Individual Giving Manager

About Us and the Role: Issue One is a leading cross-partisan democracy reform organization working to strengthen American democracy for the sake of freedom, fairness, and opportunity. The Individual Giving Manager is a frontline fundraising role responsible for building and managing Issue One's small and mid-size individual donor program, with a focus on cultivating donors giving up to $25,000 annually and developing a strong pipeline of supporters with the potential to grow into mid-level and major donors. This role also supports engagement with The Council for American Democracy (TCAD). The Individual Giving Manager reports to the VP/Philanthropy and works closely with all philanthropy staff to support a cohesive, growing development operation.

Responsibilities: 

Individual Giving Portfolio Management and Cultivation (70%)

• Build and manage a portfolio of individual donors and prospects giving up to $25,000 annually, with a focus on identifying high-potential donors and cultivating them toward larger gifts over time.
• Develop and execute individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for each portfolio donor.
• Proactively identify and qualify new individual giving prospects by mining Issue One's existing donor database, online giving activity, event attendee lists, and referrals from organizational leadership and board members.
• Conduct regular donor outreach through meetings, calls, site visits, and written communications to build authentic, lasting relationships and advance investments.
• Develop a systematic approach to moving donors up the giving ladder, establishing clear criteria and processes for identifying when a donor is ready to be elevated to the mid-level or major gifts portfolio.
• Partner closely with the Director of Major Gifts and Leadership Giving to ensure smooth and well-timed transitions of donors with major gift potential.
• Leverage IO events, online giving channels, and digital engagement to identify, engage, and convert new individual donors, partnering with relevant staff to ensure a consistent and high-quality donor experience across all touchpoints.
• Draft compelling donor correspondence, proposals, and stewardship updates tailored to individual donor interests and organizational priorities.
• Design and implement a small donor renewal and upgrade program, including targeted outreach strategies for lapsed donors and first-time givers with growth potential.
• Develop and manage a mid-year and year-end giving strategy for the individual giving portfolio, coordinating with the broader team.
• Track and document all donor interactions, next steps, and revenue projections accurately and consistently in Salesforce.
• Monitor portfolio performance and progress toward revenue goals on a regular basis, analyzing donor trends to adjust outreach and engagement strategies.
• Prepare regular reports on individual giving performance, pipeline health, and donor trends.
• Meet or exceed annual individual giving revenue goals.

TCAD Engagement and Support (20%)

• Support fundraising and donor engagement efforts connected to The Council for American Democracy, including identifying TCAD-aligned prospects within the individual giving portfolio.
• Assist in developing donor communications and engagement strategies that connect TCAD's mission to individual donor interests.
• Coordinate with TCAD leadership and the VP/Philanthropy to align fundraising efforts and ensure a cohesive donor experience.
• Support TCAD-related events and donor cultivation activities.

Philanthropy Team Support (10%)

• Support the philanthropy leadership team with meeting preparation, briefing materials, follow-up correspondence, and donor research.

Job-Related Experience and Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• 3-5 years of progressive experience in fundraising, donor relations, or a related field
• Demonstrated success cultivating and securing gifts from individual donors, with experience managing a donor portfolio
• Experience identifying and qualifying new prospects and moving donors through a cultivation pipeline
• Familiarity with donor renewal, upgrade, and re-engagement strategies
• Experience with donor acknowledgment, correspondence, and stewardship processes
• Experience with political advocacy, nonprofit fundraising, or democracy reform is preferred; candidates should be comfortable with our cross-partisan approach and able to engage across the political spectrum
• Familiarity with donor databases (Salesforce preferred) and basic prospect research tools
• Experience supporting senior fundraisers with donor research or relationship management
• Enthusiasm for building relationships with donors and a passion for our mission
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; crafts clear, compelling, and personalized correspondence and proposals
• A natural relationship-builder comfortable initiating and sustaining conversations with a wide range of donors
• Strategic thinker with the ability to identify donor potential and develop thoughtful, long-term cultivation plans
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Proactive and self-motivated, with a willingness to take initiative and build systems and processes
• Collaborative mindset and comfort working across teams
• Comfort with a metrics-driven approach to fundraising 
• Familiarity with fundraising best practices, moves management, and the donor lifecycle
• Familiarity with democracy reform and US politics
• Positive energy, team-first attitude, and a desire to grow within a mission-driven philanthropy operation

Structure and Location: This role requires 40 hours per week and qualifies for benefits. Issue One prefers DMV-based candidates for this role but is open to candidates elsewhere in the Northeast. Candidates based outside of DC will be expected to travel to DC regularly and should be prepared to discuss logistics with the hiring manager prior to an offer. Issue One is a hybrid work environment: staff come to the office on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and otherwise work remotely.

Recruitment Timeline

• October 13-23: Resumes collected
• October 28-Nov 13: Interviews
• November 16: Role offered 
• December 1: Candidate begins (flexible)