Community & Donor Relations Manager
JVS Boston
Boston, MA, USA
Posted on Jul 16, 2025
ABOUT JVS: JVS is a non-profit, non-sectarian agency. Our mission is to empower individuals from diverse communities to find employment, build careers, and partner with employers to hire, develop, and retain productive workforces.
JVS provides a broad range of services, including adult education, skills training, job readiness training, job placement and support, and access to post-secondary education. JVS assists employers in their search for well-qualified job applicants and their initiatives to upgrade the skills of their incumbent workforce.
Position Summary
- The Community and Donor Relations Manager is a vital member of the Advancement team, responsible for cultivating, stewarding, and expanding JVS’s base of individual donors giving up to $5,000. This role combines strategic fundraising, community engagement, data and records management, and event execution. The position also serves as a key liaison to Jewish community partners and plays a central role in donor communications, event strategy, and Board support. The role also includes responsibilities in reporting, gift processing, and event management.
Key Responsabilties
- Annual Giving & Community Engagement
- Maintain and cultivate a personal portfolio of 75–100 annual donors and prospects giving $500–$5,000.
- Design and implement donor solicitation strategies aligned with organizational priorities.
- Collaborate with the Communications Manager on direct response programs, donor messaging, and appeals.
- Represent JVS at community events and meetings.
- Liaise with Jewish community publications and organizations.
- Collaborate with Jewish Career Services staff to align community communications and increase visibility.
- Support volunteer engagement through coordination of tours, meetings, and follow-ups with prospective volunteers and partners.
- Event Management
- Plan and execute donor cultivation and fundraising events in partnership with the VP of Philanthropy.
- Oversee event logistics, including vendor coordination, invitations/RSVPs, budget tracking, run-of-show documents, and follow-up.
- Train staff on the Greater Giving event platform and reconcile event data with Salesforce.
- Develop tools such as event templates and reports to streamline planning and increase efficiency.
- Data & Records Management
- Serve as Salesforce Subject Matter Expert for the Advancement team.
- Maintain high-integrity data systems for donor records and gift processing.
- Create and maintain reports, dashboards, and documentation for database procedures.
- Prepare and segment mailing/email/invitation lists and generate mail merges for print materials.
- Ensure accurate and timely gift processing, acknowledgments, and reconciliation with Finance.
- Provide analytics for appeals, donor acquisition, and retention strategies.
- Development Operations & Prospect Research
- Collaborate with Database and Executive Administrative assistant to conduct research on individual and institutional prospects using Salesforce and DonorSearch.
- Train staff and interns on research methods and the development of briefing documents.
- Support funder stewardship, including coordination of donor visits and meeting preparation.
- Generate briefing documents for senior leadership and board members.
- Participate in internal and external meetings, events, and professional development opportunities.
- Supervise and mentor interns in Advancement operations and research.
- Take and distribute meeting notes and follow up on action items.
- Contribute to departmental operations and special projects as needed.
- Board Relations
- Act as liaison to the Jewish Services Committee and Resource Development Committee.
- Provide logistics and communications support for board and committee meetings, including setup, catering, technology, and materials.
- Assist with onboarding of new board members and track engagement in development activities.
- Coordinate with the Advancement team to support board fundraising initiatives with tools and materials.
Key Qualifications
- Minimum of 2-3 years of experience in non-profit fundraising or comparable field.
- A passion for the mission of JVS.
- Knowledge of techniques and best practices in fundraising and stewardship.
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively on a team and to build and maintain positive relationships with all levels of the organization.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills; and effective presentation skills.
- Strong analytic skills, and ability to apply strategic and creative thinking.
- Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced, results-driven environment.
- Strong interpersonal skills, maturity, tactfulness, good judgment, and ability to handle confidential information with discretion.
- Working knowledge of planned giving a plus.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and Salesforce, as well as other fundraising platforms.
- Ability to work nights and weekends as needed.
- Ability to pass a criminal background check
Special Work Conditions
- Occasional early morning, evening, and weekend hours may be required.
- Occasional local travel required with reliable transportation.
- Position is currently hybrid but is subject to change. 2 days per week in the Boston office and 3 days remote.
JVS CULTURE: JVS is strongly committed to diversity and a workplace environment that respects, appreciates, and values employee differences and similarities. By providing and supporting a work culture that fosters and builds upon diversity and its strengths, JVS will better serve our local communities and continue to provide quality services.
JVS is an employment-at-will organization and an equal opportunity employer committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination based on sex, race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital/civil union status, ancestry, place of birth, age, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation, genetic information or disability, as defined and required by state and federal laws. Additionally, JVS prohibits retaliation against an applicant or employee because he or she has engaged in protected activity under the statutes prohibiting discrimination in the workplace.