Published: Sep 8, 2025 - The Individual Giving Manager leads the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of individual donors, with a focus on mid-level and major gift fundraising to advance the organization’s mission. This role involves managing a portfolio of prospects and donors, conducting prospect research, coordinating recognition societies, and preparing tailored proposals and presentations to align donor priorities with organizational needs. The Manager also provides high-level stewardship, tracks engagement metrics, and collaborates with staff and volunteers to ensure effective strategies for donor growth and retention.

An Introduction to Professional Skills and Functions for Individual Giving Manager with a Cover Letter
1. Outcomes for Individual Giving Manager Cover Letter
- Responsible for the operation of the recurring donor program.
- Maintain the program through scheduling, sourcing, and shipping of gear and incentives.
- Steward paid members by providing customer service, assisting with payment accounts, collecting donor feedback, and offering support.
- Grow premium membership monthly through email marketing, social media advertising, in-person engagement, and virtual events.
- Manage and grow employee giving, matching gift portals, and third-party fundraising sites.
- Lead peer-to-peer fundraising efforts via Classy, outside of special events.
- Manage yearly campaigns such as Giving Tuesday and similar initiatives.
- Ensure individual giving data and opportunities are accurately represented in Salesforce.
- Use Salesforce and Marketing Cloud platforms for targeted advertising to support recurring donor programs and yearly campaigns.
- Maintain current status on Guidestar and Charity Navigator platforms and manage requirements to increase status as available.
- Provide meaningful gratitude for all individual giving.
Skills: Donor Management, Customer Service, Payment Support, Digital Marketing, Fundraising Platforms, Peer Fundraising, Campaign Management, Salesforce Proficiency
2. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for Individual Giving Manager Cover Letter
- Increase income generated from individual giving fundraising activities to deliver the agreed targets.
- Oversee the Individual Giving team budget in line with objectives and KPIs, reporting on income and expenditure and highlighting variances.
- Provide guidance and support to the in-house Marketing and Fundraising teams to ensure Individual Giving KPIs and objectives are achieved.
- Work closely with the Digital Marketing Manager to test, monitor, evaluate, and implement existing and new channels that allow two-way engagement with donors.
- Work closely with the Marketing team to ensure the production of the highest quality content for social media and digital channels that deliver positive donor recruitment results.
- Develop long-term sustainable income by identifying audiences, channels, products, and messages that maximize effectiveness and efficiency.
- Develop high-quality supporter care, including responsive and prompt donor care and stewardship.
- Provide expertise and guidance on all matters relating to gift aid, including maximizing income.
- Ensure all Individual Giving activities are in line with best practice standards and processes as set out by the Institute of Fundraising and industry regulatory bodies.
- Keep abreast of all developments in Individual Giving and community fundraising legislation and regulatory control.
- Prepare quarterly forecasts for Individual Giving income and report monthly on performance against targets.
- Work with the Sales and Marketing team to produce strong and compelling fundraising materials for a wide range of media.
Skills: Fundraising Management, Budget Oversight, Team Leadership, Donor Engagement, Digital Marketing, Supporter Care, Gift Aid Expertise, Regulatory Compliance
3. Milestones for Individual Giving Manager Cover Letter
- Manage the individual giving program and all donor benefits for gifts below the major donor level.
- Create and process monthly renewal notices, excluding the Board of Directors.
- Secure new donors and upgrade existing donors.
- Process acknowledgement letters promptly.
- Build private event invitation lists, prepare attendee reports in advance of events, and facilitate appropriate follow-up afterward.
- Provide and oversee the development of analytical reports that give insight into the depth of development portfolios and provide program strategies.
- Use wealth screening, data mining, and research tools to identify prospective donors and provide giving officers with new leads.
- Collaborate with the Advancement Events Manager to hold special events for current and prospective donors.
- Work with the user group to ensure the CRM system is effectively utilized, including maintenance procedures and enhancement projects, while directing the Patron Systems Specialist on project priorities.
- Serve on the Board Development Committee.
Skills: Donor Program Management, Renewal Processing, Donor Acquisition, Acknowledgement Processing, Event Coordination, Data Analysis, Prospect Research, CRM Management
4. Criteria for Senior Individual Giving Manager Cover Letter
- Actively manage a portfolio of current and potential individual donors, with a focus on major gifts.
- Identify, cultivate, and solicit individuals for general operating support, program support, and planned giving through research and best practices rooted in the organizational case for support.
- Monitor and analyze portfolio performance to achieve annual goals, focusing on key performance indicators aligned with the organization’s strategic plan.
- Prepare proposals, solicitation letters, and stewardship reports with support from the grants team.
- Collaborate with the Individual Giving Team to thank and steward individual donors.
- Solicit gifts from major donors and prospects, both independently and in collaboration with the CEO, board members, and other volunteers and staff.
- Supervise the Annual Fund Coordinator to build a base of support through annual campaigns, direct response, and digital campaigns.
- Assist the Director of Development in developing budgets, goals, and performance measures for the major gifts program, and analyze results.
- Perform other duties and participate in special projects as assigned by the Director of Development.
Skills: Major Gift Management, Donor Cultivation, Portfolio Analysis, Proposal Development, Donor Stewardship, Gift Solicitation, Annual Fund Oversight, Budget Planning
5. Attributes for Individual Giving Manager Cover Letter
- Secure individual gifts across a broad base, mid-level, and major donors, ensuring steady annual growth.
- Manage a portfolio of mid- to major-level donors and a general donor base, with a focus on consistent growth year over year.
- Provide exceptional stewardship of donors through the creation and execution of a multi-tiered donor communications and events calendar.
- Plan and lead donor communications that inspire the donor community and reflect organizational values of equity, diversity, and inclusion.
- Plan and lead online donor engagement and fundraising events.
- Develop creative strategies for additional stewardship and cultivation activities.
- Partner with the Executive Director to assess the individual donor base and refine and implement annual fundraising plans that include donor engagement, retention, acquisition, and lapsed donor strategies.
- Plan and execute all aspects of bi-annual campaigns (online and direct mail), creating new and innovative strategies to reach wider donor audiences, including employee giving programs, giving days, social media fundraising, and other approaches.
- Analyze giving trends and use data to inform decisions about current and future strategies, continuously strengthening relationships and increasing revenue.
- Provide accurate and timely activity and pipeline reports, revenue forecasts, and individual giving expense budgets.
- Maintain accurate donor records, contact notes, and correspondence.
- Participate in mentoring and professional development opportunities.
Skills: Gift Management, Donor Portfolio, Donor Stewardship, Donor Communications, Donor Engagement, Fundraising Strategy, Campaign Management, Data Analysis
6. Expertise Areas for Individual Giving Manager Cover Letter
- Identify and manage a portfolio of individual donors and prospects, focusing on growing major gifts year over year.
- Work with staff and board on solicitations, providing portfolio development support, strategic counsel, and assistance with donor communications and meetings.
- Create and implement move management plans to sustain and increase funding from current and lapsed donors.
- Lead all annual fund donor engagement.
- Develop and provide ongoing management of the Junior Board.
- Increase digital fundraising, website presence, and social media to grow revenue streams.
- Write ongoing pledge reminders to individual donors and others.
- Cultivate, build relationships with, and acknowledge donors through private and public recognition.
- Identify new major gift prospects.
- Coordinate individual donor engagement and logistics at fundraising events and the annual gala, working closely with the Event Planner to ensure donor cultivation.
- Serve as an ambassador for the organization at networking and special events as directed by Development leadership.
- Act as secondary supervisor and manager of the Development Department in the absence of the Development Director.
- Work with Development staff to ensure accurate maintenance of the Raiser’s Edge database, electronic files, and other development software.
- Collaborate with development consultants, including grant writers and event planners, to strengthen individual major giving efforts.
- Work closely with the Finance Department to ensure accuracy of donor records and gifts.
Skills: Donor Portfolio Management, Major Gift Development, Move Management, Annual Fund Engagement, Digital Fundraising, Donor Cultivation, Event Coordination, Database Management
7. Key Strengths for Senior Individual Giving Manager Cover Letter
- Work with the Development Director to develop systems and practices for multi-level individual giving strategies.
