Job Description
Title: Alumni & Donor Engagement Organizer
Location: Durham, North Carolina
Terms: This is a hybrid full-time position. This position will require flexibility in the candidate’s schedule since some events, and meetings, will take place in the evenings during the week and during the weekend. Must have legal authorization to work in the United States.
Organization Information: Student Action with Farmworkers (SAF) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to bring students and farmworkers together to learn about each other's lives, share resources and skills, improve conditions for farmworkers, and build diverse coalitions.
SAF Programs: Into the Fields (ITF) a 10-week paid summer internship program, Solidaridad (SOL) a paid academic year internship program for college students in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area, Levante Leadership Institute (LLI) an academic year paid leadership development program for high school students living in and around Johnston County, and Cosecha a 10-month leadership support program for SAF alumni working in the social justice movement.
Position Summary: The Alumni & Donor Engagement Organizer leads Student Action with Farmworkers’ efforts to strengthen relationships with alumni and donors, ensuring ongoing support for the organization’s mission. This position is responsible for coordinating grassroots fundraising initiatives, cultivating and stewarding individual donors, and engaging alumni through events, communications, and leadership opportunities. The Organizer will oversee direct mail campaigns, donor acknowledgements, and fundraising events, as well as manage SAF’s donor database in partnership with the Operations Manager.
In addition to fundraising, the Organizer will develop and implement alumni engagement strategies, including monthly meetups, homecoming events, newsletters, and storytelling projects to maintain active connections with SAF’s diverse network of alumni. The role also involves general administrative responsibilities, community outreach, and participation in advocacy campaigns and coalition work that align with SAF’s mission.
This is a full-time position based in Durham, NC, requiring flexibility to attend some evening and weekend events. The ideal candidate will be bilingual (English/Spanish), highly organized, and committed to building relationships and advancing social justice. SAF alumni and those with experience in community organizing, donor relations, or grassroots fundraising are strongly encouraged to apply.
Duties & Responsibilities: The job duties and responsibilities for the Alumni & Donor Engagement Organizer includes the following as well as other duties as assigned:
Grassroots Fundraising (50%)
- Lead individual donor fundraising (e.g., coordinate direct mail mailings, manage online fundraising efforts, meet with donors, coordinate donor acknowledgements, & serve on fundraising team)
- Recruit & maintain major donors and monthly donors.
- Maintain up-to-date information about giving on website, listserv, & GuideStar
- Coordinate the annual Pottery Sale event
- Work with Operations Manager to maintain accuracy of NEON database and pull donor reports from it for fundraising campaigns
- Train and lead grassroots & student fundraisers with NEON/Give Butter and fundraising campaigns
- Develop relationships with and coordinate small grant requests and reports to local businesses, nonprofits, and faith-based groups
Alumni Engagement & Communications (35%)
- Work closely with the Communication Arts Director to develop a schedule for promotional materials for fundraising campaigns
- Co-create media content and graphics with Communications Arts Director
- Develop the monthly newsletter in conjunction with the Communications Arts Director
- Responsible for coordinating and executing alumni Homecoming events
- Meeting with alumni monthly – Arrange monthly alumni meet-up opportunities
- Lead alumni documentary efforts (i.e. interviews)
- Help with Cosecha recruitment
- Keep alumni engaged through alumni map, socials, and national alumni advisory group
- Promote work of alumni, keep in touch with alumni, and inform alumni through listservs, website & social media
General Administrative duties (10%)
- Write annual goals & objectives, workplan, budget, and monthly progress reports.
- Attending SAF board and staff meetings, preparing and distributing reports as needed.
- Support SAF’s development and fundraising initiatives.
- Conduct community outreach to the general community, farmworkers, and partnering organizations
Organizing & Advocacy (5%)
- Stay up to date on advocacy and organizing campaigns, and promote campaigns via listservs, website and social media
- Engage program participants and alums in campaigns through direct actions and online actions.
- Participate in coalitions support lobbying/advocacy, and support other programs as needed.
Preferred Experience and Education
- Bachelor's degree in social sciences or humanities preferred.
- Strong project management and organizational skills
- Grassroots fundraising experience preferred
- SAF alumni preferred
Qualifications:
- Bilingual proficiency in Spanish and English required.
- Two or more years of experience in fundraising, donor relations, or nonprofit development (grassroots fundraising experience strongly preferred).
- Strong relationship-building skills, with the ability to connect with a diverse range of donors, alumni, and community partners.
- Demonstrated experience coordinating fundraising campaigns, events, or appeals (direct mail, online giving, peer-to-peer fundraising, etc.).
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience creating donor communications, newsletters, or promotional content.
- Strong organizational and project management skills; ability to balance multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
- Proficiency in donor database systems (e.g., NEON, Salesforce, or similar) and Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams).
- Experience managing volunteers, interns, or alumni networks preferred.
- Familiarity with or commitment to social justice, farmworker issues, and SAF’s mission.
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a small team setting, with flexibility to attend occasional evening and weekend events.
- Enthusiasm, creativity, and initiative in engaging supporters and alumni in meaningful ways.
Benefits: SAF currently has North Carolina Blue Cross Blue Shield as our health insurance provider, dental and vision are through Delta Dental, and SAF covers 100% of the premium costs for the employee. Vacation leave is awarded as follows:
| Years of work at SAF | Vacation Days Earned |
| 0 to 2 years | 15 vacation days per year |
| 2 to 4 years | 17 vacation days per year |
| 4 years or more | 20 days per year |
Staff may carry over a maximum of 20 vacation days to the next year. Years will be computed according to employees’ anniversary dates. Employees are eligible for 13 holiday days per year prorated based on 40 hours/week. To respect the privacy of employees and discourage discrimination, the Employer offers personal days in lieu of sick days. Employees receive 12 personal days per year that renew on their anniversary date. New employees are eligible for this benefit beginning on their date of hire, with the understanding that the employee will work for SAF
for at least the remainder of the introductory period. Personal days not used can be moved from one year to the next, up to 30 days.
Parental & Disability Leave: Full-time employees who become parents either through birth or adoption shall receive 20 days of paid parental leave. Employees may use up to 40 days of their personal or vacation time for additional parental leave for 12 weeks paid leave time in one year.
Salary: SAF has a base salary for full-time employees beginning at $51,500 a year for bilingual positions. The final offer will be determined by years of experience and education in accordance with SAF’s union contract. SAF does not negotiate salaries. This position is eligible to join SAF’s union.
Compensation package: SAF automatically deposits the amount of 3% of an employee’s salary (not a deduction of 3% of their salary to be clear) into a retirement account with Guideline. The employee is free to participate, at the 1-year anniversary mark, to contribute any amount on their own in addition to the percentage SAF will deposit into their Guideline Retirement Account.
How to Apply: All submissions for consideration for this position are to be made online. Email a writing sample (fundraising letter, newsletter), resume, cover letter, and three professional references to:
Sylvia Zapata, Executive Director at:[email protected]
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with a priority deadline of Tuesday, September 30, 2025. Early submission is strongly encouraged.
SAF is dedicated to building an inclusive workforce where diversity is valued. SAF is an equal opportunity employer. Every qualified applicant will be considered for employment. SAF does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or orientation, genetic information, age, national origin, marital status, disability status, political ideology, military or protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.