Avenues Counseling Center
Organization History and Brief Overview
Since 2011, Avenues Counseling has provided services to children, adolescents, and adults in the 16-county St. Louis metropolitan statistical area, which includes portions of Missouri and Illinois. We provide vital mental health counseling services to all who have a need, regardless of a person’s ability to pay. Avenues Counseling delivers services year-round through general counseling (otherwise known as individual, couples, or family therapy), therapy groups, a teen-focused intensive outpatient program (IOP), community education workshops, and an intern training program. In 2024, we served 986 people from all backgrounds, races and ethnicities, religions, sexual orientations, ages, and socioeconomic groups.
Avenues Counseling expands the accessibility of mental health programs and services geographically within targeted and underserved areas in St. Louis. We offer in-person service locations in Richmond Heights and Ferguson, Missouri, as well as virtual appointments. We also expand access to mental health care by removing financial barriers for those with incomes below the Federal Poverty Level by offering partial and full scholarships for services. In 2024, 83.0% of sessions were delivered as charitable care equal to $697,786 in scholarships and unreimbursed services.
Position Overview
The Development and Donor Relations Manager plays a key role in advancing the mission of Avenues Counseling by building and sustaining relationships with donors, managing fundraising initiatives, and supporting overall development efforts. This position is responsible for donor engagement, stewardship, and retention, while also helping to grow the organization’s base of philanthropic support through individual giving, events, and campaigns.
Key Responsibilities
Donor Relations & Stewardship
- Build and maintain strong relationships with current and prospective donors.
- Develop and implement stewardship strategies to ensure donors feel valued and informed about the impact of their giving.
- Coordinate donor communications, including acknowledgment letters, impact reports, and personalized updates.
- Plan and execute donor appreciation events and recognition activities.
Fundraising & Development
- Collaborate with leadership to design and execute annual fundraising plans and campaigns.
- Oversee and interact with donor database (CRM), ensuring accurate record-keeping, segmentation, and reporting.
- Support the cultivation of major donors and prospects through research, proposals, and meeting preparation.
- Collaborate with the Executive Director to ensure the grant writer has accurate data, program information, and impact stories needed to successfully prepare and report on grants.
- Track progress toward fundraising goals and provide regular reports to leadership and the board.
Communications & Events
- Work with the Executive Director to develop donor-facing content (newsletters, annual reports, social media, etc.).
- Support the planning and execution of fundraising events and campaigns.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in communications, nonprofit management, fundraising, or related field (or equivalent experience).
- 3+ years of experience in fundraising, donor relations, or nonprofit development.
- Strong relationship-building and communication skills (written and verbal).
- Proficiency with donor management systems (e.g., Bloomerang, Givebutter, or similar).
- Ability to manage multiple projects, prioritize deadlines, and work both independently and collaboratively.
- Passion for the mission of Avenues Counseling and a commitment to advancing equity and community impact.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience managing donor databases and creating reports.
- Familiarity with major gifts, planned giving, or capital campaign strategies.
- Event planning and project management experience.
Reports to: Executive Director
Send Cover Letter and Resume to:
Lianne Johnson, LPC, NCC
Executive Director