- Implement the individual giving pipeline with the Development Director to secure increased and new donations, growing both revenue and the donor base.
- Develop and personally manage a portfolio of donors and prospects.
- Oversee production of timely, tailored acknowledgments.
- Support the Development Director with all solicitations and meetings.
- Prepare major gift proposals, including data, budgets, and promotional materials.
- Collaborate with development staff to create cultivation opportunities for individual donors.
- Plan, oversee, and implement segmented and targeted mail, social media, and email campaigns.
- Work with data staff to oversee records in the database, including donor profiles, reports, and research profiles.
- Participate in organizational events.
Skills: Giving Strategy, Donor Pipeline, Portfolio Management, Donor Acknowledgements, Gift Proposals, Donor Cultivation, Campaign Management, Database Oversight
8. Success Indicators for Individual Giving Manager Cover Letter
- Manage, produce, coordinate, and implement direct marketing appeals for direct mail, email, and other campaigns under the direction of the Individual Giving Director.
- Implement effective electronic solicitation strategies to supplement direct mail efforts and increase participation and per-donor revenue.
- Facilitate meetings, timelines, and communication between Development, Marketing, consultants, and vendors in the design and production of membership campaigns and collateral.
- Manage database and gift administration in collaboration with the Development Donor Services team.
- Work with the Finance Department to ensure smooth and accurate gift processes and communication.
- Analyze membership trends and direct response results, and implement strategies that will grow membership and deepen donor engagement.
- Research, identify, and develop new strategies for increasing giving among current donors, reinstating lapsed donors, acquiring new donors, and diversifying membership.
- Ensure seamless fulfillment of benefits for members at all levels, track benefits usage, and document cultivation and stewardship activities in the Tessitura database and other donor tracking tools.
- Implement, test, and evaluate new strategies to increase donor retention, upgrades, and acquisition, and develop key performance indicators to ensure all goals are met.
- Research donor and volunteer prospects for recruitment and acquisition efforts.
- Support board committee meetings by tracking relationship development steps and activities.
- Assist in coordinating receptions, meet-and-greets, and other donor cultivation and stewardship opportunities in collaboration with events staff.
- Work with front-of-house and box office staff to ensure the best experience for members at productions and events.
Skills: Direct Marketing, Electronic Solicitation, Campaign Coordination, Gift Administration, Data Management, Membership Analysis, Donor Acquisition, Stewardship Activities
9. Core Competence for Individual Giving Manager Cover Letter
- Embrace a relationship-focused approach to major gifts fundraising as part of the overall fundraising plan.
- Coordinate recognition societies for mid-level and major donors.
- Manage the individual donor fundraising process by engaging prospects and donors capable of making significant gifts in support of the mission.
- Work closely with the Development Operations Manager on prospect research to ensure high-quality prospects for qualification.
- Identify and qualify prospective supporters with major gift potential.
- Cultivate current and prospective major donors to understand their motivations and provide opportunities to direct funding to programs that align with their priorities.
- Provide high-level, personalized stewardship to all major gift donors, including acknowledgments, recognition, and support.
- Maintain a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors, engaging with them regularly throughout the year.
- Provide leadership for major gift solicitations through direct participation or by preparing and briefing staff and volunteers assigned to prospects.
- Support efforts to identify donors with planned giving potential and steward them into legacy recognition societies.
- Write and edit proposals and presentations tailored to major donors.
- Update donor records promptly to document activity, information, and proposed next steps that reflect donor priorities and interests.
- Track relationship-focused activity with prospects and donors, providing timely updates to the Development Operations Manager to show progress toward goals.
- Use data and metrics to evaluate which strategies and activities are most effective in engaging and growing support from major donors.
- Support fundraising activities, including special events, as part of a comprehensive stewardship program.
- Collaborate with program staff to align organizational needs with donor priorities.
Skills: Major Gifts Fundraising, Donor Recognition, Prospect Research, Donor Cultivation, Personalized Stewardship, Portfolio Management, Gift Solicitation, Planned Giving
10. Essential Functions for Individual Giving Manager Cover Letter
- Cultivate and solicit current and prospective donors with a "breakfast, lunch, and dinner" approach, building relationships to maximize giving through in-person and phone engagement.
