Director, Individual Giving

City Year•Chicago, IL

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Reporting to the Managing Director of Development as part of the team responsible for raising $3.5M annually, the Director of Individual Giving will lead efforts to secure financial support from individuals. Working closely with other members of the development team, senior leaders, volunteers, and board members, the Director of Individual Giving is responsible for meeting quarterly and annual goals by identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding a diverse base of donors. This position will play a critical role by assisting the Managing Director of Development in the creation and successful execution of a substantial and sustainable individual giving program while working in close partnership with other members of the Development team. The Director of Individual Giving will also work closely with City Year Chicago’s Marketing & Communications team to fully leverage the site’s outreach activities and events to meaningfully engage prospective and current donors and alumni.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree preferred
five or more years of work experience including knowledge of fundraising for non-profit or educational organization preferred.
Strong knowledge base of all aspects of fundraising with a strong emphasis on individual giving programs.
Proven track record of funded gifts of $10,000+.
Experience using donor/relationship management software to track donors, establish goals, and generate reports (experience with Salesforce preferred).
Exceptional verbal and written communication skills with an ability to engage and inspire a wide range of audiences.
Authorized documentation to work in the United States of America
Criminal background history clearance to work with school-age children, depending on the position

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated active listening skills and ability to uncover key priorities with stakeholders.
Strong presentation, negotiation and liaison skills are.
Demonstrated tact and diplomacy in difficult or sensitive situations.
Ability to adapt and excel in diverse, high energy, entrepreneurial, and rapidly changing environments
Growth mindset, passion for City Year’s mission of education equity, resilience, persistence, committed to teamwork, enthusiastic with sense of humor.
Passion, understanding and appreciation for national service and City Year’s mission, values, and culture.
Strong understanding of the corporate philanthropic landscape and education policy in Chicago.
Experience and working knowledge of Salesforce, a plus.

Responsibilities

Lead Individual Giving portfolio to raise approximately $900K in revenue towards the overall private revenue goal of $3.5M+
Build revenue plan to retain and scale individual giving fundraising strategy
Develop and implement an individual giving strategy to increase the funding for City Year Chicago and position the organization as a premier education leader in the community
Partner with department leadership to set and monitor annual budget and individual and foundation fundraising goals
Support all individual giving efforts including Red Jacket Society, mid-level giving, the Associate Board of Young Professionals, and appeals/campaigns such as #GivingTuesday
Manage Alumni Board to meet memberships and fundraising goals.
Collaborate with the Executive Director and Managing Director of Development to create strategies to identify and secure new supporters, fully leverage existing relationships, and increase multi-year commitments
Ensure that asset-based language is used in all communications and that stories center our students
Oversee and lead strategy for Red Jacket Society portfolio to meet annual revenue goal of $700K for the program, with expectation to increase annually.
Build and secure Red Jacket Society membership of 45 donors, with expectation to increase annually.
Work closely with the Board, Development team, Headquarters prospect research, and site leadership, to identify, engage, and cultivate a pipeline of prospects that can make annual and multiyear investments at the $10,000+ level
Develop strategies to identify, cultivate, and solicit leadership-level support and multi-year commitments from new donors.
Strengthen engagement and provide an experience for all members of the Red Jacket Society.
Manage all logistics of the RJS locally including planning for and running pipeline meetings, building out and executing on a stewardship plan, and working in partnership with HQ to move major gift work forward
Plan and execute Red Jacket Society membership events; including at minimum 2 school visits per year.
Work with the Senior Manager of Development Operations to ensure accurate tracking and reporting of institutional gifts and engagement using City Year’s Salesforce CRM.
Partner with the Senior Manager of Development Operations and other team members to hold regular prospecting, pipeline, revenue forecasting, and moves management meetings.
Work closely with fellow Development team members to understand priorities and business goals and develop strategies to meet the organization’s needs.
Work with the development team to leverage events to increase giving, such as City Year’s Ripples of Hope fundraiser, service days (school beautification projects), and school visits for potential donors.
Represent City Year at external and partner functions to establish and deepen potential and current donor relationships.