Philanthropy Manager

About FAST:

FAST is the leading patient advocacy organization working to cure Angelman syndrome. As the largest non-governmental funder of Angelman syndrome research in the world, our goal is to drive forward transformative research and development programs as quickly as possible for those living with Angelman syndrome — regardless of age or genotype. FAST is an international organization with a national funding base.

Position Summary:

The Philanthropy Manager will be a crucial member of the stewardship team, focusing on building deep relationships with donors, community members and mission partners. This individual will engage directly with potential and current donors to foster connections and drive support for our mission, both in person and virtually. The role is ideal for an enthusiastic, personable, and mission-driven individual who is skilled at engaging others and communicating the impact of FAST.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Donor Cultivation & Engagement:

• Relationship Building: Utilize fundraising expertise and interpersonal skills to establish and nurture relationships with donors and their families at all levels of giving.
• Collaborate with the CPO to develop tailored engagement strategies for high value prospects and donors, including face-to-face meetings, creating cultivation opportunities and developing mission critical funding pitches.
• Drive individual giving programs, donor engagement strategies, and philanthropic campaigns to expand revenue streams and donor base.
• Identify and steward major donors, foundations, and corporations to secure major gifts and sponsorships.
• Create a compelling donor communications strategy including draft materials.
• Schedule and attend meetings, presentations, and events to deepen donor understanding and investments in our work.
• Develop metrics and track performance for individual giving programs.

Community Outreach & Partnerships:

• Identify and engage with businesses, community organizations, and other stakeholders to build awareness and support for Angelman syndrome research.
• Represent the organization at relevant events, conferences, and gatherings to increase visibility and establish connections.

Event Support & Coordination:

• Support the planning and execution of donor events, including invitation management, on-site coordination, and post-event follow-up.
• Assist in hosted in-person gatherings to showcase our current research priorities and field impact.

Donor Stewardship:

• Participate in stewardship and direct response strategies, including direct mail and email solicitations, event invitations and stewardship mailings
• Work with Donor Stewardship advisor to ensure that donors receive timely and personalized acknowledgments for their contributions.
• Track interactions and update donor profiles in the organization’s CRM to keep engagement records current.

EDUCATION, SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in nonprofit management, communications, or a related field.
• 3-5 years of experience in fundraising, sales, customer service, or a similar field involving face-to-face engagement.
• High level of professionalism, empathy, and sensitivity to patient and family needs.
• Knowledge of annual fund, major gifts, planned giving, as well as foundation and corporate giving, and/or sales with a proven track record of managing and closing gifts.
• Maintain and build strong and lasting relationships with constituents through meaningful touchpoints, with heavy focus on retention and upgrades of giving.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with a natural ability to build relationships and inspire others (in person, on the phone and virtually).
• Comfort speaking with high net-worth individuals and preparing development materials to support donor relationships.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects with a high degree of accuracy and timeliness.
• Comfort with CRM databases and other tools for tracking donor interactions; Virtuous CRM a plus.
• Strong proficiency in using Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint is required.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Role requires approximately 20% travel, including occasional weekend and evening work.
• Must have a valid driver’s license