- Attend donor events, including benefit events, rehearsals, readings, board-initiated cultivation events, galas, and other specified activities.
- Design and implement the direct mail renewal and acquisition program, including pledge forms and payment reminders.
- Strategize and co-author e-philanthropy campaigns with the Marketing Department.
- Collaborate with and train the Patron Services team on tele-funding campaigns.
- Oversee donor benefit fulfillment for individual giving in collaboration with the Philanthropy Coordinator and Philanthropy Assistant.
- Perform gift entry and processing.
- Coordinate with the Learning Department to prepare schedules of performance dates and lunches, and oversee the invitation process for individual giving donors.
- Manage the RSVP process for select donor events, including luncheons, receptions, and special donor gatherings.
- Act as a liaison to board committees focused on learning, engagement, and philanthropy.
- Serve as a concierge for individual donors regarding ticket requests and exchanges.
- Represent the organization as a public face in the community at external events and gatherings.
- Collaborate with the Philanthropy Operations Manager on the prospect research process, and contribute to research of current and prospective donors by preparing donor briefs and lists.
- Support fundraising efforts for special benefit events, including the annual gala and other signature initiatives.
- Generate lists and reports from the CRM system for budgeting and cash flow analysis.
- Foster interdepartmental collaboration to strengthen organizational effectiveness.
Skills: Donor Cultivation, Event Engagement, Direct Mail, E-Philanthropy, Tele-Funding, Benefit Fulfillment, Gift Processing, Prospect Research
What Are the Qualifications and Requirements for Individual Giving Manager in a Cover Letter?
1. Negotiation Skills for Individual Giving Manager Cover Letter
- Previous nonprofit and/or fundraising experience.
- Strong familiarity with human rights, reproductive justice, and/or maternal and infant health content.
- Demonstrated experience working on individual giving, email campaigns, annual fund, and/or related tasks.
- Superb verbal and written communication skills.
- Experience tailoring messages to suit intended audiences and compelling readers to act.
- Excellent project management skills.
- Demonstrated ability to prioritize and plan work activities across multiple projects, use time efficiently, follow instructions, and respond to management direction.
- Ability to analyze and use data and metrics to shape goals, strategies, and tactics.
- High level of skill with iOS and MS Office applications, Word, Excel, and Outlook.
- Strong research skills.
- Expert knowledge of CRM best practices.
- Must be able to work with sensitive and protected information secretly.
- Willingness to engage in continuous learning and training.
Qualifications: BA in Public Relations with 4 years of Experience
2. Key Achievements for Individual Giving Manager Cover Letter
- Previous individual giving experience.
- Strong knowledge of donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship techniques.
- Proven ability to secure individual and major gifts.
- Excellent writing and verbal communication skills.
- Outgoing, friendly, engaging, and positive attitude, and excellent sense of humor.
- Superior proficiency in Constant Contact and Raiser’s Edge, Laser Fiche (iWave proficient).
- Superior proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite, including Office 365, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.
- Ability to multitask with outstanding organizational skills.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Outstanding time management skills and attention to detail.
- Ability to work very well under pressure while remaining positive and polished.
- Punctual and reliable, with the ability to work evenings and weekends.
Qualifications: BA in Communications with 5 years of Experience
3. Industry Knowledge for Individual Giving Manager Cover Letter
- Development experience, including demonstrated success in managing mid- and/or major individual giving, volunteer management, and special events.
- Excellent time management skills with a high degree of organization and careful attention to detail.
- Ability to multitask and prioritize, and manage multiple projects and deadlines.
- Ability to work collegially and collaboratively with a diverse staff of highly motivated individuals.
- Proven track record of engaging and motivating donors, including organizing and implementing giving programs and special events.
- Experience with prospect identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
- Experience with digital fundraising and data management systems.
- Familiarity with Blackbaud products such as Raiser’s Edge, Luminate Online, and JustGiving.
- Excellent user of office technology and information systems (including Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint).
- Outstanding analytical, creative, problem-solving, and strategic thinking skills.
