Manager of Annual Giving

Overview:

Open Eyes is a Christian mission organization working in some of the hardest places in the world. We partner with local leaders who are already part of their communities and support them as they bring the hope of the Gospel to places where Christian presence is limited.

For more than a decade, we have made long-term investments in local leaders, providing the practical resources, ongoing partnership, and training they need to reach their communities with steady, faithful witness. Through this support, they start and strengthen churches, disciple new believers, and care for those on the margins.

We do this through two primary initiatives:
Mobile Messengers — local leaders equipped and resourced to share the Gospel and strengthen the Church.
Life Centers — community-based ministry hubs providing healthcare, economic opportunity, and leadership development.

Organizationally, our core behaviors are: 1) Servant Leadership: We serve our teammates, field leaders, and donors, embodying the heart of our mission with kindness and intentionality, 2) Excellence: We strive for the highest quality in all we do, 3) Growth Mindset: We intentionally develop thinking and practices that increase our capacity to contribute to our mission, 4) Joy: We cultivate gratitude and fun as we engage in our work, and 5) Clear Communication: We are proactive, specific, and respectful in our communication with each other.

Position Summary:

The Manager of Annual Giving is responsible for developing and executing comprehensive fundraising strategies for gifts under $1,000, with a primary emphasis on growing and sustaining the organization’s monthly giving program. This role partners closely with mid-level and major giving staff, as well as marketing and communications to create a unified donor experience that maximizes acquisition, retention, and upgrade pathways across all giving levels.

Primary Responsibilities:

Fundraising Strategy & Revenue Generation

• Accountable for achieving annual revenue goals within the under-$1,000 segment and monthly giving program.
• Serve as the primary pipeline engine for identifying and preparing donors for transition to mid-level and major gift portfolios.
• Develop and implement comprehensive annual fundraising strategies for gifts under $1,000, with a specific focus on increasing monthly giving participation.
• Own the full lifecycle of the monthly giving program, including acquisition, retention, reactivation, churn reduction, and average gift growth.
• Manage online fundraising campaigns tailored to encourage monthly contributions.
• Oversee the planning and execution of targeted direct mail campaigns for smaller gift amounts, emphasizing the benefits of monthly giving.
• Monitor and optimize direct response performance, including response rates, cost per acquisition, ROI, and donor lifetime value.
• Partner with major and mid-level gift programs to jointly execute direct mail and email strategies.

Donor Cultivation & Stewardship

• Develop segmented, scalable stewardship strategies for donors contributing under $1,000 annually.
• Implement stewardship plans to recognize and retain donors in lower giving tiers.
• Develop a portfolio of mid-level donors and new prospects.

Data Analysis & Reporting

• Identify upgrade indicators and collaborate with mid-level and major gift teams on qualification and transition strategies.
• Prepare regular reports for executive leadership focused on monthly donor retention and acquisition metrics.
• Maintain data integrity within assigned segments and collaborate with operations/CRM staff on reporting and analytics.
• Leverage database tools to track interactions and measure the success of monthly giving programs.

Marketing & Communications Collaboration

• Collaborate with marketing and communications teams to create compelling materials tailored to lower giving levels, highlighting the impact of monthly contributions.
• Ensure consistent messaging and branding across all fundraising initiatives for smaller gifts.
• Collaborate on scalable virtual engagement opportunities for monthly donors.

Budget & Compliance 

• Develop and manage the annual fundraising budget for gifts under $1,000, with a focus on cost-effective strategies that maximize the impact of monthly giving initiatives.
• Ensure all fundraising activities comply with relevant laws and ethical fundraising standards.

Team Leadership

• Build, lead, and mentor the annual fund team, providing guidance and support in executing strategies for monthly giving. 
• Collaborate with other departments to integrate annual fund efforts with overall organizational fundraising strategies.

Qualifications:

Experience & Education

• Minimum 3–5 years of experience in fundraising, donor relations, or related fields.
• Demonstrated experience managing annual giving or monthly giving programs.
• Bachelor’s degree required 

Core Competencies

• Strong understanding of annual fund strategies, direct mail, and digital fundraising.
• Experience building or growing a monthly giving program.
• Proficiency with fundraising databases and donor management systems.
• Strong data analysis skills with the ability to interpret trends and inform strategy.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Leadership & Collaboration

• Ability to work collaboratively across departments and with senior leadership.
• Strong interpersonal skills with a donor-centric mindset.
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.

Mission Alignment

• Adherence to Open Eyes’ Statement of Faith.
• Understanding organizational mission, vision, and values with the ability to translate them into donor relationships.

Compensation and Location:

This position is full-time. The annual salary for this position ranges from $60,000–$70,000, commensurate with experience. This position is preferably based in Charlotte, NC.