Development Relations Coordinator

Job Description

Cross Catholic Outreach is a Catholic ministry with an ecumenical staff of Catholic, Protestant, and Eastern Orthodox believers working in unity to provide food, water, housing, education, orphan support, medical care, micro-enterprise, and disaster relief, and the love of our Lord Jesus Christ to the poorest of the poor in more than 30 countries around the world. We believe strongly in unifying Christians in this mission of mercy, and we believe that creating a welcoming work environment for all Christian faiths is essential to achieving our ministry goals.

Best Christian Workplace Certified 2026

Position Title: Donor Relations Coordinator
Department: Major Donors
Reports to: Stewardship & Donor Relations Manager
Position Location: (In-Office, Remote, Hybrid)
Position Type: Exempt or Hourly (As determined by Human Resources)

Position Summary:
The Donor Relations Coordinator supports Cross's strategic philanthropy work by coordinating the internal execution required to deliver timely, accurate, and consistent high-touch stewardship for major and transformational donors. This role serves as a dedicated execution lane for stewardship deliverables tied to strategic philanthropy relationships-managing calendars, tracking commitments, coordinating inputs and approvals, and ensuring follow-through across IPG/program teams, marketing/communications, finance, and Development partners.
Reporting to the Stewardship & Donor Relations Manager and working in close partnership with Philanthropy leadership and frontline fundraisers, the Coordinator manages stewardship calendars, deliverables tracking, input collection, and approval workflows so donor-facing updates and reporting can be produced accurately and on schedule. This role does not own stewardship strategy, donor strategy, or a personal donor portfolio; it enables those leaders through strong coordination, documentation, and disciplined follow-through.

Educational or Certification Requirements:
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent.
Experience Requirements:
• 3+ years of experience in nonprofit development operations, donor stewardship/donor relations, major/principal gifts support, or complex project coordination
• Demonstrated success coordinating cross-functional stakeholders, managing timelines, and maintaining strong documentation discipline
• Experience working with donor databases/CRMs and reporting/coordination workflows strongly preferred
• Familiarity with donor-facing communications, recognition workflows, and/or impact reporting preferred

Knowledge, Skills, & Character Required:
• Is a consistent witness for Jesus Christ; maintains a courteous, Christ-like attitude in dealing with people within and outside of the ministry.
• Feels a calling to serve God through serving Cross Catholic Outreach in this capacity.
• Believes in and supports the mission and ministry of Cross Catholic Outreach and agrees with the conduct policies and conduct expectations of Cross Catholic Outreach.
• High judgment and discretion handling confidential donor and ministry information
• Strong organizational and coordination skills; ability to manage multiple priorities and resolve problems quickly
• Clear written and verbal communication; able to create concise internal summaries, action plans, and meeting notes
• Strong follow-through and comfort driving clarity in ambiguous situations (owners, deadlines, inputs, approvals)
• Technical proficiency in MS Office Suite and donor database/CRM tools; strong documentation discipline
• This role requires the ability to perform standard office functions, including prolonged sitting, standing, and computer use. Occasional lifting, carrying, or moving materials weighing up to 20 pounds may be required.
• This position may require occasional domestic and/or international travel to attend meetings, trainings, conferences, or organizational events. Travel may be conducted by airplane, automobile, bus, or other reasonable means. Travel frequency is expected to be limited and scheduled in advance when possible

Duties:
Stewardship execution for major and transformational donors
• Coordinate donor-facing stewardship deliverables for major and transformational donors (impact updates, reporting touchpoints, recognition elements, donor-facing communications) in partnership with stewardship leadership and fundraisers.
• Maintain documentation of stewardship commitments and deliverables (what was promised, by whom, by when), including deadlines, owners, and approval steps to ensure consistent fulfillment.
• Maintain stewardship calendars, trackers, and provide regular status updates to stewardship leadership and strategic philanthropy stakeholders.
• Support meeting preparation and follow-up related to stewardship execution, strategic philanthropy, and major and transformational donors, including agendas, notes, action items, and next steps.

Cross-functional coordination and input readiness
• Serve as the coordination bridge between IPG/program stakeholders and marketing/communications by clarifying required inputs, timelines, and approvals so stewardship materials can be produced accurately and consistently.
• Coordinate collection of program updates and supporting information needed for donor reporting (IPG owns program content; this role ensures the handoff is timely, usable, and complete for donor communications).
• Coordinate with Finance and other internal stakeholders as needed to support appropriate documentation and internal processes connected to donor commitments and reporting expectations.

Process discipline and continuous improvement
• Support stewardship leadership in implementing consistent processes, templates, and rhythms that strengthen reliability and reduce last-minute scrambles for stewardship fulfillment.
• Flag readiness gaps, conflicting inputs, or operational risks that could impact donor fulfillment and elevate them to the appropriate leaders with proposed next steps.
• Contribute to continuous improvement by documenting workflows, clarifying handoffs, and strengthening internal communication routines across the stewardship ecosystem.
• Other duties as assigned.

About the Employer

We mobilize the global Catholic Church to transform the poor and their communities materially and spiritually for the glory of Jesus Christ.

Our
Vision
All Catholics around the world united in overcoming material and spiritual poverty