Program Manager, Donor Relations Leadership Giving

Program Manager, Donorship Relations and Leadership Giving

About the role

We are looking for a Program Manager, Donorship Relations and Leadership Giving who will be responsible for playing a strategic role in developing and executing a comprehensive donor engagement framework that enhances retention, recognition, and long-term relationship-building.

This position will design and oversee donor engagement and leadership giving strategies, while ensuring best-in-class stewardship while advancing relationships with leadership donors, volunteers, and community champions.

You will work across departments to integrate donor stewardship into all areas of fundraising and communication and ensure that donor recognition, engagement, and personalized stewardship are effectively implemented.

This position also provides strategic leadership for the Leadership Giving program, including the development and execution of engagement, stewardship, recognition, and volunteer leadership strategies that support donor growth and philanthropic investment.

You will contribute to strategic donor planning, lifecycle management, and data-informed decision-making to enhance donor satisfaction, commitment, and long-term engagement.

This position reports to the Director, Individual Giving.

• This position has no supervisory responsibility but provides leadership, guidance, and support to cross-functional teams and volunteers.

The Day to Day

Donor Strategy & Stewardship

• Develops and manages a comprehensive donor relations strategy, ensuring consistency across all donor segments and giving levels.
• Leads the planning and execution of stewardship initiatives, including recognition programs, engagement opportunities, and personalized donor outreach.
• Works with the Individual Giving, Workplace Fundraising, Brand, and Marketing teams to design donor journey maps, creating tailored stewardship plans and proactive engagement strategies.
• Supports solicitation efforts by preparing customized donor proposals, impact reports, and stewardship communications.
• Partners with the Direct Response program to drive monthly donor growth, retention, and engagement strategies.
• Ensures all donor communications align with stewardship priorities, including thank-you messages, call scripts, and donor updates.
• Educates colleagues and volunteers on best practices in donor relations and stewardship through training sessions and workshops.
• Analyzes donor engagement data to identify trends, improve stewardship practices, and drive strategic improvements.

Recognition & Engagement

• Oversees donor recognition across various platforms (social media, website, digital, and print), ensuring visibility and alignment with branding.
• Collaborates with internal teams to support the development of impact reports, donor honour rolls, and gratitude materials, focusing on data collection and storytelling.
• Supports and contributes to key donor recognition and engagement events, including Pillars of Change, National Philanthropy Day, and donor appreciation activities.
• Partners with internal teams to design and manage the annual Donor Engagement Survey, gathering donor insights and analyzing results for strategic planning.
• Explores new micro-engagement opportunities, such as targeted surveys for planned giving and major donors.

Leadership Giving

• In partnership with the product team, leads the development, implementation, and evaluation of the Leadership Giving program, including donor engagement, stewardship, recognition, and retention strategies that strengthen relationships with current and prospective leadership donors and support fundraising growth.
• Provides strategic leadership and management of the Leadership Gifts Cabinet, including volunteer recruitment, onboarding, engagement, stewardship, recognition, meeting coordination, and ongoing support to maximize volunteer impact and effectiveness.
• Partners with key stakeholders to advance leadership giving priorities by identifying donor engagement opportunities, supporting volunteer-led fundraising efforts, preparing donor and prospect briefings, and tracking program outcomes and performance metrics.

About you

Along with strong strategic planning and project management skills, you have the ability to navigate complex organizational environments and work cross-functionally.

You demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills, including donor-centric storytelling, strong data analysis skills, with experience in donor engagement metrics and CRM systems with a proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Teams, SharePoint, Planner) and donor databases.

You are able to adapt and demonstrate flexibility when faced with changing priorities, unforeseen challenges, and be able to juggle multiple tasks.

Knowledge, experience, or training in Donor Relations, Account Management, Fundraising and Sponsorship, Event Management and/or Volunteer Management is considered an asset. You possess strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to foster relationships with key internal and external stakeholders. Your exceptional organization skills enable you to set priorities and create action plans.

With a commitment to continuous improvement, exceptional donor experiences, and customer service you are self-driven, able to demonstrate accountability and strive for operational excellence. You possess core values, integrity, and accountability throughout all organizational and business practices and will act with personal, professional, ethical, behavioural integrity and maintain confidentiality.

Your background includes a post-secondary degree Business, Social Sciences, Humanities or related field plus a minimum of four (4) to six (6) years related experience. Equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered.

A valid driver’s license and vehicle are required as some travel will be involved within Edmonton and surrounding area as well as a driver’s abstract. Availability for early morning meetings and some evening and weekend events will be required.

The successful candidate for this position will be someone who shares our purpose to ensure no one in our community is left behind, is a difference maker in our community, and wants to connect to a bigger purpose.

You see yourself in our Values.

We value and operate with a commitment to

Creating solutions.

Continuous learning.

Being courageous in our work.

Capturing our customers’ hearts and minds.

Being insights driven and utilizing real data.

Applying a lens of equity and inclusion to all that we do.

Why work with us?

We are people who love what we do and are passionate about our work. We offer rewarding work, a positive workplace culture, and a total rewards package. Our work environment is a hybrid - with time spent both collaborating in the office as well as remotely.

United Way of the Alberta Capital Region takes a systems-wide approach to collaborate and deliver local programs and services that address multiple facets of community well-being.

At United Way of the Alberta Capital Region, we value the contributions our employees make in supporting and advancing our purpose and values and have a workplace culture where actions are aligned and focused on achieving our envisioned future.

We believe that a balanced Total Rewards Program helps foster a culture and workplace experience where our colleagues will flourish to the benefit of those served through our United Way.

Fundamental to this is our commitment to pay equity and a living wage. As part of our Total Rewards Program, this position is also eligible for:

• 4 Day Work Week Program (January – August)
• Flexible hours (Hybrid work environment)
• Birthday off
• Professional Coaching
• LinkedIn Learning
• Extended Health & Dental
• Health Spending Account & Wellness Spending Account
• Employee & Family Assistance Program
• People Connect (virtual psychological support)
• RRSP matching
• 12 days of Personal Illness and Family Responsibility Leave
• 4 weeks’ vacation
• The salary range for this role is $67,200 - 73,000
• (Starting salary based on experience and budgetary considerations)

All Benefits are subject to applicable eligibility requirements.

United Way of the Alberta Capital Region is committed to creating an inclusive workplace that reflects our diverse community that we serve. We encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds and those who may need accommodation to apply to join our team. By incorporating a variety of experiences and perspectives, we create opportunities for innovative solutions and maximize the impact of our work.

To learn more about United Way of the Alberta Capital Region, please visit myunitedway.ca

United Way of the Alberta Capital Region has once again been recognized as one of the 2025 Best Workplaces™ in Government and Social Services.