[Hiring] Donor Research & Intelligence Specialist @Awana

Role Description

At our ministry, we are passionate about forming lasting faith in every child, everywhere! As the Donor Research & Intelligence Specialist, you will play an important role in furthering our mission by understanding individual donors and donor groups to inform fundraising strategy, relationship management, and portfolio decisions. This role focuses on donor intelligence, research, and modeling rather than overall fundraising performance.

• Help answer questions about who our donors are, what capacity they may have to give, how they give, and how we should engage them based on what we know.
• Work closely with mid-level, major gifts, and donor engagement leaders to identify opportunities, readiness, and next steps.

You’ll thrive in this role if you have a heart for mission work that directly impacts the lives of children and youth around the world, and you are:

• Someone who enjoys learning about donors and what motivates them.
• A curious researcher who likes connecting dots between data and people.
• A thoughtful analyst who uses judgment, not just scores.
• A clear communicator who can explain donor insights simply.

Hiring Range for this position is: $55,000 - $65,000. This full-time position is primarily remote with occasional travel required for strategic meetings, typically in St. Charles, IL or Nashville, TN.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required ideally with a concentration in business, data analytics, psychology, or similar from an accredited college or university.
• 3 to 5 years of experience in donor research, prospect research, or advancement services, ideally in a non-profit environment.
• Experience using donor screening tools and research resources.
• Comfort working with donor data and CRM systems, ideally Salesforce.
• Ability to build simple scoring or ranking systems.
• Strong analytical thinking and attention to detail.
• Ability to summarize findings clearly and practically.
• Occasional local and out-of-town, overnight travel may be required.
• General understanding of the Bible and the Christian Church in its various expressions preferred.
• Experience with Awana Club, curriculum, resources, & solutions is a plus!
• Valid State driver’s license required.
• Eligibility to work in the United States is required; this position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship.

Requirements

• Must be a born-again Christian.
• Must have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
• Must be in agreement with the Awana Doctrinal Statement.
• Must be in fellowship with the body of Christ through a local church.
• Regularly engages in reading the Holy Bible as a guide and standard for living.

Key Responsibilities

• Donor Intelligence
  • Develop and maintain donor intelligence practices.
  • Help the team better understand who donors are and how they engage.
• Individual Donor Research
  • Conduct research on individual donors as needed.
  • Provide clear summaries and insights to support relationship and portfolio decisions.
• Donor Modeling and Scoring
  • Build and maintain donor scoring or readiness systems.
  • Combine internal giving history with external screening tools.
  • Help identify donors with capacity or readiness for deeper engagement.
• Identification and Movement
  • Identify donors who may be under engaged or ready for increased giving.
  • Support mid-level and major gifts teams with qualified donor lists.
  • Help determine appropriate next steps based on donor behavior and capacity.
• Salesforce Partnership
  • Serve as the donor research subject matter expert within Salesforce.
  • Partner with IT and data teams to ensure research data is usable and accessible.
  • Ensure donor intelligence is structured and applied consistently.
• Organizational Stewardship
  • Uphold and demonstrate the Awana cultural values in all internal and external communications and relationships.
  • Contribute to special projects, initiatives, and evolving ministry needs.
  • Embrace opportunities for professional development in order to hone your craft and expertise.

Benefits

• Mission-driven work that changes the lives of children and youth around the world.
• Remote-first work environment, allowing you to do the majority of your work from where it is you call "home".
• Workplace culture that prioritizes prayer, a Biblical worldview, intentional connection, flexibility, family, and community engagement.
• Benefits package, including a variety of programs you can choose from to meet you and your family’s needs, such as:
  • Medical, dental & vision health insurance.
  • Paid family leave.
  • 401(k) & Roth 401(k) retirement savings plans with employer match.
  • Generous paid vacation & holidays.
  • Adoption assistance.
  • College scholarship.
  • An employee wellness program.
  • And more!