DONOR RELATIONS OFFICER SKILLS, EXPERIENCE, AND JOB REQUIREMENTS

Updated: Mai 28, 2025 - The Donor Relations Officer boasts a strong track record of securing major gifts and translating strategic goals into tangible results. Exhibits exceptional relationship management and communication skills, adept at inspiring and engaging donors and volunteers. Maintains meticulous records, upholds confidentiality, and harnesses tools like Salesforce and Microsoft Office to advance the company mission and enhance donor relations.

Essential Hard and Soft Skills for a Standout Donor Relations Officer Resume
  • Donor Database Management
  • Fundraising Strategies
  • Gift Acknowledgment Processing
  • Event Planning
  • Data Analysis
  • Salesforce Proficiency
  • Microsoft Office Suite
  • Prospect Research
  • Reporting and Analytics
  • Communication Platform Management
  • Relationship Building
  • Communication
  • Organizational Skills
  • Attention To Detail
  • Problem Solving
  • Adaptability
  • Collaboration
  • Time Management
  • Empathy
  • Strategic Thinking

Summary of Donor Relations Officer Knowledge and Qualifications on Resume

1. BA in Communications with 5 Years of Experience

  • Successful experience in fundraising or comparable business activities.
  • Experience as a member of The Gideons International or equivalent nonprofit/Christian ministry.
  • Successful completion of a drug and background screening.
  • Experience in a professional fundraising environment that demonstrates “best practices"
  • Advanced knowledge of legal or personal financial planning.
  • Demonstrated leadership in The Gideons International or equivalent nonprofit/Christian ministry.
  • CFRE, CFP, or comparable certification.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, ability to present information effectively
  • Ability to handle multiple projects at once, comfortably handles competing priorities and is able to reach positive results on a timely, efficient and continuing basis
  • Ability to work collaboratively with both the larger development team, and the organization as a whole
  • Demonstrates an understanding of diversity and cultural issues
  • Experience in nonprofit sector. 

2. BA in Public Relations with 4 Years of Experience

  • A proven record securing major gifts
  • A detail-oriented team collaborator who can translate strategyinto results
  • Superb relationship management, interpersonal, digital, writtenand oral communication skills
  • Ability to inspire, positively influence and engagevolunteers and donors
  • Strong organizational skills with exceptional attention todetail
  • Ability to maintain timely and complete record of activities,results and planned follow up
  • Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive, confidentialinformation professionally
  • High energy and passion for NPH USA’s mission
  • Knowledge and experience of Salesforce donor database and MSoffice
  • Community foundation, philanthropic or related private sector experience encouraged.
  • Excellent communication skills, both written and oral
  • Proven track record of successful donor relations including the implementation of recognition opportunities and direct stewardship of major gifts and annual and planned giving donors

3. BA in Nonprofit Management with 6 Years of Experience

  • Demonstrated experience in fundraising and/or annual/major gift environment.
  • Excellent writing, research, communication and presentation skills – virtual and in person.
  • Attention to detail and strong project management skills, ability to work as part of a team and professional attitude and appearance 
  • Self-starter who is motivated to learn and grow.
  • Commitment to excellent donor service and stewardship.
  • Ability to work effectively under pressure, to juggle competing priorities, to be part of a team, to be responsive and to meet deadlines.
  • Strategic thinking and curiosity in the relentless pursuit of fresh approaches and measurable results and must have excellent interpersonal skills and a demonstrated record of completing assignments, multi-tasking, meeting deadlines, and working with minimal supervision.
  • Strong knowledge of Raiser’s Edge NXT or similar fundraising software.
  • Versatile in platforms such as Adobe PDF Editor, Microsoft Office Suite, PowerPoint, and WordPress, including Cloud and VPN environments.
  • Experience in professional or financial advising, nonprofit fundraising and donor services
  • Experience with IRS regulations related to charitable giving, fair market value and deductibility of gifts.
  • Strong organizational and time management skills.
  • Ability to influence and engage a wide range of donors and build long-term relationships.

