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Diocese of Winona-Rochester Employment

 

Mission Advancement Associate

St. Thomas More Catholic Newman Center Parish @ Mankato, Minnesota posted on Fri, Oct 25

Apply until: 2024-12-31

Vision 

When we live as disciples of Jesus within our unique vocations, we can make a powerful impact on our donors and students. By allowing the Holy Spirit to work through us, we can bring hope and light to those we interact with every day, regardless of the task at hand. That's why we encourage every staff member to cultivate a habit of daily prayer and devotion to the sacramental life of the Church (Mass, confession, adoration), so that we can continually be a source of inspiration and guidance for those we serve. 

Job Summary 

The St. Thomas More Catholic Newman Center is seeking an energetic, driven, and collaborative Mission Advancement Associate to join our team. This role will directly support the fundraising and marketing efforts of the Center by assisting with donor engagement, strategic planning, and event logistics. The ideal candidate will help drive donor research, manage communications, and work alongside the Director of Mission Advancement to enhance public awareness and strengthen relationships with key supporters. This role is pivotal in ensuring the smooth execution of fundraising campaigns, appeals, and special events. 

Duties/Responsibilities 

Donor Research & Database Management: 

  • Create and maintain donor profiles, notes, and follow-up tasks to ensure effective stewardship. 
  • Regularly update and manage donor data, ensuring accurate records of giving history, address changes, and donor engagement tracking. 
  • Collaborate with the business administrator to ensure all gifts are processed accurately and acknowledged in a timely manner. 
  • Conduct research to identify potential major gift donors and monthly giving prospects, organizing donors based on their giving capacity. 

Gift Acknowledgment & Stewardship:  

  • Manage the entire gift acknowledgment process, ensuring personalized thank-you notes are sent within 1-2 weeks of gift receipt. 
  • Work with the Director of Mission Advancement, Father, students, and volunteers to ensure prompt and meaningful thank-you communications, especially for major gifts. 
  • Oversee pledge reminders and recurring gift follow-ups. 

Monthly Giving Support: 

  • Maintain relationships with monthly donors, ensuring they receive updates and thank-you communications. 
  • Monitor and update monthly gift information, including handling cases where credit card or bank details need updating (typically 3-4 transactions per month). 
  • Research new monthly giving prospects and coordinate with the Director to connect with potential donors. 

Grant Writing: 

  • Assist with the annual grant writing process, including applying for the Seeds of Faith Grant each year and the Koch Foundation grant every two years. 
  • Coordinate with the Director and Newman Pastor to align on the vision for the grants, maintain communication with the foundations, and provide grant updates and reports on how funds were used. 

Event Planning & Support: 

  • Manage the logistical planning and execution of major fundraising events, including the annual gala and senior dinner. 
  • Coordinate event details such as venue, volunteers, promotional materials, gala materials, and registration. 
  • Work with the Director of Mission Advancement on post-event thank-you communications. 

Strategic Planning:  

  • Play a key role in strategic planning sessions, bringing fresh ideas to improve donor engagement and support the Center’s mission. 
  • Collaborate with the Director to develop the annual development plan. 

Communications & Marketing: 

  • In coordination with the Director, design yearly appeals for Give to the Max Day, Easter Renewal Matching Challenge, Summer Newsletter, Gala invitations, and save-the-dates. 
  • Manage monthly e-newsletter development and distribution to keep donors and supporters engaged with the Center’s activities. 
  • Oversee the marketing plan across digital platforms such as the website, appeals, and other campaigns. 
  • Help develop marketing and promotional materials, including video content to showcase the ministry’s impact. 

Qualifications 

  • Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, or a related field (preferred, flexible based on experience). 
  • At least 2 years of experience in fundraising, donor relations, or related roles (experience in non-profits or mission-driven organizations is a plus). 
  • Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously. 
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and knowledge of basic HTML for CMS updates. 
  • Experience with donor databases (e.g., Bloomerang or similar CRM systems) and gift processing is a plus. 
  • Collaborative team player with a problem-solving mindset and a willingness to take initiative. 
  • Ability to independently manage projects and tasks while contributing to broader team goals. 
  • Passion for the mission of the St. Thomas More Catholic Newman Center and the ability to communicate that passion to others. 
  • Interest in engaging with student alumni to foster long-term relationships and encourage monthly giving. 
  • Flexibility to work in a fast-paced environment with occasional evening or weekend events.