Donor Relations Manager - Boston

Aug 9

Anticipated Start Date: 9/15/25

Description

Summer Search Boston is seeking a Donor Relations Manager to provide key strategic support and project management for all individual giving programs that will enable the site to meet their $1.3M+ individual giving goal. This hire will coordinate individual donor engagement across Summer Search Boston development staff and volunteer leadership. In addition, this hire will manage and grow their own portfolio of individual donors.

The Donor Relations Manager will work on a site fundraising team of two alongside the Director of Development and will join a dedicated and collaborative Boston site staff of approximately 18 employees. This is an exciting position for a project- and relationship-oriented professional to grow in their development career, work closely with experienced site leadership, and make a significant impact on Summer Search’s capacity to serve even more Boston youth.

Responsibilities

Specifically, the Donor Relations Manager will:

Partner with the Director of Development to coordinate the entire $1.3M+ individual giving program, inclusive of new donors, mid-level giving, and annual fund activities.
Manage all individual strategies for prospecting, relationship building, stewardship and moves management.
Manage a portfolio of ~80-100 existing individual donors with a current annual revenue target of $400-500K
Qualify and cultivate new individual donor prospects who are aligned with Summer Search’s growth plans and core values and have the capacity to make or move into four, five- and six-figure gifts
Partner with the executive director, director of development, program staff, and alumni to ensure that the donor portfolio is engaged through a strategic mix of meetings/calls, events, student engagement opportunities, and personalized communications.
Ensure exceptional and personalized stewardship by crafting impact reports, email, letters, videos, and other donor communications.
Utilize a “moves management” system for donors and prospects in Raiser’s Edge NXT, ensuring that all touchpoints and projections for gifts are tracked with a high degree of timeliness and accuracy.
Support event committee, working alongside Boston and National Development teammates to implement regional fundraising & cultivation events, including our annual signature event, Voices of Summer Search.
Partner with the Associate Board on volunteer-driven fundraising and brand-building initiatives.
Collaborate with development colleagues across the Summer Search network to share best practices and participate in network-wide initiatives as a representative for the Boston site, as needed.

Requirements

WHO YOU ARE

The Donor Relations Manager position calls for a data and project-oriented professional with a strong track record of building authentic partnerships in a professional setting, inspiring a variety of audiences through a clear, concise articulation of the importance of an organization’s work.

Specifically, this hire will bring:

EXPERIENCE: At least 4 years of related work experience in nonprofit development/fundraising required.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT: You hold yourself and others responsible for processes, decisions, actions, and commitments to results to drive high-quality outcomes. You're responsive to the needs of stakeholders and follow through on commitments.

RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT: You partner with prospects and donors by building lasting relationships to support the organizational mission and meet fundraising goals.

DATA MANAGEMENT: You are adept at the process of acquiring, validating, and managing accurate information within a shared system. You leverage databases to track donor data and organize information within the Development function.

FUNDRAISING STRATEGIES: You approach fundraising through an analytical and data-driven lens and are hands-on in translating strategy into tangible activities and goals. 

CRITICAL CONSCIOUSNESS: You have an understanding of the root causes of societal discrimination and injustices and are self-reflective about your own privilege and positional power. You apply critical thinking and take action toward liberatory and inclusive practices.

TECHNOLOGY:

Experience with a Development Moves Management system including creating reports and analyzing and tracking data is required. Experience with Raiser’s Edge NXT is strongly preferred. Above all, all Summer Search staff bring a commitment to our mission of unleashing students’ potential through mentoring and transformative experiences, as well as the ability to thrive in an environment that values excellence, gratitude, well-being, diversity, authenticity, and collaboration.

LOCATION AND TRAVEL

Work hours are Mon-Fri 9am-5pm with occasional weekend and evening special events. Work location is Summer Search Boston office in Jamaica Plain and we currently have a hybrid schedule in place. Staff can work from home 2 days a week/3 days in the office. Reliable transportation to travel to the office and local events is required. TO APPLY Submit a resume and targeted cover letter, addressed to Samantha Larkan, Boston Director of Development that answers the question, “Why are you interested in the Donor Relations Manager opportunity at Summer Search?”

SUMMER SEARCH IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

Salary Range and Employee Benefits

This is an exempt position with a salary range from $77,808 - $84,209. Summer Search is committed to transparent, equitable compensation practices. Salaries are benchmarked using current market data and salary bands are created to demonstrate the growth potential within the band.

Typically, offers are made at the starting place of the salary band. The Hiring Manager partners with the Talent Team to ensure offers are appropriate, competitive and maintain internal equity. Well-being, flexibility, and ongoing learning and development are pillars of our culture. We value our staff and are committed to creating an environment where every individual feels seen, heard and valued.

Investments in our staff include: Medical insurance with up to 90% employer contribution Dental, vision, FSA, life and disability insurance plans 401 (K) and Employer Match up to $2,000 annually Generous time off including 15 vacation days, 10 sick days, and 18 holidays (2 floating holidays of your choice, a birthday day-off, 10 company-wide holidays, and a 1-week December closure).

Plus, Re-Fresh Friday’s - a paid day off the first Friday of every month! A comprehensive Employee Recognition Program (years of service awards, spot awards, and professional development funding). A four-week paid sabbatical after five years of continuous employment. Individual, local, regional and national training A commitment to developing leaders from within the organization. An organizational culture that supports staff well-being and holistic self-care/community care Ample opportunities to connect with the students and communities we serve.

OUR COMMITMENT TO EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION

With a staff that cares deeply about social justice and racial justice, we believe that diverse perspectives and backgrounds create a rich work environment and enhance our ability to pursue our mission. While we consider candidates from all backgrounds, we especially welcome interest from candidates that reflect the deep diversity of the communities we serve.

We are committed to building an organization with raised consciousness in order to impact how we work with students, as well as how we work together as a team. We hope you will join us as we continue to build a justice-centered organization that fosters a work environment where people from all backgrounds are welcomed and valued.

How to Apply for this Job

Apply Now

About the Organization

Summer Search is a 7-year mentorship program for promising students facing unjust obstacles. Students join the program in their sophomore year of high school and are supported through college or other post-secondary pursuits. We provide comprehensive support through one-on-one mentorship from trained staff, peer-led group mentorship, and summers of experiential learning, while also supporting young people to build a toolkit for navigating and challenging systemic barriers to higher education and career opportunities.

Since our founding in 1990, Summer Search has reached more than 6,500 young people and currently serves more than 3,600 high school and college students in five regions across the country – San Francisco Bay Area, New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, and Seattle. Our alumni become the kind of leaders our country needs -- civic leaders, advocates, industry leaders, teachers, mothers and fathers. Their collective leadership ripples out into the community and future generations and contributes to a more equitable society.

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