Donor Relations Manager
Job Title: Donor Relations Manager
Location: Raquette Lake, NY. Remote November - April.
Position: Full-time, year-round, non-exempt
Salary & Benefits: Starting at $21 - $24 per hour based on skills & experience. On-campus lodging & meals in season, health & retirement benefits, paid time off, and sick leave
This position is immediately available and remains open until filled. We anticipate that we will begin contacting candidates for interviews by February 15, 2025.
About Great Camp Sagamore
Great Camp Sagamore is a National Historic Landmark and is one of the first of the nationally renowned Great Camps of the Adirondacks. Located in one of the most remote areas of the Adirondack Park, Sagamore is today an educational private, non-profit institution dedicated to stewarding Great Camp Sagamore as a welcoming place for educational and recreational programs and fostering connections to history, nature, and community.
Sagamore welcomes guests from May through late October and on two separate days during the winter. Guests come from all over the world to take our tours, to participate in overnight and day experiences, to attend conferences, get married, host family reunions, and to enjoy concerts.
Working at Great Camp Sagamore
Great Camp Sagamore employs a core group of year-round staff members and additional seasonal staff to support our on-campus programs and activities. During the season, most staff members live on campus with meals provided. We maintain a collaborative work environment where all staff members are expected to lead by example, to work closely together in a positive manner, and to foster a safe, encouraging, and enjoyable workplace for everyone.
Great Camp Sagamore is committed to creating and sustaining a diverse, inclusive, and equitable work environment that empowers all staff members to grow and to be active within decision making spaces. We are committed to ensuring an anti-racist culture and a work environment free from discrimination and harassment. Great Camp Sagamore will not discriminate based on gender, gender expression, sexual identity, sexual orientation, race, class, color, age, ethnicity, first language, religion or belief, or family, marital, parental, military, or veteran status in any aspect of employment including recruitment, hiring, promotions, discipline, terminations, wages and salary, benefits, training, and professional development.
Position Description
Great Camp Sagamore seeks an individual looking to grow professionally and who will help take Sagamore’s fundraising capabilities and donor relations to the next level. Effective fundraising and development of relationships with donors and prospective donors are essential to Sagamore’s ability to provide enriching educational experiences while maintaining these historic buildings and grounds. Successful development, management and execution against these objectives will allow for the expansion of programs and activities to appeal to an ever-broadening audience of guests and supporters.
The Donor Relations Manager is a publicly facing position responsible for, improving the efficiency, effectiveness, and quality of Great Camp Sagamore’s marketing efforts, under the direction of the Director - Operations & Programs. This position is a resource and support to all Sagamore departments.
Great Camp Sagamore operates in a fast-paced environment with a lean and efficient staff. The Donor Relations Manager position requires someone who likes finding opportunities and overcoming challenges under such conditions while remaining flexible and cordial to colleagues, external partners, collaborators, and guests. This position is a member of the management team that includes the Marketing Manager, Operations Manager, and Programs Manager, a group of people who support each other to fulfill their responsibilities and who work closely together to help achieve the goals for Sagamore and is a resource to and support for all Sagamore departments.
We are looking for a proactive and highly organized Donor Relations Manager who enjoys working with people to
- help develop and execute annual fundraising plans including the annual Appeal, Gala, historic Preservation campaign, and membership drive;
- work with the Executive Director to develop annual fundraising plan, calendar, and budget;
- maintain Sagamore’s client relationship management system and fundraising records;
- support Sagamore’s grants program by helping to identify new grant sources and maintaining the organization’s database of information relevant to all grants;
- write thank-you notes; and to
- stay abreast of new fundraising ideas and industry trends, and make suggestions accordingly.
This position requires residency at or near Great Camp Sagamore during the season. Lodging provided is basic but private and comfortable. Meals take place in a common dining hall shared by guests. From November - April, year-round staff work from home. This individual must be available to support in-person the winter programming days.
Preferred/Required Skills & Experiences
Great Camp Sagamore is on a growth trajectory in all aspects of the organization, and the person who fills this position will be an integral part of this growth.
This position is appropriate for a candidate with previous fundraising and development-related experience who is looking for professional growth and is interested in helping to shape an evolving and growing department. It may also be suitable for someone with related experience who is looking to enter the world of fundraising and development. Both types of candidates are encouraged to apply.
The successful Donor Relations Manager is a reliable and positive team member who enjoys thinking critically, strategically, collaboratively, and creatively, and is analytical, highly organized, and detail-oriented. The successful candidate is someone who enjoys building and maintaining relationships, and who enjoys interacting with people on the phone and in person.
- Past experience relevant to building and managing relationships
- Experience with database systems and online platforms. Sagamore’s CRM is Kindful, but prior experience with this particular platform is not required.
- Excellent organizational skills, and written and oral communication skills
- Strong computer and online skills, and working knowledge of Excel and Word
- Experience related to grants; grant writing experience a plus.
- Demonstrated experience as a self-starter with a “figure it out” orientation and willingness to learn new skills, software, apps, processes, etc.
Physical Requirements
While in residence, employees should be able to walk throughout the rustic camp complex and carry necessary files and equipment up and down two flights of stairs.
Benefits & Perks
This position includes paid time off and sick leave and will be eligible for health benefits after 90 days and retirement benefits after 1 year. All meals during the season are provided by Great Camp Sagamore in the Dining Hall, and staff have full use of the camp’s amenities, including the Boathouse and the open-air bowling alley. Staff members’ friends and family members may enjoy tours, meals, and overnight accommodations at reduced costs.
To Apply
- Send your resume and cover letter to [email protected].
- The hiring team will review your application and contact you to let you know whether you will be moving forward in the process.
- Applicants we would like to get to know further will be invited to participate in the interview process, which will include phone, phone, and possibly in person interviews.
- We will send the selected person an offer letter and new-hire information.
