Donor Relations Advisor
Greater Toledo Community Foundation, Toledo, Ohio, United States, 43614
The Opportunity
The Greater Toledo Community Foundation has been a force for community investment and impact for more than fifty years. By connecting generosity with meaningful community causes, the Community Foundation is the largest philanthropic institution serving northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan. Guided by a new strategic plan, the Foundation is accelerating its development team. Under new leadership, the Foundation is addressing the region’s most persistent challenges while building pathways toward a more equitable and connected community. The Foundation seeks a skilled and collaborative Donor Relations Advisor to join its newly created Center for Philanthropy. This is an exciting opportunity to join an exceptional organization at a moment of strategic clarity and momentum. The Organization
The Greater Toledo Community Foundation’s mission is to
create
opportunities ,
connect
generosity, and
inspire
collective action to ensure a vibrant region where all people thrive. The Foundation partners with donors to create lasting impact through community leadership and convening, strategic grantmaking and innovative philanthropy that addresses the community’s most pressing needs. The Community Foundation is a permanent charitable resource serving the greater Toledo region. With more than $560 million in assets across 1100+ funds, the Foundation is the region’s largest Grantmaker, distributing over $30 million annually to support community needs, opportunities and long-term impact. The Community Foundation provides best-in-class donor services while aligning individual passions with meaningful community impact. In addition, the Foundation designs and hosts innovative programs that strengthen the region’s nonprofit ecosystem. Position Summary
The Donor Relations Advisor is responsible for leading the Foundation’s donor stewardship and legacy engagement strategy, ensuring fundholders experience consistent, meaningful and high-quality engagement over time. This role manages a portfolio of active fundholders, oversees the Legacy Society communications and ensures donors understand the tangible impact of their charitable giving. The Donor Relations Advisor partners closely with Senior Advisors and senior leadership to sustain long-term relationships, track planned giving intentions, while strengthening retention, satisfaction and lifetime giving. Responsibilities
Manage a portfolio of approximately 200 active fundholders focusing on stewardship and engagement. Serve as the primary lead for donor acknowledgments, recognition, and ongoing engagement activities. Ensure fundholders feel informed, valued, and connected to the Foundation’s mission and impact. Stewardship Framework & Service Delivery
Implement and manage a comprehensive stewardship framework, including touchpoint cadence, acknowledgments, impact reporting, and milestone recognition. Oversee donor surveys, feedback collection, and service recovery efforts to address concerns and improve donor experience. Establish stewardship best practices and documentation to ensure consistency across the department. Legacy Society & Planned Gift Stewardship
Lead the management of the Foundation’s Legacy Society. Coordinate recognition, communications, and event invitations for legacy donors. Track planned giving intentions, documentation, and status changes in partnership with Senior Advisors and the Vice President. Support smooth donor transitions between active fundraising, stewardship, and legacy phases. Impact Reporting & Communications
Develop and manage a pipeline of donor-facing impact reports, stories, and updates. Ensure stewardship communications reflect donor intent and demonstrate community impact. Maintain stewardship dashboards and performance metrics, including retention, satisfaction, and legacy growth. Key Performance Indicators
Donor retention and renewal rates Fundholder satisfaction and engagement metrics Legacy Society growth and planned gift documentation Alignment of donor intent with strategic priorities Timeliness and quality of stewardship communications CRM accuracy and reporting consistency Essential professional assets
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience. Minimum 3-5 years of experience in donor relations, stewardship, or nonprofit development. Strong capacity to build trust and communicate thoughtfully with high-net-worth individuals and families. Exceptional written communication, project management, and attention to detail. Comfortable in a visible, external-facing role with frequent event participation and community engagements. Essential personal assets
Strong relational intelligence with the ability to build trust and read donor cues. Warm, confident service mindset with the ability to set clear expectations and handle sensitive conversations with discretion. Exceptional written communication skills, with the ability to translate complex information into clear, donor-friendly language. Strong judgment and pattern recognition to identify engagement shifts, legacy signals, and appropriate escalation points. Highly organized and detail-oriented, with comfort managing a large portfolio and maintaining accurate CRM documentation. Preferred assets
Knowledge of local philanthropic landscape and key community stakeholders and donors. Physical Demands
This role is based in a standard office environment and requires the ability to speak, hear, and see (near and far), move throughout the office, sit for extended periods, and attend meetings. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities. Work Authorization
Authorization to work within the United States without sponsorship. What We Offer
Salary commensurate with experience Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance 403(b) retirement plan with 5% employer match Life and disability insurance Generous paid time off, starting at three (3) weeks annually Sick leave and generous paid holidays This is a full-time, exempt, in-person position based in downtown Toledo. The Location
The Greater Toledo Community Foundation is located in downtown Toledo, offering a collaborative and welcoming work environment. Northwest Ohio provides an exceptional quality of life with a low cost of living, strong schools, a vibrant arts and dining scene, access to Lake Erie and nationally recognized cultural and recreational amenities. Local and regional travel for donor meetings and community events is required, including occasional evenings and weekends. How to Apply
Please submit a resume and letter of interest to HR@toledocf.org . The letter should describe your interest in the role, relevant accomplishments, and two examples demonstrating why you would be a strong candidate.
Priority consideration will be given to applications received by February 13, 2026. Confidential inquiries are welcome and handled with discretion.
