Director of Major and Planned Giving

Newberry Library•Chicago, IL

6d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Newberry collection—some 1.6 million books, 600,000 maps, and 5 million manuscript pages—is a portal to more than six centuries of human history, from the Middle Ages to the present. We connect researchers and visitors with our collection in the Newberry’s reading rooms, exhibition galleries, program spaces, classrooms, and online digital resources. Since its founding in 1887, the Newberry has remained dedicated to deepening our collective understanding of ourselves and the world around us. As individuals engage with Newberry collections and staff, they discover stories that bridge the past and present and illuminate the human condition. The Newberry’s community of discovery is driven by a shared commitment to promoting research, inspiring learning, and using inquiry across the humanities as a tool to engage critically in a vibrant democratic society. Reporting to the Vice President for Development, the Director of Major and Planned Giving plays a central role in advancing the Newberry’s mission by building strong, meaningful relationships with donors who are passionate about the humanities and public access to knowledge. This is a highly collaborative, forward-looking role for an experienced fundraiser who thrives on partnership, strategic thinking, and purpose-driven work. In addition to building a program to secure major and planned gifts from individuals to the Newberry Library, the Director supports successful current fundraising efforts and works to increase their productivity, develops new fundraising strategies and initiatives on an ongoing basis, and plays a plays a key role in ensuring that the overall fundraising goals of the Library are achieved each year. The Director supervises the Fundraising Campaign Manager.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree preferred, but not required, along with five or more years of fundraising experience with a successful track record of soliciting major and/or planned gifts
Self-motivated with exemplary communication, writing, and interpersonal skills
Excellent organizational skills and demonstrated ability to work on several projects concurrently while achieving results
Ability to collaborate well with a variety of people in a dynamic environment
Ability to manage confidential information with discretion and to represent the Newberry with maturity, judgment, and professionalism
Proficiency with Microsoft Office

Nice To Haves

Campaign experience a plus
Familiarity with the Chicago-area philanthropic community preferred
Familiarity with Raiser's Edge a plus

Responsibilities

Plan and implement a comprehensive program to secure increased major and deferred gifts from individuals;
Manage a portfolio of approximately 100 individual donors capable of making gifts of $10,000 or more to the library; actively identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward portfolio of donors;
Manage the membership of the Blatchford Society for planned giving and oversee all solicitation, cultivation, stewardship, and benefit fulfillment for these donors;
Engage the Newberry’s President, Vice President for Development, senior staff, Trustees, and other staff in the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of donors, and actively support their involvement;
Develop and implement a planned giving marketing plan including direct marketing and cultivation programs and events;
Serve as the contact person for executors of realized estate gifts;
Think cross-functionally to identify prospects and opportunities for major gifts and planned gifts;
Represent the Development Office at Library events; and
Engage in all other projects and activities needed for the achievement of departmental goals.
Supervise the Fundraising Campaign Manager, ensuring high quality work and ongoing development.