Donor Communications Manager

The Mackinac Center for Public Policy seeks a Donor Communications Manager to lead written communication for the Center’s donors and prospective donors, with a strong emphasis on stewardship, impact, and relationship-building. We have a strong preference for an in-person role but will consider a hybrid arrangement for the right candidate.

Reporting to the Director of Donor Communications, the Donor Communications Manager plays a central role in advancing the Mackinac Center’s mission by helping supporters clearly understand the impact of their investment. This position supports the advancement team by producing high-quality written materials, ensuring timely fulfillment of grant reporting obligations, and strengthening systems that improve donor engagement and retention.

The ideal candidate is a strong writer and editor who is highly organized, collaborative, and comfortable managing multiple priorities. This role maximizes the effectiveness of the advancement team by ensuring donor communications are timely, thoughtful, and aligned with organizational mission and strategy.

Responsibilities

• Produce written grant reports with guidance from the Center’s primary organizational grant writer

• Create and execute donor stewardship plans in collaboration with major gift officers

• Write customized donor impact reports and stewardship communications

• Contribute to donor-focused direct mail and email communications that support stewardship, fundraising, and relationship-building efforts

• Revise, edit, and proofread others’ writing, and support skill development through constructive feedback

• Develop and refine systems and processes related to donor stewardship to increase organizational effectiveness and donor retention

• Manage a small portfolio of donor relationships requiring written proposals, based on interest and capacity (approximately 5–10 donors)

• Correspond with supporters through phone calls and email as part of ongoing stewardship efforts

• Use the donor database to manage tasks, track communication, and maintain an organized workflow

• Collaborate with colleagues across the advancement and communications teams

• Take advantage of opportunities to develop leadership skills and contribute to team initiatives

• Perform other writing responsibilities and related duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Strong commitment to the Mackinac Center’s mission and principles, with the ability to clearly reflect and reinforce the Center’s mission and purpose in donor communications

• Exceptional writing, editing, and proofreading skills

• 2+ years of relevant experience in donor communications, fundraising, communications, or a related field

• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail

• Ability to manage deadlines and multiple projects simultaneously

• Comfort working collaboratively while also managing independent responsibilities

• Experience using databases or CRM systems preferred

• Professional judgment, discretion, and a service-oriented mindset

Why Join Us?

• Competitive compensation and benefits

• High-impact, mission-driven work with measurable outcomes

• The opportunity to work alongside some of the nation’s most respected leaders in policy and communications

The Mackinac Center is a nonpartisan research and educational institute dedicated to improving the quality of life of all Michigan residents by promoting sound answers to state and local policy questions. We advance liberty and opportunity for all people by developing free-market policies, challenging government overreach and influencing public opinion. Our goal is to persuade policymakers to act in the broad public interest rather than narrow private or government interests. The Mackinac Center is a nonprofit organization with 45 full-time employees, a 50-member Board of Scholars and an annual operating budget of $11 million.

The Mackinac Center offers competitive salary and benefits including but not limited to health, dental, health savings account (HSA), flexible spending account (FSA), employer-paid life insurance policy, short & long-term disability coverage, 403(b) retirement account with employer match, and 30 days paid time off in addition to ten paid holidays per year.

Application Process

To apply please submit a résumé, a cover letter detailing your interest in the position, a sample of research or persuasive writing, and a list of 3 references to:

Elizabeth Posthumus
Director of Donor Communications
Email: careers@mackinac.org
Fax: (989) 631-0964

While we thank all applicants for their interest in this position, we are only able to contact those whom we are considering for an interview. No telephone calls, please.