Sr Development Officer (Major Donors)

Senior Development Officer

Purpose

Join a passionate and energetic 12-person Development team as a Senior Development Officer reporting to the Director of Individual Philanthropy. The purpose of this position is to identify and execute effective strategies to engage individual donors and grow their giving to the agency. The position will cultivate current donors and identify and steward new donors, with a focus on those with major giving potential.

The ideal candidate is passionate about social services, enjoys working with a collaborative team, and loves building relationships with donors and providing them with meaningful philanthropic experiences.

The Development team’s office is in West Rogers Park, Chicago, and all team members are welcome to work remotely up to four days per week.

Responsibilities

• Manage communications, relationship building and solicitations for a portfolio of 100-120 donors, with a focus on current donors giving between $2,500-$10,000 and those with major giving potential.
• Develop and execute strategic interactions and donor fundraising plans, including face-to-face solicitations, donor research, communications, donor cultivation, and stewardship.
• Champion JCFS programs and services and educates donors on how contributions impact the community.
• Plan boutique events and programs to cultivate current donors and secure prospects.
• Partner with JCFS Chicago colleagues to learn and communicate about the agency’s programmatic needs and align them with donors’ philanthropic interests.
• Network at community events and represent the Agency to Board members, volunteers, other stakeholders and outside organizations.

Traits

• Passionate about fundraising and development.
• A natural leader who is able to motivate and inspire others through excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Proficient in communicating with a wide variety of constituents including donors, volunteers, staff at all levels, and other community stakeholders.
• Prioritizes, plans, and manages work activities and competing demands in a strategic and thoughtful manner.
• Energetic self-starter who enjoys both collaborative and independent work.
• Listens with empathy and compassion.
• Flexible and able to shift gears quickly based on competing priorities.

Requirements

• A Bachelor’s degree, preferably a Master’s degree.
• 6-8 years of experience cultivating and soliciting individual donors or equivalent experience.
• Proven track record of solicitating donors for gifts of $2,500+.
• Has a strong proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.) and fundraising databases.
• Able to travel within the Chicago metropolitan area and work occasional evenings/weekends based on donor needs and scheduled events.

Preferences

• Knowledge of and/or experience in the Chicago Jewish community as a professional or volunteer preferred.
• Experience with Raiser’s Edge database.

The compensation for this position is between $70,000-$80,000 annually (final offer will be based on experience).

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

We embrace diversity. Our commitment to inclusivity is woven throughout our services, programs and welcoming workplace. Clients, employees, volunteers and community partners have a right to be treated fairly and with dignity and respect, free of all discrimination and harassment including that which is based on race, culture, religion, disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, and any other classification protected by law.