensation, possession, or use of controlled substances or marijuana in the workplace. Additionally, all subcontracts and purchase orders over $10,000 must include provisions ensuring a drug-free workplace.