Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact.
Development / Development Operations
The mission of the Development department, along with Marketing & Communications, is to advance the organizationโs strategic goals and support our worldwide team by raising flexible funds, profile and influence. The team encompasses several dozen dynamic professionals who possess a wide range of skills. We are gift officers, direct response fundraisers, web developers, marketers and media relations strategists. We are database managers, digital specialists, creative designers, storytellers and teachers. Within the Development department, the Development Operations (DevOps) team provides critical support to fundraisers through gift processing, data management and analysis, and responding to donor inquiries.
Position Summary
The Director of Fundraising Data is a strategic leader and technical project manager who understands how data, systems, and analytics intersect to drive successful, donor-centered fundraising. This role is responsible for the integrity, accessibility, and strategic application of Mercy Corpsโ fundraising data, supporting informed decision-making, optimizing fundraising operations, and contributing directly to revenue growth.
This year, the Director will lead a major CRM migration to Blackbaud Raiserโs Edge NXT, developing a system that empowers fundraisers, improves donor engagement, and streamlines operational workflows. The Director will work cross-functionally with Development, Marketing & Communications, IT, BI developers, and database managers to implement scalable, future-ready systems and reporting tools.
This is a high-impact leadership role for someone who can translate strategic fundraising goals into operational solutionsโand who brings both technical fluency and a deep understanding of how to support fundraisers through data.
Key Responsibilities
CRM Migration & Dual-System Management
- Lead the strategic and technical execution of the CRM transition to Raiserโs Edge NXT, purpose-built for frontline fundraising teams.
- Ensure RE Database View remains optimized for DevOps gift processing and remains the system of record for key revenue and donor data.
- Translate fundraising strategies and user needs into intuitive, functional system design.
- Guide user onboarding, training, and adoption strategies that serve both fundraisers and operations.
- Coordinate with IT, vendors, and internal stakeholders to manage implementation, integrations, and long-term support.
- Identify automation and process improvements to reduce manual work and increase accuracy across functions.
Fundraising Data Architecture & Strategy
- Deepen Mercy Corpsโ fundraising data architecture to ensure our CRM reflects fundraising activities accurately and holistically.
- Align CRM coding structures, business rules, and system workflows with KPIs, donor journey tracking, and portfolio management.
- Develop a scalable architecture that enhances real-time visibility and supports more predictive analytics and revenue modeling.
- Document standards and governance protocols to ensure data quality and consistency over time.
- Lead the gift processing team to ensure data integrity, streamlined workflows, and audit-ready transactions.
Analytics & Reporting
- Build and implement a reporting strategy that supports fundraisers and leadership in making data-driven decisions.
- Collaborate with stakeholders to align reports and dashboards to organizational KPIs, portfolio goals, and revenue forecasting.
- Partner with BI developers to model fundraising, emergency response, and donor pipeline data using tools like Power BI.
- Integrate engagement metrics across digital and direct response channels to create a full donor view.
- Promote strong data governance and system documentation to ensure long-term usability and institutional memory.
MCEโMCG Data Integration & Global Alignment
- Act as the key bridge between Mercy Corps Global (MCG) and Mercy Corps Europe (MCE) for aligning fundraising data systems and processes.
- Lead efforts to integrate MCEโs revenue data into MCG reporting environments.
- Collaborate on unified coding structures, shared definitions, and regional data governance.
- Drive both short-term data transfer solutions and long-term infrastructure development to support comprehensive global fundraising insight.
Compliance & Data Protection
- Ensure compliance with data protection standards, including GDPR, PCI, and Mercy Corpsโ Responsible Data Policy.
- Maintain current documentation on systems handling Personally Identifiable Information (PII) across Development and Marketing.
- Review contracts and data-sharing agreements with vendors to ensure appropriate data safeguards.
- Partner with IT and compliance teams to mitigate risk and maintain secure data infrastructure.
Supervisory Responsibility
Database Manager, Business Intelligence Developer, Online Database Manager & Developer, DevOps Manager
Accountability
Reports Directly To: Senior Director of Development Operations and Analytics
Works Directly With: DevOps staff and other Dev/MarComms team members who handle or process PII; fundraisers; Data Privacy & Protection Team; IT team; MCE FundOps; other team members also using data visualization tools
Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills
โ BA/S in computer or applied sciences, or related field
โ 6+ years experience in data(base) management, systems, reporting and/or analysis
โ Experience hiring, training, developing, mentoring, coaching and supervising team members
โ Experience managing large CRMs and overseeing a database migration preferable
โ Demonstrated track record managing multi-layered, cross-team projects
โ Critical thinking skills with experience breaking down complex problems, proposing short-term and longer-term solutions, and leading their implementation
โ A customer service orientation including communication skills and approachability
โ Strong written and spoken communication skills
Success Factors
โ Ability to navigate and communicate effectively between specialized technical roles (developers, data engineers, IT personnel) and non-technical department leadership
โ Discernment about when to zoom into the details v. zoom out to the big picture
โ Humility to know what you donโt know paired with self-confidence to learn
โ Takes initiative, is decisive while also being collaborative
โ Strong commitment to teamwork and demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with team members of varied work styles
โ Even temperament and a good sense of humor appreciated
โ Awareness of and sensitivity to multi-cultural international development work
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
This position is based in Portland, Oregon at Mercy Corps Headquarters, or can be performed remotely within the United States, location subject to review/approval.
Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/STA to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.
Ongoing Learning
In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development
Team Engagement and Effectiveness
Achieving our mission starts with how we build our team and collaborate. By bringing together individuals with a variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, we strengthen our ability to solve complex challenges and drive innovation. We foster a culture of trust and respect, where every team member is valued for their contributions, empowered to reach their full potential, and motivated to do their best work.
We recognize that building a strong and effective team is an ongoing process, and we remain committed to learning, improving, and growing together.