Organizational Mission:

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s mission is to protect, manage, and advocate for the Appalachian National Scenic Trail.

Position Summary

The Donor Experience Manager reports to the Director of Annual Giving and is responsible for facilitating meaningful donor engagement and supporting long‑term philanthropic relationships. Working closely with the full Engagement Team, including Communications, Operations, Visitor Experience, and Development, the Donor Experience Manager executes key stewardship initiatives, donor communications, and reporting efforts that strengthen donor retention and deepen overall engagement.

This role plays a central part in delivering a thoughtful, consistent, and mission‑aligned donor experience across the ATC’s donor pipeline. The Donor Experience Manager ensures donors feel valued, informed, and connected to the impact of their philanthropy by implementing strategic stewardship practices, maintaining clear and timely communication, and creating high‑quality engagement touchpoints that reinforce commitment to ATC’s mission.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Implement and manage a strategic donor stewardship calendar, including personalized touchpoints, donor society communications, milestone recognition efforts, and regional engagement opportunities.
• Produce and oversee donor-facing communications, including bi-monthly digital and print newsletters and other stewardship materials.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for donor inquiries, managing the philanthropy inbox and phone line while delivering responsive, high-quality service.
• Manage the full tribute stewardship process, accurate reporting, and meaningful acknowledgement for memorial and named gifts.
• Support donor engagement events and assist with related logistics and fulfillment as needed.
• Compile tailored donor or leadership briefings.
• Collaborate with the Director of Annual Giving and colleagues across Development, Communications, Finance, and Operations to ensure donor intent is honored and donor communications are aligned and timely.
• Support Development leadership with special projects, campaign-related stewardship initiatives, and cross-team coordination as needed.
• Cross-train with and support Development team members on planned giving operational workflows while leading Legacy Society communications, stewardship activities, and external vendor coordination.
• Partner with the Development Team and Engagement Operations to maintain Salesforce data integrity, reporting accuracy and strong alignment with donor engagement strategies.
• Support moves management processes, including meeting coordination, activity tracking, and visibility into stewardship progress.
• Conduct prospect research and donor discovery to strengthen pipeline development and engagement strategies.
• Maintain dashboards and accountability tools to track donor engagement plans and stewardship commitments and progress toward goals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred in nonprofit management, communications, business administration, or a related field; an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience will also be considered. 
• 3–5 years of professional experience in fundraising, donor relations, planned giving, or nonprofit communications, with a demonstrated track record of supporting donor-centered initiatives. 
• Exceptional writing, editing, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to craft clear, compelling messages for diverse audiences. 
• Proficiency with CRM databases, preferably Salesforce, along with strong skills in the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook). 
•  Strong organizational and project management abilities, including managing multiple deadlines, coordinating cross‑functional tasks, and maintaining attention to detail in a fast-paced environment. 
• Proven project management experience, demonstrating the ability to plan, execute, and evaluate complex initiatives involving multiple stakeholders. 
• Demonstrated critical thinking skills, including the ability to analyze information, evaluate options, solve problems, and anticipate donor and organizational needs. 
• Collaborative mindset, with the ability to work effectively within a fast‑paced, team‑oriented environment and build productive relationships across departments. 
• Experience working with internal and external stakeholders, including donors, vendors, board members, and development colleagues, ensuring strong communication and alignment.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

• Regular communication with donors, colleagues, and external partners through phone calls, video conferencing, email, and in‑person meetings. 
• Extended periods of computer and phone work, requiring the ability to remain focused and engaged while managing multiple tasks. 
• Travel required approximately 4–6 times per year, including participation in organizational events, meetings, and outreach activities. 
• Periodic travel along the Appalachian Trail corridor to support events, donor engagement, and partnership initiatives. 
• Availability during nontraditional hours, including evenings or weekends during peak programmatic or event periods. 
• This is a hybrid role, requiring two in‑office days per week at one of our regional locations in Harpers Ferry, WV, or Roanoke, VA.

Additional Details:

• Location: Hybrid Role - Requiring two in‑office days per week at one of the ATC regional office locations in Harpers Ferry, WV, or Roanoke, VA.. 
• Annual Salary Range: ($58k - $62k)
• Health, dental, and vision insurance available.
• Company paid long-term disability and life insurance provided.
• 403(b) Retirement Plan with up to 7% match after 1 year of service. 

ATC Equal Employment Opportunity Statement 

ATC encourages collaboration, flexibility, and fairness with all employees and volunteers to enable participation and contributions to their fullest potential.

We are committed to being an inclusive organization and recognize that a broad range of perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds contributes to an effective and successful organizational culture and mission.

ATC prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity and/or expression), national origin, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, political affiliation, union membership, or any other status protected by the laws and regulations in the locations where we operate.

ATC's Identity Statement