Donor Engagement Manager

The Position

Ballotpedia is seeking a full-time, 100% remote Donor Engagement Manager to join our External Relations team.

Reporting to the Director of External Relations and working collaboratively with Ballotpedia’s External Relations team members and others across the organization, you will primarily focus on running many of Ballotpedia’s fundraising programs, including digital efforts and direct mail programs. You will build on Ballotpedia’s existing programs. You will grow Ballotpedia’s fundraising programs by turning readers and one-time givers into recurring members and repeat donors. This position will oversee the Ballotpedia Society membership program, the ad-free reader program, online giving, direct mail, donor retention communications, and seasonal fundraising campaigns.

The Donor Engagement Manager is a vital part of our fundraising team, and the role is perfect for someone who is an excellent fundraising writer, a curious and thoughtful analyst, and a reliable project manager. If you are a creative problem solver who enjoys designing experiments, analyzing results, and using what you learn to improve donor engagement, we want you on our team.

Responsibilities

As the Donor Engagement Manager, you will:

Donor Engagement and Fundraising

• Manage and grow Ballotpedia’s membership and recurring giving programs, including Ballotpedia Society and the ad-free reader program.
• Plan and execute membership pledge drives, direct mail appeals, Giving Tuesday, and 12 Days of Ballotpedia to meet annual fundraising goals.
• Develop donor-centered fundraising copy and communications to attract new donors, retain existing supporters, and re-engage lapsed donors.
• Execute and optimize testing strategies to improve online giving, donor conversion, and retention.
• Coordinate mailing vendors, audience segmentation, and campaign schedules.
• Identify and research promising donor prospects for follow-up by the Director of External Relations.
• Oversee donor acknowledgments, gift processing, and payment issues.
• Create regular reports and analyses on program performance, recommending growth opportunities and revenue goals.
• Maintain donor data and campaign records in Salesforce, Classy, and WhatCounts.
• Manage on-site advertising vendors and optimize advertising performance and revenue.

Cross-Departmental Collaboration

• Partner with Communications, Tech, and Content to develop campaign materials and coordinate fundraising outreach and promotion.
• Work with Tech to improve online giving and the ad-free donor experience.
• Coordinate advertising revenue goals with the COO and ad placement improvements with Tech.

Skills and Qualifications

An ideal Donor Engagement Manager will:

• Be a true believer in Ballotpedia’s mission to provide accurate, fact-based information to American voters. You’re excited about it and want to inspire others to support it.
• Possess a strong customer service orientation and enthusiasm for creating a positive experience for Ballotpedia’s donors and members.
• Demonstrate curiosity as a highly motivated self-starter, eager to understand what inspires donors to give and how to deepen their connection to Ballotpedia.
• Bring a test-and-learn mindset, with enthusiasm for trying new approaches, analyzing results, and improving fundraising performance.
• Exemplify “organized persistence” in keeping campaigns, donor communications, and recurring tasks on schedule.
• Be effective at managing multiple projects with moving parts simultaneously and collaborating with colleagues and outside vendors.
• Have strong research, written, and verbal communication skills, including the ability to write persuasive, donor-centered fundraising appeals.
• Be comfortable working with data and spreadsheets to evaluate campaign results, identify trends, and recommend improvements.
• Have experience in fundraising, donor engagement, membership programs, or related marketing work.
• Be highly proficient with Salesforce (preferred) or other donor databases, with familiarity with online giving and email platforms such as Classy and WhatCounts.
• Be receptive to feedback and eager to learn, adapt, and improve.

Environment

The Donor Engagement Manager will work remotely from their home location. All Ballotpedia staff work remotely. To join Ballotpedia, you must have a computer with Internet access.

Ballotpedia offers a flexible work environment, BP Flex, in which every employee enjoys unlimited vacation and flexible scheduling. Each employee will be oriented to the principles of Ballotpedia’s flexible environment during new employee training.

Compensation

The starting pay range for the Donor Engagement Manager is $60,000-$75,000/year, commensurate with experience.

In addition to salary, Ballotpedia offers an annual benefits stipend equivalent to $8,000 that is paid out in equal increments in each paycheck once an employee becomes benefits eligible. The stipend may be used to pay for a full benefits package, including health, vision, and dental insurance; retirement accounts; and more. If benefits are not elected, the stipend is taxed as regular income and added to salary. 

To Apply

To apply, visit the Ballotpedia job opportunities page and fill out the form.

Please attach the following in PDF format:

• Résumé
• Cover letter detailing your interest in Ballotpedia’s mission and this position

Please ensure that either your résumé or your cover letter includes your current address.

Please note that if you are hired for this position, Ballotpedia participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, Ballotpedia is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers can only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9. For more information on E-Verify, or if you believe that your employer has violated its E-Verify responsibilities, please contact DHS.

About Ballotpedia

Ballotpedia is a mission-driven organization dedicated to providing Americans with accurate, relevant, and unbiased information about politics, elections, and public policy. Our mission is to ensure that the only unknown on your ballot is who gets your vote. We value innovation, humility, intellectual curiosity, drive, and a collaborative spirit and are committed to continuously improving our offerings to better serve our audiences, readers, and candidates.