Church Engagement Advisor

Thornwell•Clinton, SC

1d•Remote

About The Position

The Church Engagement Advisor is responsible for developing and implementing strategies to deepen relationships with churches and enhance their ongoing engagement and support. This role focuses on creating effective engagement strategies through various channels, including print, digital, and in-person. The advisor oversees key initiatives like Thornwell Emphasis Month and collaborates with internal teams to ensure effective communication, stewardship, and growth of church partnerships. The Church Engagement Advisor will have yearly goals based on Thornwell’s strategic plan and will include a fundraising and engagement goal.

Requirements

College degree and/or 2-4 years of relevant experience
Demonstrated knowledge of the Presbyterian Church (USA) structure, theology, and governance.
Experience with a fundraising CRM
Ability to build trust quickly with pastors, church staff, and lay leaders.
Discerns church priorities and aligns them with the nonprofit’s mission.
Navigates faith contexts with respect, emotional awareness, and discretion.
Expands connections across denominations and congregational networks.
High Comfort level to speak in worship services, mission fairs, small groups, and leadership meetings
Clearly articulates impact stories in a compelling, mission-centered way.
Crafts follow-up emails, church updates, impact reports, and appeals.
Understands annual giving, special offerings, sponsorships, and multi-year commitments
Ability to travel 30% of the time
Must be able to work some nights and weekends
Must live in South Carolina
Christian Commitment: Thornwell is an independent non-profit religious organization affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and prefers to employ individuals who are Christians and who possess a Christian commitment, as well as concern, for children and families in need.

Responsibilities

Strategic Planning and Development: Develop a comprehensive strategy for church engagement that aligns with the organization’s mission and goals.
Increase Church-Based Giving by encouraging annual gifts, special offerings, sponsorships, and multi-year commitments.
Partner with the Marketing & Communications team to create messaging for digital, print, and in-person communications.
Collaborate with Operations Team and the Philanthropy Team to evaluate and track church involvement and support.
Assist board members in leveraging their church connections for mission awareness and support
Thornwell Emphasis Month: Oversee the planning, coordination, execution, and reporting of Thornwell Emphasis Month, ensuring that messaging is impactful and encourages engagement.
Increase Church Participation and Support: Set objectives to expand the number of engaged churches and strengthen church involvement in supporting the organization’s mission and initiatives.
Travel and present in person at churches throughout South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.
Develop and implement strategies to enhance church participation in mission support, community engagement, and giving, and deepens mission alignment with faith communities.
Denomination Monitoring and Engagement: Attend and present at relevant conferences and events to build relationships and raise awareness of the organization’s work
Continuously monitoring newsletters from the synod, presbyteries, and churches.
Collaboration with Philanthropy and Operations Teams: Partner with the philanthropy team to ensure effective communication and processes for donor relations and stewardship.
Collaborate with Operations to create and maintain systems for transitioning individual prospects from church groups to AOs for follow-up and cultivation.
Reporting and Analysis: Provide monthly reports to leadership on the status of church support, engagement activities, and outreach efforts.
Continuously analyze engagement data to identify trends, opportunities, and areas for improvement.