Application Guide

How to Apply for Manager, Donor Relations

at NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)

🏢 About NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)

NAMI is the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization, uniquely positioned at the intersection of advocacy, education, and direct support for millions affected by mental illness. Working here means contributing to a mission-driven organization that actively addresses disparities and promotes dignity in mental healthcare, offering the rare opportunity to combine fundraising expertise with meaningful social impact.

About This Role

This Manager, Donor Relations role focuses specifically on cultivating midlevel donors ($1,000-5,000 range) through personalized digital engagement and direct marketing strategies. You'll be responsible for qualifying, soliciting, and closing gifts from the Compassion Collective while maintaining meticulous CRM records in Salesforce, directly supporting NAMI's ability to expand mental health services and advocacy nationwide.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day involves analyzing Salesforce reports to identify donor cultivation opportunities, crafting personalized outreach to Compassion Collective members, developing digital content for midlevel donor communications, and tracking engagement metrics. You'll collaborate with the fundraising team on strategy while maintaining detailed records of donor interactions and gift progressions.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

Practice questions for this role

🎯 Who NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Is Looking For

  • Has 2-4 years of hands-on experience with midlevel giving programs, specifically managing donor portfolios in the $1,000-5,000 range
  • Demonstrates measurable success in meeting or exceeding revenue targets through donor cultivation and solicitation strategies
  • Possesses practical Salesforce experience for donor tracking, moves management, and segmentation (not just general CRM knowledge)
  • Shows genuine interest in mental health issues, with awareness of NAMI's specific programs like Ending the Silence or NAMI Connection support groups

📝 Tips for Applying to NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)

1

Quantify your fundraising achievements using specific metrics (e.g., 'increased midlevel donor retention by 15%' or 'managed a portfolio of 200 donors averaging $2,500 gifts')

2

Mention specific Salesforce features you've used for donor relations (e.g., campaign tracking, report generation, segmentation tools) rather than just listing 'Salesforce experience'

3

Reference NAMI's specific initiatives like their advocacy work on the 988 crisis line or their StigmaFree Company program to show genuine research

4

Highlight any experience with digital engagement strategies for midlevel donors, such as personalized email sequences or virtual stewardship events

5

If you have personal or professional connection to mental health causes, briefly mention this (appropriately) to demonstrate alignment with NAMI's mission

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Your specific experience with midlevel donor cultivation and how you've successfully moved donors through the giving pipeline", "Examples of personalized digital engagement strategies you've developed for donor audiences similar to NAMI's Compassion Collective", 'How your Salesforce expertise has improved donor tracking, reporting, or segmentation in previous roles', "Why NAMI's mental health mission resonates with you personally or professionally, connecting it to your fundraising philosophy"]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → NAMI's annual report and recent financial statements to understand their funding sources and priorities
  • → The Compassion Collective program specifically - what it is, who it serves, and how it's been promoted
  • → NAMI's current advocacy initiatives (like their work on insurance parity or crisis response systems)
  • → Recent news about NAMI's leadership, partnerships, or program expansions to discuss knowledgeably
Visit NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)'s Website →

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk me through your process for cultivating a midlevel donor from initial qualification to gift closure
2 How would you design a digital engagement strategy for Compassion Collective donors that balances personalization with scalability?
3 Describe a time you used Salesforce data to identify giving opportunities or improve donor retention
4 What do you know about NAMI's current fundraising priorities or recent advocacy campaigns?
5 How would you handle a situation where a donor wants to restrict their gift to a specific mental health program that doesn't align with organizational priorities?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Speaking generically about 'nonprofit fundraising' without specific examples related to midlevel giving programs
  • Failing to demonstrate knowledge of NAMI's specific mission beyond 'mental health awareness'
  • Overemphasizing major gifts experience when this role specifically focuses on the $1,000-5,000 range

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)!

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