Director of Strategic 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 Director of Strategic Giving leads the cultivation and stewardship of donors contributing between $1,000 and $10,000 annually. This role is primarily focused on building lasting, mission-centered relationships through personalized engagement and a branded giving community. The Director of Strategic Giving serves as a critical bridge between the annual fund and major gifts programs, creating clear pathways for donor growth. This position is measured against annual financial revenue goals.

Primary Responsibilities:

Donor Engagement & Stewardship

• Cultivate and steward relationships with mid-level donors ($1,000–$10,000) through personalized communication, a branded community, and tailored engagement strategies.
• Develop a comprehensive understanding of each donor’s interests and motivations to inform individualized fundraising approaches.
• Implement recognition and acknowledgment programs for mid-level donors, ensuring timely and personalized expressions of gratitude.
• Take ownership of a portfolio of other donors that may not be mid-level (major donors or new prospects).

Fundraising Strategy & Revenue Generation

• Design and implement fundraising strategies to achieve annual revenue goals from the mid-level donor segment.
• Create compelling and targeted fundraising proposals that emphasize the impact of mid-level contributions.
• Collaborate with the broader fundraising team to integrate mid-level giving into overall advancement initiatives.

Donor Pipeline Development

• Conduct research to identify annual fund donors with capacity for mid-level giving and develop strategies to cultivate upgrades.
• In partnership with the major gifts team, analyze mid-level donor giving capacity and create pathways to elevate donors to the major gifts level.
• Stay informed about industry trends and best practices in mid-level giving to continually refine upgrade strategies.

Events & Donor Activities

• Plan and execute events (primarily virtual) specifically designed to engage and recognize mid-level donors.
• Coordinate personalized interactions including donor recognition events, webinars, and exclusive organizational updates.

Data Management & Reporting

• Maintain accurate donor records and gift information in the fundraising database.
• Regularly analyze and report on mid-level giving performance, providing insights and recommendations for continuous improvement.
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Collaboration

• Collaborate with annual fund and major gifts colleagues to ensure seamless coordination and a cohesive donor experience across all giving levels.
• Work closely with marketing and communications teams to align messaging and outreach for the mid-level donor segment.

Qualifications:

Experience & Education

• Minimum 3–5 years of experience in fundraising, donor relations, or related fields.
• Demonstrated success managing a donor portfolio and meeting fundraising revenue goals.
• Bachelor’s degree required 

Core Competencies

• Proven ability to cultivate and steward donor relationships at a personal, high-touch level.
• Experience developing fundraising proposals and donor upgrade strategies.
• Familiarity with fundraising databases and donor management tools.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to leverage data to inform strategy.
• Ability to work collaboratively across teams
• High integrity, accountability, and results-oriented mindset.

Mission Alignment

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

Compensation and Location

This position is full-time. The annual salary for this position ranges from $70,000–$80,000, commensurate with experience. This position is preferably based in Charlotte, NC.