How to hire a major donor coordinator

How to hire a major donor coordinator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step major donor coordinator hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a major donor coordinator job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new major donor coordinator
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a major donor coordinator do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The major donor coordinator hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A major donor coordinator's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, major donor coordinators from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of major donor coordinator salaries for various roles:

   Type of Major Donor Coordinator	Description	Hourly rate
   Major Donor Coordinator	Fundraisers organize events and campaigns to raise money and other donations for an organization. They may design promotional materials and increase awareness of an organization’s work, goals, and financial needs.	$16-32
   Fundraising Internship	A fundraising intern has the opportunity to learn how to create fundraising events from beginning to execution. They also learn how to execute the best practices in fundraising events such as creating a cause, case statement, budget, functional database, and other important parameters... Show more	$13-23
   Director Of Capital Giving	A director of capital giving oversees program operations to ensure they run smoothly and efficiently according to company standards and regulations. They primarily set goals and protocols, establish timelines and budgets, perform market research and analyses, review and assess applications, and make decisions... Show more	$32-71

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Donor Relations
   • Database Management
   • Data Entry
   • Tissue Donation
   • Alumni
   • Phone Calls
   • Donor Database
   • CRM
   • Event Planning
   • Donor Recognition
   • Medical History
   • Social History
   • Compassion
   • Gift Processing

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Create and manage fundraising board consisting of business-leader volunteers, alumni, and community activists.
   • Manage the grievance process including face-to-face negotiations with union representatives at the highest arbitration procedural level.
   • Act as coordinator for alumni events and provide stewardship for scholarship donors and their recipients.
   • Help Medicaid eligible members to secure both physical and behavioral services in the community by reviewing and preparing prior authorization requests.
   • Monitor twitter and create twitter analytics/reports for publicists on influencers and press.

   More major donor coordinator duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your major donor coordinator job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A major donor coordinator salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a major donor coordinator in Hawaii may be lower than in New Jersey, and an entry-level major donor coordinator usually earns less than a senior-level major donor coordinator. Additionally, a major donor coordinator with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average major donor coordinator salary

   $48,037yearly

   $23.09 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level major donor coordinator salary

   $34,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

   Average major donor coordinator salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New Jersey	$71,369	$34
   2	Illinois	$65,939	$32
   3	District of Columbia	$61,848	$30
   4	New York	$59,380	$29
   5	Washington	$54,630	$26
   6	Wisconsin	$54,367	$26
   7	Pennsylvania	$50,675	$24
   8	Minnesota	$50,606	$24
   9	Massachusetts	$49,182	$24
   10	California	$49,084	$24
   11	Colorado	$48,778	$23
   12	Michigan	$48,397	$23
   13	Texas	$48,336	$23
   14	Oregon	$47,990	$23
   15	Florida	$46,129	$22
   16	Maryland	$40,526	$19
   17	Ohio	$38,288	$18
   18	Utah	$37,495	$18
   19	Nebraska	$36,580	$18
   20	Missouri	$36,067	$17

   Average major donor coordinator salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Earthjustice	$73,632	$35.40
   2	GPAC	$70,067	$33.69
   3	UMiami Health System	$60,159	$28.92
   4	NRDC	$60,062	$28.88
   5	Ahmad, Zavitsanos, Anaipakos, Alavi & Mensing P.c. Or Aza	$58,864	$28.30	2
   6	Central Texas College	$58,374	$28.06
   7	Sutter Health	$57,165	$27.48	7
   8	Hackensack Meridian Health	$55,782	$26.82	5
   9	Harvard University	$55,605	$26.73
   10	Pine Street Inn	$55,317	$26.59
   11	Georgetown University	$54,528	$26.22
   12	University of California-Berkeley	$53,416	$25.68
   13	SF-Marin Food Bank	$52,360	$25.17
   14	MSG Entertainment	$52,285	$25.14	1
   15	ArcBest	$52,164	$25.08	3
   16	Ferring Pharmaceuticals	$51,113	$24.57
   17	Minnesota Limited	$50,712	$24.38
   18	Pm Consulting Corp	$50,064	$24.07
   19	The Cooper Companies	$49,678	$23.88	5
   20	Young Life	$48,873	$23.50	5

4. Writing a major donor coordinator job description

   A good major donor coordinator job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a major donor coordinator job description:

   Major donor coordinator job description example

   Are you looking for a meaningful career opportunity that will help support the safety of families across Philadelphia? Are you interested in being part of an established, vision-oriented nonprofit organization? Women Against Abuse (WAA), is looking for an experienced individual to join the team as a *Donor Engagement Coordinator*!
   