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The Greater Toledo Community Foundation has been a force for community investment and impact for more than fifty years. By connecting generosity with meaningful community causes, the Community Foundation is the largest philanthropic institution serving northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan. Guided by a new strategic plan, the Foundation is accelerating its development team. Under new leadership, the Foundation is addressing the region’s most persistent challenges while building pathways toward a more equitable and connected community. The Foundation seeks a skilled and collaborative Donor Relations Advisor to join its newly created Center for Philanthropy. This is an exciting opportunity to join an exceptional organization at a moment of strategic clarity and momentum. The Organization
The Greater Toledo Community Foundation’s mission is to
create
opportunities ,
connect
generosity, and
inspire
collective action to ensure a vibrant region where all people thrive. The Foundation partners with donors to create lasting impact through community leadership and convening, strategic grantmaking and innovative philanthropy that addresses the community’s most pressing needs. The Community Foundation is a permanent charitable resource serving the greater Toledo region. With more than $560 million in assets across 1100+ funds, the Foundation is the region’s largest Grantmaker, distributing over $30 million annually to support community needs, opportunities and long-term impact. The Community Foundation provides best-in-class donor services while aligning individual passions with meaningful community impact. In addition, the Foundation designs and hosts innovative programs that strengthen the region’s nonprofit ecosystem. Position Summary
The Donor Relations Advisor is responsible for leading the Foundation’s donor stewardship and legacy engagement strategy, ensuring fundholders experience consistent, meaningful and high-quality engagement over time. This role manages a portfolio of active fundholders, oversees the Legacy Society communications and ensures donors understand the tangible impact of their charitable giving. The Donor Relations Advisor partners closely with Senior Advisors and senior leadership to sustain long-term relationships, track planned giving intentions, while strengthening retention, satisfaction and lifetime giving. Responsibilities
Manage a portfolio of approximately 200 active fundholders focusing on stewardship and engagement. Serve as the primary lead for donor acknowledgments, recognition, and ongoing engagement activities. Ensure fundholders feel informed, valued, and connected to the Foundation’s mission and impact. Stewardship Framework & Service Delivery
Implement and manage a comprehensive stewardship framework, including touchpoint cadence, acknowledgments, impact reporting, and milestone recognition. Oversee donor surveys, feedback collection, and service recovery efforts to address concerns and improve donor experience. Establish stewardship best practices and documentation to ensure consistency across the department. Legacy Society & Planned Gift Stewardship
Lead the management of the Foundation’s Legacy Society. Coordinate recognition, communications, and event invitations for legacy donors. Track planned giving intentions, documentation, and status changes in partnership with Senior Advisors and the Vice President. Support smooth donor transitions between active fundraising, stewardship, and legacy phases. Impact Reporting & Communications
Develop and manage a pipeline of donor-facing impact reports, stories, and updates. Ensure stewardship communications reflect donor intent and demonstrate community impact. Maintain stewardship dashboards and performance metrics, including retention, satisfaction, and legacy growth. Key Performance Indicators
Donor retention and renewal rates Fundholder satisfaction and engagement metrics Legacy Society growth and planned gift documentation Alignment of donor intent with strategic priorities Timeliness and quality of stewardship communications CRM accuracy and reporting consistency Essential professional assets
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience. Minimum 3-5 years of experience in donor relations, stewardship, or nonprofit development. Strong capacity to build trust and communicate thoughtfully with high-net-worth individuals and families. Exceptional written communication, project management, and attention to detail. Comfortable in a visible, external-facing role with frequent event participation and community engagements. Essential personal assets
Strong relational intelligence with the ability to build trust and read donor cues. Warm, confident service mindset with the ability to set clear expectations and handle sensitive conversations with discretion. Exceptional written communication skills, with the ability to translate complex information into clear, donor-friendly language. Strong judgment and pattern recognition to identify engagement shifts, legacy signals, and appropriate escalation points. Highly organized and detail-oriented, with comfort managing a large portfolio and maintaining accurate CRM documentation. Preferred assets
Knowledge of local philanthropic landscape and key community stakeholders and donors. Physical Demands
This role is based in a standard office environment and requires the ability to speak, hear, and see (near and far), move throughout the office, sit for extended periods, and attend meetings. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities. Work Authorization
Authorization to work within the United States without sponsorship. What We Offer
Salary commensurate with experience Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance 403(b) retirement plan with 5% employer match Life and disability insurance Generous paid time off, starting at three (3) weeks annually Sick leave and generous paid holidays This is a full-time, exempt, in-person position based in downtown Toledo. The Location
The Greater Toledo Community Foundation is located in downtown Toledo, offering a collaborative and welcoming work environment. Northwest Ohio provides an exceptional quality of life with a low cost of living, strong schools, a vibrant arts and dining scene, access to Lake Erie and nationally recognized cultural and recreational amenities. Local and regional travel for donor meetings and community events is required, including occasional evenings and weekends. How to Apply
Please submit a resume and letter of interest to HR@toledocf.org . The letter should describe your interest in the role, relevant accomplishments, and two examples demonstrating why you would be a strong candidate.
Priority consideration will be given to applications received by February 13, 2026. Confidential inquiries are welcome and handled with discretion.
#J-18808-Ljbffr