Director of Major Gifts

About the Role

Hope Chicago seeks a Director of Major Gifts to support critical aspects of its fundraising efforts, focusing on securing gifts and engaging high-net-worth individuals and families. Reporting to the Senior Director of Principal Giving (SDPG), the Director of Major Gifts will strategically advance the organization’s philanthropic goals while helping advance the mission.

The Director of Major Gifts will contribute to key aspects of the development strategy during a critical phase of accelerated growth. This role will be instrumental in engaging new donors and will work closely with the SDPG. This role is ideal for a development leader with a demonstrated track record of soliciting/closing major gifts from individuals, families, and family foundations and working in close partnership with executive leaders and volunteers.

The ideal candidate will be a high-impact, proactive, confident self-starter who thrives in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment that values results. They are persistent and driven to succeed in advancing efforts to grow a robust pipeline of high-net-worth individual donors and in meeting or exceeding stretch goals.

Key Responsibilities

Major Gift Strategy Development and Implementation

• Manages and grows a portfolio of 100 - 120 individual donors and family foundations to meet or exceed agreed-upon monthly, quarterly, and annual goals and related performance metrics for portfolio management, moves management, solicitations, closures, and dollars raised.
• Identifies, cultivates, solicits, closes, and stewards individual donors and family foundations through in-person meetings, written solicitations/proposals, email, and other means tailored as specifically as possible to donor preferences and engagement strategies, often in close collaboration with the CEO or volunteer leaders.
• Briefs, advises, and staffs the CEO and other leaders and volunteers involved with donor relationships and solicitations.
• Collaborates with the Senior Director of Principal Giving, Board Directors, and other Senior Leaders to create opportunities for meaningful donor engagement, solicitation, and stewardship of donors and prospects.
• In partnership with the Program and MarComms teams, develop compelling collateral, including proposals, reports, talking points, and other philanthropic communications and materials to attract and engage donor prospects.

Prospect Engagement

• Build authentic, long-term relationships with high-net-worth individuals and families aligned with Hope Chicago’s mission.
• Collaborate with the SDPG and executive leadership to develop tailored approaches for engaging high-capacity donors.
• Develop and improve programs, systems, and tools for ongoing donor engagement.

Relationship Management and Collaboration

• Serve as a key relationship manager for major donors and their advisors, secure, lead, and participate in donor meetings and events.
• Implement custom engagement strategies to build support from new donors and strengthen current donor relationships.
• Works closely with Development team members and cross-collaborates with leaders across the organization, in particular, to support the design and implementation of creative and impactful donor stewardship strategies to deepen engagement and elevate individual and family foundation giving.
• Author, review, and/or edit strategic communications created for donors and prospects, sometimes on behalf of others, including proposals, reports, emails, or other correspondence.

Strategic Planning, Metrics, and Reporting

• Lead a disciplined system and approach to apply the rigors of moves management with donors.
• Monitor metrics/benchmarks for fundraising success, ensuring transparency and accountability.
• Utilizes Salesforce to document engagements and track proposals, gifts, and pledge fulfillment.

Special Projects & Administration

• Remains abreast of Hope Chicago program model, activities, accolades, and new initiatives to most effectively engage and/or steward donors to greater levels of support.
• Participates in and assists with donor gatherings and events, as needed. 2

Qualifications and Competencies

Education

• Minimum Required: Bachelor’s Degree
• Preferred: Advanced degree. CFRE or other specialized certification/designation is beneficial.

Work Experience

• Minimum 5 years of progressively responsible experience in nonprofit fundraising, investor relations, or consultative sales with high net-worth individuals; experience in postsecondary student access, success, or higher education is beneficial.
• Demonstrated track record of soliciting/closing five and six-figure major gifts.

Specialized Knowledge Needed for the Performance of the Job:

• Capacity for strategic leadership and vision to work with executive leadership and key volunteers on fundraising priorities and to use moves management and metrics to ensure a high level of personal performance and accountability.
• Demonstrated professionalism and experience working with high-net-worth individuals, family foundations, and/or family offices and deep experience in effectively managing a donor portfolio and consistently moving relationships toward desired outcomes and goals.
• Effectively works independently and across teams, with assiduous attention to sharing information and collaborating with others.

Skills

• Proficiency in communicating complex issues with diverse audiences and inspiring their engagement and support. Exceptional writing and presentation skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and multiple, concurrent tasks, exhibit flexibility, and meet deadlines.
• Ability to analyze and present data effectively, make decisions, and align efforts with priorities and opportunities.
• Superb verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Possesses a passion for the mission of Hope Chicago and engages prospects with the same passion.
• Ability to travel locally and nationally as needed, attend occasional evening and weekend engagements.