Key Relationships Officer (Remote - Southeast, U.S.)

Key Relationships Officer

Main areas of focus: Fundraising, Donor Relations & Experience, Mentorship, Team Support

Location: Greater Nashville area, including one day a week on-site in Franklin, TN

Eligibility: At this time, we are only considering candidates who are eligible to work in the United States without the need of company sponsorship now or in the future.

Job Highlight

You'll cultivate, solicit, and steward relationships with prospects and existing donors for both Water Projects and Operations, and contribute to the efforts of the Key Relationships (KR) team by directly contributing to the revenue line and overseeing projects that benefit the greater team.

Job Summary

As a Key Relationships Officer, you'll be responsible for cultivating, pitching, and stewarding both existing and prospective donors. You'll spend most of your time building meaningful relationships by visiting supporters both virtually and in person, communicating organizational priorities and donor impact, and growing their giving over time. With charity: water's Experience Lab in your footprint, you'll be the primary on-site point-of-contact for visitors to our Lab capable of donating $10K or more to our Water Programs or Operations. You'll report to the Associate Director of Key Relationships and work closely with other members of the Key Relationships team, The Experience Lab team, and the wider organization to directly contribute to revenue targets and the organization's bottom line. You'll participate in cross-departmental projects as KR team representative, maintaining an open line of communication among key stakeholders.

You'll Be Responsible For

• Developing and managing a robust portfolio of major gift supporters capable of donating $25K+ annually and raising $2M+ in total annual revenue once fully onboarded
• Providing strategic stewardship support to local executive leaders and other fundraisers as needed, helping to advance cultivation and relationship management within high-capacity portfolios and ensuring forward movement on key donor opportunities
• Cultivating long-term relationships with individuals and families, encouraging participation at increased levels, involving their networks, and optimizing their lifetime value
• Visiting regularly, both in person and virtually, with donors throughout Tennessee and once per quarter in surrounding states
• As needed, serving as the on-site point-of-contact representing Key Relationships and Brand Partnerships (as needed) for visitors at The Experience Lab in Franklin, TN
• Consistently delivering an exceptional donor experience by establishing personal rapport, providing timely stewardship and project updates, asking the right questions and actively listening, and finding opportunities to provide surprise-and-delight elements
• Becoming a skilled external and internal communicator, successfully navigating social and relational dynamics, and actively looking for opportunities to connect necessary dots and add value
• Ensuring timely provision of thank you notes, progress reports, and completion reports for all supporters under your care
• In partnership with the Prospect Development Manager, identifying potential major donor prospects and opportunities from monthly and mid-level donors, and finding creative ways to cultivate these generous givers into Water Project Sponsors
• Supporting the planning and execution of major donor events where the charity: water story can be shared, working to turn the excitement of every guest into an opportunity to support our mission
• Traveling both individually and with other members of the Key Relationships team, to visit supporters, host events, and hone fundraising skills
• Deepening knowledge of the nonprofit industry and industry trends in order to make more informed decisions on a daily basis
• Becoming a skilled and effective external and internal communicator by honing writing and presentation skills
• Supporting the greater Key Relationships team by providing leadership and project management over designated projects and initiatives, providing hiring and interview support, and onboarding new team members
• Engaging in continued learning around the WASH sector and the technical aspects of charity: water's work around the globe

You Must Have

• A bachelor's degree
• 5-7 years of frontline fundraising experience and a proven track record of closing gifts of $10,000+
• A passion for charity: water's mission that invigorates and excites the people you share it with
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills; you are articulate and persuasive
• Well-honed relationship-building skills and the ability to connect with all types of people
• Drive and sophistication; you are excited by the opportunity to help shape the future of the development department and the organization as a whole
• A team-oriented mentality, enthusiastic work ethic, and openness to continually improve
• Highly developed interpersonal skills and strong EQ
• The ability to travel within the U.S. regularly

It's An Added Plus If You Have

• Master's Degree
• Proficiency with Salesforce or a similar CRM platform
• Experience successfully planning and executing large and small-scale events
• Familiarity working cross-departmentally with creative, design, and event teams

You'll Be Successful If...

You're uniquely people-oriented

You're more than capable of cultivating productive relationships. Working with Fortune 500 CEOs, philanthropists, influencers, and people from a wide range of backgrounds doesn't intimidate you but excites you. You thrive on building and developing these relationships with emotional intelligence, maturity, and professionalism.

You have a strong track record

You have a history of participating in successful fundraising initiatives with measurable results that have impacted the bottom line.

You're driven, organized, and detail-oriented

You're a self-starter capable of working independently. You prioritize well and are able to manage important projects, schedules, and communications in an orderly fashion.

You understand the value of our supporters

You make everyone feel special. You're able to get anyone excited about what we do through articulate storytelling and you're passionate about giving every person who interacts with charity: water an unforgettable experience.

You take an innovative approach

You're familiar with the tried and true ways of fundraising but stay on top of the new trends and are open to new ways of doing things.

Key Relationships

The Key Relationships team cultivates lasting and meaningful relationships with our most generous supporters. They work directly with our community to engage and steward donors who either sponsor an entire water project or join the community of givers who cover our operational costs. This caring, charismatic team is often the face of our organization.

Hiring Timeline

This role was posted on June 9, 2026 and will remain open for approximately 90 days.

Salary Range

This is an exempt role with a range of $75,926.70 - $83,030 a year.

Benefits & Perks

Unlimited PTO

Summer Fridays

6-week paid sabbatical leave after 5 years of employment

Annual bonus potential through The Pool

401k plan + employer match

Medical covered at 85% + Dental/Vision contributions

FSA + dependent day care FSA

Employer-paid life insurance, STD, LTD

16-week paid maternity and paternity leave for new parents

Stipends for Professional Development and a You-do-You Perk

TSA Pre-check reimbursement

2-4 annual travel requirements that foster team alignment, connection and in-person collaboration

Organizational Overview

At charity: water, we believe that water changes everything. We work with local implementing partners to fund sustainable solutions that provide clean and safe drinking water to people around the world. Since 2006, with a diverse team of world-changers and an unstoppable community of supporters, we've brought clean water to more than 20 million people worldwide. With the makings of a mid-size tech startup, we're reinventing charity through endless innovation, contagious passion, beautifully crafted stories, and