Major Gifts Manager, Nonprofit Fundraising & Donor Stewardship
Overview
The Major Gifts Manager owns donor cultivation and stewardship for CHIL at a scale that drives significant annual and multi-year investments. You will lead research, outreach, and pipeline development for Illinois donors while collaborating with the Chief Development Officer and cross-functional teams. This role blends strategy, relationship-building, and data-driven insight to grow a robust major gifts program. You’ll work onsite with a mission-driven team focused on youth housing, education, and social justice.
What You'll Do12
- 1Build and manage a donor portfolio generating significant annual and multi-year investments for CHIL
- 2Establish and track progress against revenue goals and related fundraising activities
- 3Develop and prioritize a pipeline for qualification with prospect research and development staff
- 4Convert mid-level and mass-level donors to recurring gifts
- 5Research and develop a pipeline of prospective CHIL donors with a focus on discovery and qualification
- 6Qualify, cultivate, and manage Illinois donors to improve retention and giving
- 7Supervise Development Operations Coordinator and ensure accurate data entry and timely donor communications
- 8Design and package special project proposals and engage in major gift solicitations
- 9Expand CHIL’s Planned Giving Program and convert major gifts to legacy donations
- 10Support events, board development insights, and cultivation initiatives
- 11Lead Annual Giving Campaigns and end-of-year appeals
- 12Collaborate across departments to align donor interests with CHIL priorities
Requirements10
- 1Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, communications, business, or related field
- 2Master’s degree preferred
- 3Minimum 5 years of fundraising experience with at least 2 years in major gifts or donor cultivation
- 4Proven track record of securing five- and six-figure gifts from individual donors
- 5Experience with donor databases/CRMs (e.g., Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce, DonorPerfect)
- 6Experience in nonprofit settings, especially with youth services, housing, education, or social justice preferred
- 7Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills with high emotional intelligence
- 8Exceptional written and verbal communication skills for donor communications and presentations
- 9Strong organizational and project management abilities with attention to detail
- 10Ability to develop cultivation and stewardship plans for high-net-worth individuals
Salary Insight
$90 - $100k per year
Location
Required Skills
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