4. BA in Marketing with 3 Years of Experience

  • Excellent interpersonal skills
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills
  • Outstanding planning, organizational, and analytical skills
  • Sound judgment in problem-solving and decision-making techniques
  • Able to balance competing priorities, complex situations, and tight deadlines
  • Proficient in the use and creation of Excel spreadsheets, including formulas and tables
  • Comfort in spending significant amount of time communicating with donors, prospects, and professional advisors via phone
  • Experience interfacing with business and community leaders with a high level of decorum and business acumen
  • Experience managing multiple projects with competing deadlines
  • Experience with call center 
  • Experience with tracking work in a donor database
  • Spanish language proficiency 

5. BA in Business Administration with 7 Years of Experience

  • Demonstrates a proactive and pragmatic approach to investigating and solving problems, strives for continuous improvement and identifies ways to deliver creative and innovative solutions.
  • Strong attention to detail, sets high standards and strives for excellence.
  • A good blend of strategic and analytical thinking with an ability to see the bigger picture.
  • Ability to absorb and process new information quickly. 
  • Driven and highly proactive - adept at spotting opportunities and maximizing them.
  • Adaptable and flexible with a growth mindset.
  • Thrives within a fast-paced environment, with an ability to remain calm under pressure.
  • Strong ethical standards and a high level of personal integrity.
  • Excellent IT skills in Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
  • Experience required includes reading and analysing endowment financial reports and other financial statements and developing, implementing, and evaluating donor recognition plans, preparing donor financial and impact reports

6. BA in Fundraising and Development with 4 Years of Experience

  • Demonstrable experience of enhancing donor or client/customer journeys.
  • Demonstrable experience of building positive and effective professional relationships across multiple stakeholders.
  • Demonstrable experience and proven track record of project management, with an ability to drive projects forward without close supervision.
  • Good knowledge and understanding of the principles of major gifts fundraising and the concept of donor motivation.
  • Excellent communicator with an ability to build strong relationships and inspire confidence and respect at all levels.
  • A rigorous proof-reader, with a keen eye for detail.
  • Excellent listening skills, receptive to feedback and demonstrates flexibility, curiosity and an ability to learn.
  • Strong team player who can work both independently and collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders.
  • Excellent planning and organisational skills, with an ability to plan and set goals, work to deadlines and reprioritise work in accordance with the organisational needs.
  • Demonstrates strong negotiation, influencing and decision-making skills.

7. BA in Social Sciences with 4 Years of Experience

  • Experience in a donor relations or gift officer role with demonstrated success closing gifts of $10,000 or more
  • Experience identifying, qualifying, soliciting, and stewarding gifts from individual donors
  • Ability to work independently, to set and achieve goals with a high degree of initiative, self-direction, and self-supervision
  • Ability to gather and synthesize appropriate information and recommend a course of action, and to effectively report on the progress.
  • Experience in creating letters and copies, including but not limited to appeals, renewals, and acknowledgement letters. 
  • Experience with gift planning and major donor programs
  • High level of initiative, excellent organization skills, and attention to detail
  • Experience working with database, Tessitura or Raiser's Edge 
  • Must be comfortable in fast-paced, high-volume environment
  • Must have excellent organization skills, attention to detail, and critical thinking skills
  • Excellent customer service and written/oral communications skills
  • Excellent computer skills including Microsoft Word and Excel

8. BA in Political Science with 3 Years of Experience

  • Experience in the nonprofit sector, focusing on individual donors.
  • Knowledge of the donor community 
  • Excellent writing, communication, and organizational skills.
  • Superior interpersonal skills, friendly disposition and highly collaborative.
  • Highly organized, multitasker, detail-oriented and a self-starter.
  • Demonstrated ability to work well with volunteers, including Board members.
  • Ability to work under pressure and maintain a sense of humor.
  • Respect for sensitivity and confidentiality of donor information and a strong sense of fundraising ethics.
  • Database experience, knowledge of Salesforce and implementing Moves Management 
  • Working knowledge of procedures for donor research.
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