Manager, Individual Giving & Philanthropic Partnerships

Illinois Action For Children • Chicago, IL

11h • Hybrid

About The Position

Illinois Action for Children’s (IAFC’s) Manager, Individual Giving and Philanthropic Partnerships is a new position that will play a key role in the implementation of diverse giving strategies and tactics to increase donors and giving amounts to meet or exceed annual revenue goals. This includes managing the full donor lifecycle—from identification and cultivation to solicitation and ongoing engagement—for existing, lapsed, and prospective supporters, assisting with the implementation of the annual fundraiser, managing volunteer groups and peer-to-peer fundraisers, and assisting in the development and implementation of multi-channel fundraising campaigns. Additionally, the manager will provide all donor related administrative and data functions, including gift processing and acknowledgement, donation reconciliation, and managing donor records in IAFC’s CRM/database.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field or equivalent work experience.
• Minimum 3 years proven and effective experience increasing donors and fundraising revenues—cultivating philanthropic donor relationships, or equivalent demonstrable experience.
• Experience in management and delivery of philanthropy strategies and tactics, planning, and budgeting.
• Experience in prospect research and implementing donor acquisition, cultivation, and stewardship strategies.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including writing creative, compelling fundraising appeals (without relying on the support of AI), successful campaign development and implementation, and comfortable participating in meetings and presentations with groups of any size.
• Fundraising event planning and execution experience including logistics, sponsor acquisition, and volunteer management.
• Experience with CRM/database management (Salesforce preferred), digital fundraising and prospect research tools, analytics, and project management.
• Knowledgeable in giving and fundraising principles.
• Passion for Illinois Action for Children’s mission and vision.
• Proactive self-starter and initiative-taker requiring minimal supervision.
• Team player who works well with diverse personalities and hierarchy positions (Colleagues from management level to peers).
• Assertive; takes initiative and has outstanding attention to detail and follow-through.
• Life-long learner eager to gain a strong understanding of IAFC’s programs, organizational priorities, and culture.
• Organized and efficient, capable of managing multiple projects with competing priorities to the highest standards in a timely manner.
• Relationship builder with excellent interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated project manager.
• Computer skills should include word processing, database, presentation graphics and spreadsheet computer software and a facility for learning and using technology; understanding of web-based technology and relationship management software is preferred.
• High level proofreading and editing skills.
• Ability to drive for timely access to off-site agency meetings and meetings with donors.

Nice To Haves

• Understanding of marketing principles as they relate to development a plus but not required.
• Familiarity with issues surrounding early learning, child care, advocacy, caregivers/child care professionals, racial equity, etc. helpful, but not required.

Responsibilities

• Implement diverse giving strategies and tactics to increase donors and giving amounts that align with organization revenue goals.
• Support the development and implementation of multi-channel fundraising campaigns and avenues to promote alternative giving options including DAF’s, Qualified Charitable Distributions, stock, etc.
• Under the supervision of the Director, Philanthropy, establish and manage formal Monthly Donor and Planned Giving Programs to include recruitment, cultivation retention, and recognition.
• Understand organization’s key priorities, strategic plan, and programs and be able to translate into fundraising objectives/goals in support of the development team.
• Conduct prospect research to Identify, qualify, and prioritize donors (prospective, existing, and lapsed) building pipelines for activation across donor segments.
• Under the Director, Philanthropy’s supervision, develop and implement cultivation strategies and engagement activities/opportunities to build and deepen relationships with prospective and existing donors and keep donors and supporters connected to IAFC’s mission and work.
• Support the development of well-designed donor journeys to improve prospective donor conversion, increase giving, and strengthen relationships by consistently showing donors their value and impact.
• Assist with the implementation of IAFC’s annual fundraiser.
• With oversight from the Director, Philanthropy, manage the implementation of, and serve as main liaison to a dedicated volunteer group to expand organization/brand awareness and support revenue growth through peer-to-peer initiatives, small events, and other activities.
• Support the growth of corporate sponsors and long-term corporate partners, including corporate employee engagement.
• Manage donations, donor and prospective donor records in Salesforce (NPSP) including timely gift input and sending acknowledgement letters, keeping contact records up to date with interactions/progress details, files, communications, individual profiles, etc., input new leads, accounts, contacts, and opportunities, generate donor reports, etc.
• Provide administrative support for Board development, giving, and fundraising activities.
• Conduct monthly reconciliation with the Finance Department to ensure donation and department revenues and expenses are accurate and aligned for reporting and auditing purposes.
• Manage IAFC’s online fundraising platform (GoFundMePro and Live Events—formerly Classy and Classy Live) to build and manage dynamic, compelling campaigns, donation forms, and events.
• Monitor fundraising goals and donor participation and act as thought-partner in analyzing data to inform fundraising plans and identify new ideas to help drive continuous improvement within development.

Benefits

• Health, dental, and vision insurance plans with company contribution of 95% for single coverage
• 401 (k) with company match
• Generous PTO – first year-23 days, the second year-28 days, the third year and on-35 days
• 11 Paid Holidays and 1 Floating Holiday
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Flexible Spending Account
• STD & LTD insurance
• Company-paid Life Insurance

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager