Job Summary

The Donor & Community Relationship Specialist is a front-line relationship builder and fundraiser responsible for growing and deepening Gateway’s donor and community network through intentional relationship development, donor cultivation, stewardship, and fundraising. Working under the strategic direction of Advancement leadership, this position translates Advancement strategy and College priorities into specific relationship opportunities, engagement pathways, funding opportunities, and next moves. The Specialist manages a portfolio of mid-level donors and prospects, develops new relationships throughout the community, makes appropriate philanthropic asks, and uses moves-management practices to intentionally bring donors and community partners closer to Gateway over time.

Job Duties:

• Donor Cultivation, Fundraising & Moves Management:
  
• Manage an assigned portfolio of mid-level donors and prospective donors, including scholarship donors, endowed fund holders, and other priority relationships identified by Advancement leadership.
  
• Execute moves-management strategies to qualify, cultivate, solicit, steward, renew, and deepen relationships.
• Make appropriate small and mid-level philanthropic asks and assist in moving donors toward increasingly meaningful engagement and investment in Gateway.
  
  
• Community Relationship & Prospect Development:
  
• Develop and cultivate prospective donor and community relationships across corporate, nonprofit, government, philanthropic, civic, and community sectors.
  
• Maintain an active presence at community, business, industry, chamber, College, and other relationship-building activities.
• Listen for emerging interests, needs, connections, and opportunities and bring relevant relationship intelligence back to Advancement leadership.
  
• Assist in bringing new individuals and organizations into Gateway’s circle and developing them into engaged supporters and prospective donors.
  
  
• Donor Relations, Stewardship & Engagement:
  
• Develop and execute intentional stewardship and engagement for assigned donors, including scholarship donors, endowed fund holders, and other priority constituencies.
  
• Create opportunities to bring donors closer to Gateway through campus and program visits, student and faculty connections, events, impact communications, recognition, and other meaningful experiences.
• Relationship Intelligence, Portfolio Management & Documentation:
  
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation of donor and prospect relationships in the College’s constituent/donor relationship management system, including contacts, interests, connections, engagement activity, giving opportunities, stewardship, relationship movement, and next moves.
  
• Maintain disciplined portfolio follow-up and use relationship intelligence and data to support ongoing cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
  
  Internal Connection & Gateway Engagement:
  
• Attend Gateway programs and internal events through an Advancement lens and assist in creating opportunities to showcase the College to donors and prospective donors.
  
• Coordinate appropriate introductions and experiences that strengthen relationships between Gateway and its supporters.
  
• Other duties as assigned.
  

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent and 4 – 6 years of relevant experience in fundraising, development, donor relations, community engagement, relationship management, or a related field.
  
• Proven ability to build, cultivate, and maintain meaningful relationships with donors, prospective donors, business leaders, community partners, and College stakeholders.
  
• Strong interpersonal and networking skills with the ability to establish rapport and engage diverse audiences.
  
• Self-motivated and results-oriented, with the ability to work independently and take initiative in a dynamic environment.
  
• Demonstrated ability to represent the College professionally and actively engage in community, civic, and business activities
  
• Detail-oriented, self-motivated, ability to work independently and adapt seamlessly to fast-paced, dynamic environments.
  
• Skilled in engaging and supporting students from different cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.
  
• Excellent verbal, written, and active listening skills.
  
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities effectively and meet tight deadlines.
  
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, Forms, Outlook, Teams, SharePoint, Word)
  
   

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge of higher education, workforce development, nonprofit organizations, or foundation operations.
  
• Previous experience in a community college setting

Additional Skills Requested:

• This position is intentionally designed as a highly external-facing Advancement role. The successful candidate will spend significant time developing and deepening relationships outside of the office, representing Gateway at community and College activities, cultivating prospective donors and supporters, and executing intentional next moves for assigned relationships.
  
• The position requires a combination of strong interpersonal skills and disciplined relationship management.
• Success will be demonstrated through consistent portfolio activity, development of new donor and community relationships, effective stewardship, accurate relationship documentation, identification of funding opportunities, and measurable movement of relationships toward deeper engagement and philanthropic support of Gateway.
  
  

Employee Rights - Employee Polygraph Protection Act

Equal Opportunity Employer - The Kentucky Community and Technical College System is an equal educational and employment opportunity institution.