Donor Relations & Engagement Specialist

Donor Relations and Engagement Specialist

The Alliance for Youth Action (along with our sister 501(c)(3) organization the Alliance for Youth Organizing) is searching for a Donor Relations & Engagement Specialist. This position will play a pivotal role in advancing the Alliance’s fundraising strategy during a critical period of growth. This position is responsible for donor engagement, proposal and report development, grant management, prospecting, and political donor cultivation. Operating at a Senior Manager level, this role requires independent judgment, a strong equity lens, and the ability to manage projects and relationships that directly impact the Alliance’s fundraising and organizational goals.

This position must have an understanding of 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) fundraising principles, including compliance requirements, donor cultivation strategies, and appropriate messaging for each entity. This position is not for idealists who only dream about how the world should be; it is for a builder, a strategist, and an executor who is willing to organize in the reality of how things are to shift power where it matters. This position reports to the Development Director and is based in the United States (see Logistics, below). Alliance for Youth Organizing is a unionized workplace, and staff are represented by the Washington-Baltimore News Guild, Local 32035; this is a part-time (30 hours/week), temporary position that is not in the bargaining unit.

About the Alliance for Youth Action

The Alliance convenes, supports, and scales a national network of youth-led, locally rooted organizations growing civic engagement and social justice coast to coast. We truly are a multiracial network “of young people, by young people, for all people.” Our Affiliates and Partners run massive voter registration and get-out-the-vote drives, train new young leaders, and run powerful campaigns to win on the progressive issues our generation cares about most. Our national team empowers this work by tracking down national resources for the network, building capacity for local groups, seeding new efforts, and coordinating national issue campaigns.

Job Responsibilities

Donor Engagement & Fundraising Projects (25%)

• Plan and execute donor briefings, convenings, and fundraising events.

• Develop strategic materials (presentations, talking points, tailored backgrounders, briefing packets, and other collateral) that showcase the Alliance’s vision and impact.

• Support leadership in donor outreach and meetings, ensuring follow-up communications are tracked and advanced.

Proposal & Report Drafting (50%)

• Draft compelling proposals and reports that align with the Alliance’s mission, goals, and priorities.

• Collaborate with program and finance teams to build clear, persuasive narratives and accurate budgets.

• Collect and integrate data, stories, and outcomes to highlight impact for funders.

• Prepare, submit, and track proposals and reports in accordance with funder guidelines and deadlines.

Prospecting & Political Donor Development (25%)

• Research and identify prospective PAC contributors and political donors aligned with the Alliance’s strategic priorities.

• Build and maintain prospect lists, including capacity, interests, and giving history.

• Develop cultivation strategies and donor profiles to strengthen outreach by senior staff and board members.

• Advance efforts to expand the Alliance’s political donor base through targeted engagement.

Key Qualifications & Experience

Qualifications

• Demonstrated specialized knowledge of fundraising, donor relations, or political fundraising.

• Independent judgment and analytical skills to evaluate options and propose creative solutions.

• Ability to manage and/or oversee projects, with potential supervisory responsibility for assistants, associates, or coordinators.

• Experience shaping departmental strategy and contributing to organization-wide fundraising strategy.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with ability to translate complex ideas into compelling donor-facing materials.

• Demonstrated understanding of racial equity and experience managing across differences.

• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple deadlines simultaneously.

Impact & Expectations

• Directly contributes to achieving fundraising and political donor goals during a pivotal period.

• Shapes donor strategy and helps align resources with organizational priorities.

• Ensures proposals, reports, and donor communications meet the highest professional standards.

• Serves as a key partner to leadership, supporting strategy execution and long-term donor engagement.

The responsibilities outlined above are intended to provide a general overview of the position and may not include all tasks or duties that could be assigned. We value flexibility and collaboration, and the selected candidate may be asked to take on additional responsibilities as organizational needs evolve.

Logistics

• Compensation: $41.82/hour ($87,000 annualized)

• Benefits: The Alliance offers a competitive benefits package covering:

  • Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance covering

    • 100% of employee premiums 

    • 75% of premiums for employee dependents

  • Employer retirement contributions (SEP IRA) of 5% of salary

  • Employer paid life insurance, short and long term disability income protection insurance 

  • Cell phone and internet stipends of $100 per month

  • WMATA transportation Smartbenefits for staff located in the DMV area

  • Professional development opportunities and funds 

  • Generous paid time off policy through which staff accrue 10 hours of PTO per month

  • Unlimited sick leave

  • Paid family and medical leave up to 16 weeks

  • Paid Sabbatical (after 4 years of service)

  • 15 paid holidays

  • Potential for end of year or other bonuses

• Location: This is a part-time (30 hours/week), temporary position based in the United States. All Alliance staff are required to live within about an hour from an airport with frequent flights to DC and to our network locations; eligible airports are listed here. Moving reimbursements are offered to employees who need to move for this position.

• Travel: This position will include up to 20% travel. Must be willing to work periodically long, irregular hours and to travel as needed.

Commitment to Equity

At the Alliance for Youth Action, we want to create a world where our democracy works for everyone and where all people – no matter where they come from, what they look like, or how they identify – live in loving, safe, and thriving communities. As such, we value diversity and equity as central to our work. We are an equal-opportunity employer and an inclusive workplace for people of all backgrounds and walks of life. People of color, immigrants, people with disabilities, people of diverse sexual orientations, gender expressions, and identities are encouraged to apply. Research suggests that women and Black, Indigenous and people of color may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage anyone who believes they have the skills and the drive necessary to succeed here to apply for this role.

To Apply

Please apply by submitting a single PDF document including the following:

• Resume

• Three references (we will reach out to you first before contacting them)

• Please attach one 501(c)(3) and one 501(c)(4) writing sample along with your application. Examples may include grant proposals or reports, funder-facing memos or emails, or other relevant writing that displays your knowledge and expertise in c3 and c4 fundraising.

Please reach out to whitney@ayo.recruitee.com if you have any questions.

The Priority Deadline to apply is Sunday, October 26, 2025, but applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position has been filled. The ideal start date for the candidate is on or around Wednesday, January 7, 2026.