Northeast Iowa Food Bank

The Donor Relations Manager is a vital member of the Development, Marketing, and Communications team, responsible for securing critical funding through annual giving, mid-level donor engagement, corporate sponsorships, cause marketing initiatives, and grant support. By cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donor relationships, this position directly supports the Food Bank’s ability to provide more than 8.6 million meals annually to over 45,000 people facing food insecurity across our 16-county service area.

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This individual must demonstrate exceptionally strong communication, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills to inspire generosity and deepen connections with donors, sponsors, and partners. Cultural competency is essential, as the Donor Relations Manager will regularly work with a wide variety of individuals, businesses, and organizations. The Manager must also possess strong initiative to continually grow donor support, refine giving programs, and strengthen stewardship experiences. As a manager-level role, this position plays a key part in building donor trust, expanding community impact, and ensuring that NEIFB’s mission is clearly represented in all donor interactions.

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A passion for social justice and compassion for others are essential to being a staff member at the Northeast Iowa Food Bank. We strive to work as a unified team to close the Meal Gap in northeast Iowa, and to this end the Donor Relations Manager must be both a collaborative team member and a motivated self-starter. Maintaining a positive outlook will also be key in serving as a motivator and encourager for donors, community partners, and fellow staff members alike.

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The responsibilities of the Donor Relations Manager include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Manage a portfolio of annual and mid-level donors, including individuals, churches, businesses, and organizations, ensuring consistent growth in giving and improved donor retention.

• Lead the development and management of annual giving programs, including direct mail, digital giving, and monthly donor initiatives.

• Cultivate, solicit, and steward corporate sponsorships for events, campaigns, and ongoing partnerships.

• Support the Director of Development, Marketing & Communications and Executive Director in building the donor pipeline into major giving and planned giving programs.

• Develop and implement stewardship strategies that deepen donor engagement and strengthen long-term relationships.

• Collaborate with Development and Marketing staff to align donor communications, recognition activities, and campaign messaging.

• Partner with the Grants and Development Operations Manager to provide donor impact stories, sponsorship outcomes, and community engagement data that strengthen grant proposals and reports.

• Develop and manage corporate sponsorship opportunities for events, newsletters, vehicles, and other initiatives.

• Collaborate on donor-specific events that engage annual and mid-level donors, sponsors, and community partners.

• Support the Director in cultivating prospects for planned giving.

• Ensure timely acknowledgements for gifts, including thank-you letters, calls, and personalized stewardship touchpoints.

• Assist with the donation entry process as directed, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with established gift-processing procedures, in coordination with the Grants and Development Operations Manager and Administrative Assistant.

• Maintain positive, active donor relationships to ensure ongoing support of NEIFB’s mission.

• Work closely with the Director of Development, Marketing & Communications to assist with new cause marketing initiatives and campaigns that generate funding beyond traditional external events and programs.

• Identify and cultivate opportunities for innovative partnerships with businesses, organizations, and community groups that align with NEIFB’s mission and create new streams of revenue and awareness.

• Collaborate on messaging and branding strategies that elevate NEIFB’s visibility while ensuring new initiatives complement — but remain distinct from — existing fundraising efforts.

• Collaborate with the Grants and Development Operations Manager to ensure the integrity of Salesforce CRM, supporting accurate donor data and reporting.

• Partner with the Grants and Development Operations Manager to ensure donor information, reports, and acknowledgements are timely and accurate.

• Provide input to strengthen reporting, donor cultivation, and stewardship efforts through effective system use.

• Attend community events (including some evenings and weekends) to build relationships and foster a positive image for NEIFB.

• Analyze and report progress against goals, modifying strategies as needed.

• Represent NEIFB through external speaking engagements to increase visibility and donor engagement as directed.

• Greet, train, and supervise volunteers as well as share the mission of the NEIFB; provide general guidance of projects; assure proper training of volunteers to include specific jobs and safety concerns. Communicate frequently with volunteers to ensure they are satisfied and appropriately placed.

• In instances of a federal, state, or locally declared emergency, NEIFB is typically considered an essential service and emergency responder; all employees may be called in to perform regular or emergent duties.

• Other duties as assigned.

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience

• A minimum of five years’ experience in fund development for a nonprofit organization or sales experience

• Experience contributing to or securing major gifts (e.g., upgrades from mid-level donors).

• Demonstrated excellence in managerial skills.

• Previous leadership experience with responsible decision-making authority in the management and evaluation of work assigned to personnel required.

• The position requires a high degree of professionalism.

• Demonstrated ability to work independently and meet deadlines while managing multiple tasks and changing priorities required.

• Strong people skills and the ability to interact with internal and external audiences are required.

• Ability to work as a collaborative team member within our development department in support of department goals.

• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends to attend events, relationship building meetings, etc.

• Full computer proficiency with standard Microsoft Office programs including PowerPoint and Excel.

• Proficiency with fundraising and communications software

• Passion for NEIFB’s mission

• Must pass a criminal background check.

• Valid driver’s license, safe driving record, current vehicle insurance and ability to use personal vehicle for OFB business.

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Preferred:

• Previous experience in a leadership position at a nonprofit organization

• Salesforce experience

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Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This position operates in a typical office environment as well as in the community and requires constant use of a computer and other office equipment, such as phones, calculators, computer printers and copy machines. The person in this position occasionally needs to move about inside the office to access filing cabinets, office machinery, etc. Must be able to remain in a stationary position 75% of the time. This position also requires frequent nights and weekends so the ability to travel and work remotely in various environments is a necessity.

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Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The position operates primarily in an office setting within the Food Bank. Ability to communicate in a clear speaking voice in person, before large groups and over the phone. Ability to interpret instructions and questions when asked. Ability to access transportation to travel to local events and meetings with external parties. Some travel for overnight training is required. Routine travel to meetings, functions, and special events is normal, which requires driving. Occasionally, may be required to respond to organizational needs outside of normal working hours. The employee may be required to push, pull, lift, and/or carry objects up to thirty pounds.

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NEIFB Core Values

Attitude of Helpfulness

Confidently Humble

Clear Communication

Empathetic to the Community

Solution Centered

Striving for Excellence

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NEIFB Core Focus

Our Purpose:

‍Collaborate + Educate + Advocate = Feed the Food Insecure

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Our 10-Year Bold Aspiration:

Every Meal. Every Day. Everyone.

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Northeast Iowa Food Bank hereby affirms it is an equal opportunity employer, offering employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, gender expression or identity, pregnancy, leave status, genetic information or age and provides Equal Employment Opportunity to handicapped individuals, disabled veterans and veterans of the Vietnam era.  Further, the Northeast Iowa Food Bank is an equal opportunity provider.

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