   WAA, a 501(c)3 nonprofit agency, is Philadelphia's leading domestic violence advocate and service provider and among the largest domestic violence agencies in the country. The mission of WAA is to provide quality, compassionate and non-judgmental services in a manner that fosters self-respect and independence in persons experiencing intimate partner violence through advocacy and community education. With over 170 staff, WAA serves (2-100 bed safe havens and 15 transitional housing apartments), legal services, hotline counseling, aftercare community-based services, prevention & education, and advocacy.
   
   WAA's Core Values are Safety, Empowerment, Strength, Hope, Respect, and Integrity and we are committed to a work environment built on honesty, transparency, teamwork, accountability, and a high level of professionalism.
   Responsibilities:
   The Donor Engagement Coordinator will manage and enhance the operations of the Advancement Department, and to build the infrastructure necessary to support individual and major donor giving primarily through data and reporting best practices. Responsibilities include but are not limited to: Managing the donor database, ensuring quality of data and provide reports upon request. Process all gifts in the database and maintain accurate constituent records. Prepare all gift acknowledgements, pledge reminders, and other correspondence in a timely manner. Serve as the department's liaison with the Finance Department, reconciling weekly batch reports and maintaining audit documentation. Create an efficient moves management process and provide regular reporting to support the VP of Advancement's major donor solicitation. Maintain prospect research and major donor and planned giving files and provide support with follow-up as needed. Provide data needed to participate in discussions around donor acquisition, retention, cultivation and stewardship. Manage donor acknowledgement according to Development Gift Entry and Donor Acknowledgement Policies. In coordination with the VP of Advancement, generate and prepare fundraising reports, mailing lists, and update department's annual metrics on a monthly basis. Coordinate agency's Volunteer Program, including the Community Awareness Representatives (CARs). Maintain department's inventory of marketing materials, letterhead, etc. in accordance with the budget . Assist in other tasks or projects as assigned. Attend staff, program and Agency meetings, as required. Maintain professionalism, sensitivity, and confidentiality at all times. All responsibilities are implemented according to our mission and vision and according to Agency standards.
   
   Qualifications:
   1. Associates Degree in Nonprofit Management, Business, Marketing, English, Communications or related field required, Bachelor's Degree preferred.
   2. A minimum of 2-3 years database, gift entry experience required.
   3. Prior donor relations or communications experience with non-profit organizations or a combination of education and experience is acceptable.
   4. Strong computer skills, including MS Excel spreadsheets, CRM such as Donor Perfect, Raiser's Edge, Salesforce, etc. and MS Word required
   5. Excellent communication both written & writing, and interpersonal skills
   6. Ability to meet required deadlines and schedules is a must
   7. Demonstrated ability to work effectively with a diverse population
   8. Ability to work independently and collaboratively in an effective manner
   9. Must have strong multi-tasking skills and have a genuine service orientation
   10. Bilingualism Spanish/English a plus
   11. Will be required to attend 45 hours of Domestic Violence Training, post hire.
   12. Employment offer and continued employment are contingent upon satisfactory child abuse, criminal and FBI clearances and a pre-employment physical, are required (all related fees will be paid by WAA).
   
   Schedule: Monday - Friday 9a - 5p
   Pay Rate: $42,500.00-45,900.00 salary range with Full Medical/Vision/Dental benefits + more.
   Location: Center City, Philadelphia PA
   Vaccine Mandate Information: All current & future employees of WAA must have the Covid-19 vaccination. We can provide an accommodation with an approved medical or religious exemption. All employees meeting this exemption must be tested weekly and wear a mask when in common or community spaces (mask can be removed when eating or in a single office with the door closed)
   
   We are an equal opportunity employer and are dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We strongly encourage candidates of color, LGBTQ communities, veterans, and people with disabilities to apply.
   
   Job Type: Full-time
   
   Pay: $42,500.00 - $45,900.00 per year

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find major donor coordinators for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your major donor coordinator job on Zippia to find and recruit major donor coordinator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit major donor coordinators, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new major donor coordinator

   Once you have selected a candidate for the major donor coordinator position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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