- Familiarity with the work of public-private partnerships and public libraries.
Qualifications: BA in Journalism with 6 years of Experience
4. Experience and Qualifications for Individual Giving Manager Cover Letter
- Deep understanding of the legal and ethical framework surrounding charity fundraising and data protection.
- Experience in using and managing supporter relationship data and databases, maintaining data hygiene.
- Strong understanding of how to use data to deliver excellent supporter experiences and results.
- Experience in analysing and interpreting data to inform donor engagement strategies.
- Knowledge of the refugee support sector.
- Experience in writing and editing high-quality copy.
- Be friendly with a positive attitude, with empathy for others (including supporters, colleagues, clients and stakeholders, funders, and partners).
- Happy to speak to supporters on the phone, as well as communicate with them by email and post.
- Strong communication skills, and able to put your thoughts forward clearly and persuasively, supporting them with evidence and/or well-reasoned rationale.
- Able to work positively with colleagues to reach an agreement, solve problems, and overcome challenges.
- Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
- Be highly organised, able to push projects forward, act on own initiative, ensure deadlines are met, and plans are actioned to achieve strategic objectives.
Qualifications: BA in English with 3 years of Experience
5. Technical Expertise for Individual Giving Manager Cover Letter
- Successful non-profit fundraising or sales experience.
- Ability to work successfully with and respect the confidentiality of information about a wide variety of constituents, including donors, board members, volunteers, and colleagues.
- Ability to carry out a comprehensive fundraising plan set forth by the Organization, with the ability to work with professional and volunteer leadership.
- Clear written and verbal communication skills.
- Experience and comfort level with cold calls, emails, proposals, and hand-written notes.
- Ability to successfully manage multiple projects simultaneously.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and familiarity with Raiser’s Edge software (or equivalent fundraising database).
- Ability to provide tours on an active construction site.
- Ability to travel to and from meetings and appointments in locations and times when public transportation is unavailable.
- Ability to sit at a desk, working on a computer for an extended period of time.
- Professional standards of phone etiquette.
Qualifications: BA in History with 1 year of Experience
6. Problem-solving Abilities for Individual Giving Manager Cover Letter
- Development experience, including direct solicitation with demonstrated success working with donors and prospects throughout the moves management process.
- An entrepreneurial spirit and desire to take on a leadership role on an evolving team.
- A strategic and creative thinker.
- Ability to speak and write compellingly about the organization’s funding and programmatic goals.
- Strong interpersonal communication skills.
- Professional, resourceful, and organized.
- Ability to work independently and as a team player, to take initiative, and prioritize multiple projects.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office.
- Proficient in using donor databases and prospect research tools to facilitate moves management.
- Experience with Salesforce and Donor Search (or similar).
- Interest in working in an ever-changing environment, with the commitment to grow rapidly, and the desire to work hard to create new and outstanding results.
Qualifications: BA in Sociology with 2 years of Experience
7. Training and Certifications for Individual Giving Manager Cover Letter
- Experience in fundraising, including individual donor engagement.
- Familiarity with best practices in prospect research, donor cultivation techniques, and database/records management, as well as a variety of fundraising strategies and methods.
- Facility with gathering and analyzing data and information to prepare reports and other materials.
- Collaborative, self-motivated individual with a strong customer service mindset and the flexibility and willingness to perform a variety of assignments.
- Ability to work independently with minimal supervision on a collaborative team.
- Excellent analytical, organizational, and communication skills, including strong writing and proofreading skills for donor mass communications, correspondence, and proposals.
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to effectively communicate with a wide range of individuals and constituencies in a diverse community.
- Ability to meet deadlines and manage multiple priorities with grace and humor, well-organized and detail-oriented.
- Raiser’s Edge, ResearchPoint, and IWave familiarity and experience.
- Ability to use required computer software (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, iWave, Raiser's Edge).
- Highest levels of personal and professional integrity with an ability to maintain confidential information concerning personal, financial, or medical matters.
- Strong cross-functional capacity to lead and participate in cross-functional teams to define issues and agree on processes, strategies, and outcomes.
- Collaborative work style and the ability to either take direction or work independently, as the Situation requires.
