Jobs & Internships

The Tennessee Innocence Project

Job Title: Donor Relations & Events Associate 
Reports To: Director of Development 
Location: Nashville, Tennessee (On-site) 
Status: Full-time, Exempt 
Salary Range: $43,000 – $48,000, commensurate with experience

Position Summary 

The Donor Relations & Events Associate plays a vital role in advancing TIP’s fundraising and engagement efforts statewide. This position combines donor stewardship, event coordination, data management, and partnership support to strengthen relationships, expand community connections, and ensure TIP’s long-term sustainability. 

The Associate will work closely with the Director of Development, Executive Director, and cross-departmental staff to support donor cultivation, execute events, maintain high-quality data systems, and contribute to strategic initiatives that increase TIP’s visibility and impact across Tennessee. 

Key Responsibilities 

Donor Relations & Stewardship 

  • Maintain accurate and up-to-date donor records in TIP’s CRM (FrontStream), including data cleanup, deduplication, and tracking of donor interactions. 

  • Assist in implementing donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies across all giving levels. 

  • Prepare and distribute acknowledgment letters, tax receipts, and donor correspondence in a timely and accurate manner. 

  • Generate regular donor updates and support ongoing recognition and stewardship activities. 

  • Research prospective donors statewide, including individuals, law firms, businesses, and mission-aligned partners. 

  • Prepare donor briefing materials and call sheets for leadership to support outreach and relationship-building. 

  • Coordinate meetings with potential and existing donors, plan site visits, and research donor engagement opportunities. 

Events & Donor Engagement 

  • Support planning and execution of fundraising and cultivation events, including vendor coordination, timelines, logistics, and guest communications. 

  • Manage event registration, seating charts, and on-site coordination day-of. 

  • Draft and coordinate event communications such as invitations, reminders, event briefs, and post-event follow-ups. 

  • Track event expenses, assist with invoicing for sponsors and table hosts, and support budget reconciliation. 

  • Assist in prospecting and securing auction items and in-kind contributions, maintaining organized tracking and donor recognition. 

  • Support smaller donor gatherings and cultivation events in Nashville, Memphis, and other regions as needed. 

Partnerships & Community Engagement 

  • Research and cultivate relationships with local businesses, sponsors, and community partners. 

  • Coordinate partner communications, recognition, and collaborative promotional opportunities.  

Administrative & Strategic Support 

  • Provide administrative support to the Development team, including scheduling, preparing agendas, taking notes, and tracking follow-ups. 

  • Assist with grant preparation by gathering data, compiling attachments, and supporting reports or proposals. 

  • Create surveys, collect and analyze data, and help track outcomes to inform fundraising and organizational strategy. 

  • Support reporting efforts by organizing data and helping present findings clearly to leadership. 

  • Maintain strong working relationships with staff, volunteers, and stakeholders across departments. 

  • Perform additional duties as assigned to support the Development team and organizational priorities. 

Priority Focus Areas 

  • Strengthen CRM systems and improve data integrity, standardization, and usability across the development team. 

  • Support expansion of small-scale donor engagement programming across Tennessee.  

Qualifications 

  • Experience in donor relations, fundraising, events, or a related field preferred. 

  • Bachelor’s degree in Nonprofit Management, Communications, Public Relations, or a related field preferred, but not required. Equivalent experience will be considered as well. 

  • Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines. 

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including professional donor-facing correspondence. 

  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite; familiarity with CRM systems preferred. 

  • Experience in nonprofit development, events, or community engagement strongly preferred. 

  • Comfort working with data and generating basic reports to support decision-making. 

  • Commitment to TIP’s mission and interest in advancing justice and reform in Tennessee. 

Work Environment & Schedule 

This is a full-time, salaried position, with benefits, based in TIP’s Nashville office. Occasional evening and weekend work will be required for events, donor meetings, and community engagement activities. 

The Donor Relations & Events Associate will collaborate closely with leadership, development staff, and program teams to ensure fundraising and engagement efforts meaningfully advance TIP’s mission. 

APPLY

Applicants should e-mail as attachments a cover letter, resume, and three references to Hayden MacMath hayden@tninnocence.org. Include “Donor Relations & Events Associate” in the subject line. Individuals selected for an interview will be contacted directly. NO PHONE CALLS, PLEASE. This is a rolling application process. Qualified applicants will be contacted for interviews on a rolling basis.

The Tennessee Innocence Project is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly value a diverse workforce and inclusive culture for all employees.

The Tennessee Innocence Projects 2026 Summer Clerkship applications are now closed.