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Major Gifts Manager

Employer
The Chicago Community Trust
Location
Illinois, United States
Salary
Salary Commensurate with experience
Closing date
Jul 30, 2021

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Position Type
Fundraising, Major Gifts
Fields
Community Foundations
Employment Type
Full Time

Position Summary:

The Major Gifts Manager contributes to the development of strategies for the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of donors, and is essential to growing support for The Chicago Community Trust’s (the “Trust”) efforts to close the racial and ethnic wealth gap. The position also plays a critical role in fundraising for the We Rise Together Campaign, a $250 million fund to promote an equitable economic recovery.  The position will manage a portfolio of major gift prospects, inform and implement strategies for identifying major gift prospects, and work closely with the Senior Director of Resource Development to develop and promote opportunities for collaborative philanthropy.

Position Responsibilities

Relationship Management and Fundraising

  • Identify, cultivate, solicit and steward qualified major donors and prospects, managing a portfolio of individual donor relationships that will grow over time as well as a small number of corporate and foundation relationships
  • Collaborate with Philanthropic Services and other colleagues to identify prospects, inform solicitation strategies and support organizational goals
  • Support senior leaders in securing transformational gifts of up to $50 million by contributing to the development of donor strategies and managing donor cultivation and stewardship.
  • Coordinate and conduct face-to-face visits, cultivation events and other activities to build meaningful personal relationships with donors
  • Guide the development of donor proposals, presentations and reports as needed
  • Work independently and be self-motivated in initiating contacts with potential donors.
  • Lead annual fundraising for the Unity Fund, the Trust’s $1 million annual fund that supports critical needs.
  • Contribute to annual organizational fundraising goals.

Promote Organization-wide Fundraising Culture

  • Build internal partnerships to support an organization-wide fundraising culture
  • Support the development of fundraising operations systems and processes
  • Lead specific donor engagement events
  • Represent the Chicago Community Trust’s mission and strategic priorities to external stakeholders and actively network through events and community forums

 

Position Requirements

  • A minimum of five years’ experience in major gifts, specifically experience in cultivating and soliciting individual donors capable of five- and six-figure gifts
  • Minimum of five years progressively responsible experience in Resource Development, including experience assisting in the development of successful ask strategies and effective major donor acquisition strategies
  • Interest and ability to grow into a resource development leadership role.
  • Excellent presentation and communication skills
  • Excellent relationship building skills
  • Knowledge of the principles of fundraising and able to participate in all aspects of the donor journey: identification, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship.
  • Experience using Salesforce or similar CRM to manage donor relationships

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Trust is committed to creating a diverse work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. The Trust does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, parental status, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable laws. We encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply. If you are a qualified candidate with a disability, please e-mail us at careers@cct.org if you require a reasonable accommodation to complete this application.

 

History of The Chicago Community Trust

The Chicago Community Trust was founded in 1915 by Norman and Albert Harris, father and son duo of the Harris Trust and Savings Bank (now BMO Harris Bank). The Trust was the fourth community foundation ever created. There are now 750 community foundations in Canada and the U.S.

As our region’s community foundation, the Trust unites generous donors, committed nonprofits and caring residents to effect lasting change that moves our entire region forward. Our approach centers on tackling the region’s immediate needs and addressing the root causes of deep-seated issues to realize a more prosperous future for all who call metropolitan Chicago home.

For more than 100 years, donors have entrusted their philanthropic resources and visions to our stewardship. Guided by our deep knowledge of the community, we fund, lead, convene and collaborate to address the greatest and most critical needs facing the Chicago region. From the $22 million raised to help with unemployment relief in the Great Depression to spearheading an effort to help people keep their homes during the foreclosure crisis of the Great Recession to $35 million raised for the Chicago Community COVID-19 Response Fund, which supported nonprofits serving our most vulnerable neighbors, Chicagoans have put their trust in us.

In 2019, we announced we would focus our discretionary spending over the next decade on working to close Chicago’s growing racial and ethnic wealth gap. The Trust envisions a Chicago region that’s stronger and more prosperous because everyone—regardless of race, ethnicity, or zip code—has equitable access to the opportunities and resources they need to succeed and live a fulfilling life.

With assets of more than $3.7 billion, the Trust, in partnership with its donors, distributes more than $600 million in grants each year. The Trust Team seeks to match the passion and commitment of donors, grant recipients, residents, and community leaders that continue to work tirelessly to make the Chicago region one where all have the opportunity to realize their dreams.

 

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