Director of Individual Giving

Cristo Rey Jesuit High School•Chicago, IL

33d

About The Position

The Director of Individual Giving works collaboratively as a front-line fundraiser. S/he is mission-driven and is responsible for identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of annual donors at all giving levels, which will be accomplished by managing a dynamic portfolio and assisting in efforts to renew and solicit increased annual gifts from a wide variety of constituents. This position collaborates with colleagues across the Advancement department and the school to achieve fundraising priorities. Serving as a strong thought partner to the Vice President of Advancement and Advancement colleagues, the Director of Individual Giving will provide thoughtful and targeted approaches to fundraising, enabling and ensuring success of individual giving strategies. The Director supports and collaborates with leadership, faculty, and staff colleagues in the protection, promotion, and enhancement of the CRJHS brand’s reputation, working across all departments to ensure brand alignment.

Requirements

The successful candidate will have 5+ years of experience in fundraising, specifically in annual giving, with a preference for private secondary education.
Demonstrated success in soliciting and securing donations from individual donors.
Demonstrated experience managing a donor portfolio with a proven track record of prospecting and expanding portfolio.
Strong communications skills, written and verbal, and experience with cultivation and engagement of potential donors.
Demonstration of necessary soft-skills, relationship-building skills and organizational skills.
Strong interest, understanding and passion for the mission of Cristo Rey.
Highly responsible and organized, with a proven record of meeting deadlines, managing and prioritizing multiple tasks, and working effectively with others.
Works as a team member and builds relationships across CRJHS.
Ability to work independently, while maintaining consistent and transparent communication with colleagues and leadership.
Strong familiarity with Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT
Minimum of a bachelor's degree.
Experience in managing budgets.
Valid drivers license is required.

Nice To Haves

Direct fundraising experience, personally making leadership level gift solicitations is highly preferred.
Knowledge and understanding of planned giving vehicles and estate planning is preferred.

Responsibilities

Work collaboratively with Advancement colleagues and CRJHS leadership to successfully achieve overall fundraising goals, especially by increasing the number of individual donors.
Generate, manage and execute strategies for pipeline development, solicitation, donor retention and donor upgrades.
Actively develop and maintain a portfolio of 150-200 annual giving prospects, at all giving levels.
Create and execute strategies for the personal cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of leadership-level fundraising prospects in collaboration with the Sr. Director of Development.
Actively engage board members, in collaboration with the Sr. Director of Development, to increase philanthropic participation.
Meet with constituents, donors and potential donors at off-site locations, events and networking opportunities to advance their cultivation and engagement.
Collaborate with Advancement colleagues to help align donors’ philanthropic interests with various priorities across CRJHS.
Lead expansion of Cristo Rey’s annual Giving Day in collaboration with Advancement colleagues.
Establish positive working relationships with key internal and external partners, serving as a proactive leader in Cristo Rey’s annual giving efforts.
Active participation in planning and execution of all Advancement events and activities, including alumni activities, the VIVA! Gala, and other cultivation and solicitation events.
Support Advancement efforts to grow Cristo Rey Alumni Association and alumni giving.
Collaborate with the Director of Communications to enhance alumni communications, including e-communications, social media updates, and alumni webpages.
Proactively use Raiser’s Edge NXT database to track and record interactions and communications with donors.
Offer creative solutions to existing challenges using current trends in philanthropy, while ensuring philanthropic best practices.