- Strong technical capacity to handle setup and train others to use current technology.
Qualifications: BS in Business Administration with 4 years of Experience
8. Abilities and Qualifications for Individual Giving Manager Cover Letter
- Previous fundraising experience in a museum or similar setting.
- Proven track record of successfully stewarding donors.
- Experience with donor management systems/database.
- Experience managing special events.
- Proficiency in all Microsoft Office applications and experience using a customer relations management system, and the ability to learn new systems and adapt to emerging technologies.
- Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from donors, groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.
- Experience with gift and pledge processing, prospect research, qualifying, reporting, donor acknowledgement, benefit, and recognition programs.
- Familiarity with the concepts, tools, and requirements of major gifts and annual campaigns.
- Outstanding written and oral communication skills, specifically, the ability to write creatively and persuasively.
- Conscientious and detail-oriented, and must have an appreciation of the necessity of following through with paperwork, record-keeping, and documentation.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, must be receptive to the ideas of others, and able to work cooperatively to prioritize tasks and accommodate many different and conflicting concerns.
- Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and manage time effectively in a high-pressure environment.
- Natural ability to connect with people.
- Diplomacy and discretion, as well as a respect for and understanding of complex donor and Board relationships.
- Awareness of issues relating to access and inclusion, and the ability to build inclusive and accessible programs.
Qualifications: BA in Nonprofit Management with 7 years of Experience
9. Skills Overview for Individual Giving Manager Cover Letter
- Knowledge of the UK fundraising environment and specifically the Fundraising Regulator, ICO, Data Protection Act, and GDPR.
- Cultural sensitivity and an understanding of and commitment to Amref’s mission, values, and strategic direction.
- Demonstrable and significant experience in delivering successful acquisition campaigns in individual giving fundraising.
- Relevant experience in strategic planning, target setting, and high-quality delivery in a team environment.
- Management of budgets and experience in allocating resources to deliver sustainable fundraising income.
- Experience using insight to support and deliver the strategic vision within a comparable organisation.
- A track record of using insight to inform evidence-based decision making.
- Experience in managing and evaluating effective agency and supplier relationships.
- Experience in using marketing and fundraising techniques effectively, with insight, professionalism, and sensitivity.
- Fluent in written and spoken English.
- A good understanding of supporter motivations and feelings, and the ability to translate this into engaging and responsive communications and content.
- Strong IT skills, particularly in Excel.
- Strong database skills to capture, analyse, and segment donors based on different criteria (experience using Raiser’s Edge is desirable, as is experience conducting a CRM review and migrating to a new system).
- Ability to develop and use strong metrics and KPIs to monitor and drive performance in a target-focused environment.
Qualifications: BA in Fundraising and Development with 9 years of Experience
10. Abilities and Experience for Individual Giving Manager Cover Letter
- Progressive experience in a fund development environment.
- Capacity to and interest in building internal and external relationships.
- Willing to begin/continue their own learning in anti-racism/racial equity work and engage as part of a team active in student-first efforts, including trauma-informed and gender inclusive practices.
- Active listener with the ability to synthesize information and translate it into strategy and action plans.
- Self-motivation, accuracy, attention to detail, and the ability to set and meet deadlines.
- Employ an asset and inquiry-based approach to problem-solving and can work both independently and as part of a cohesive team.
- Aptitude for working closely with people from various artistic and administrative backgrounds.
- Curious, goal-oriented, committed to learning, and able to set and pursue priorities within a fast-paced office.
- Strong organization and planning skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, respond to shifting priorities, and support multiple aspects of individual giving and its related communication needs.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to adjust communication style to accommodate multiple audiences.
- Demonstrate a commitment to supporting a culture of collaboration, cooperation, and accountability.
- Ability to plan, facilitate, and approach meetings and projects with clearly articulated goals.
- Ability to navigate tense or challenging interpersonal dynamics in a manner that is centered on trust, respect, and shared vision with a bias toward effectiveness, integrity, and positive outcomes.
- Exceptional data management and computer skills.
- Proficient in Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Premiere, Google Drive, and Asana.
Qualifications: BA in Social Work with 5 years of Experience