Regional Philanthropy Senior Officer, Individual Donors

American Red Cross • Chicago, IL

3d • $86,000 - $100,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Joining The American Red Cross is like nothing else – it’s as much something you feel as something you do. You become a vital part of the world’s largest humanitarian network. Joining a team of welcoming individuals who are exceptional, yet unassuming. Diverse, yet uncompromising in unity. You grow your career within a movement that matters, where success is measured in people helped, communities made whole, and individuals equipped to never stop changing lives and situations for the better. When you choose to be a force for good, you’ll have mentors who empower your growth along a purposeful career path. You align your life’s work with an ongoing mission that’s bigger than all of us. As you care for others, you’re cared for with competitive compensation and benefits. You join a community that respects who you are away from work as much as what you do while at work. Where Your Career is a Force for Good! WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW We are looking for a Regional Philanthropy Senior Officer who will meet fundraising goals and objectives and connect with our individual donors in the Chicago area and to serve our mission. In this role, you will identify, engage, cultivate, solicit, and steward current and prospective regional donors in expanding their financial support of the work of the American Red Cross. This position is part of the development team who support the work within the Illinois region and will report to a Director of Development. The position plays an integral role in leading the North Shore and Lake County donor engagement strategy. This is a hybrid role where you will meet with donors in person throughout the area, work in our Chicago office multiple times a month and work remotely. WHERE YOUR CAREER IS A FORCE FOR GOOD Develop and execute a comprehensive regional strategy to qualify, retain, and grow donor support, while also recapturing lapsed donors. May provide leadership in planning and implementing fundraising initiatives across the team. Manage a robust portfolio of individual donors and prospects with the goal of building deep, strategic relationships. Responsible for achieving a minimum annual fundraising goal of $1M plus, inclusive of renewable gifts and new, incremental revenue. Create individualized donor plans that drive informed, compelling, and complex solicitations. Conduct face‑to‑face donor visits, preparing customized engagement materials. Serve as a mentor and informal leader to less‑experienced colleagues, providing expertise in donor retention and relationship management. Implement a comprehensive program to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors giving $10,000+, with a strong focus on maximizing revenue for the American Red Cross. Maintain accurate and timely donor information in regional/district databases and Salesforce following all donor interactions. Participate in disaster relief fundraising projects as appropriate. May oversee and have responsibility for staff development. Recruit, develop and work with field staff and volunteers.

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor's degree required. Advanced degree highly desirable.
• Experience: Minimum 7 years of sales and/or fundraising experience or equivalent combination of education and related experience required.
• Skills & Abilities: Ability to relate well and work effectively with multiple constituencies and audiences.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Knowledge of office systems: MS-Office preferred and fundraising database systems (e.g., Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce.com).
• Ability to work on a team within a collaborative environment and ensure the highest customer service orientation.
• A current valid driver's license and good driving record is required.
• Travel: Frequent travel within the Illinois region required, mainly greater Chicago area.
• Combination of candidate’s education and general experience satisfies requirements so long as the total years equate to description’s minimum education and general experience years combined.

Nice To Haves

• Deep fundraising experience in the North Shore and Lake County areas, with established donor relationships and a demonstrated ability to engage high‑net‑worth individuals, community partners, and philanthropic networks across the area.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive regional strategy to qualify, retain, and grow donor support, while also recapturing lapsed donors.
• May provide leadership in planning and implementing fundraising initiatives across the team.
• Manage a robust portfolio of individual donors and prospects with the goal of building deep, strategic relationships.
• Responsible for achieving a minimum annual fundraising goal of $1M plus, inclusive of renewable gifts and new, incremental revenue.
• Create individualized donor plans that drive informed, compelling, and complex solicitations.
• Conduct face‑to‑face donor visits, preparing customized engagement materials.
• Serve as a mentor and informal leader to less‑experienced colleagues, providing expertise in donor retention and relationship management.
• Implement a comprehensive program to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors giving $10,000+, with a strong focus on maximizing revenue for the American Red Cross.
• Maintain accurate and timely donor information in regional/district databases and Salesforce following all donor interactions.
• Participate in disaster relief fundraising projects as appropriate.
• May oversee and have responsibility for staff development.
• Recruit, develop and work with field staff and volunteers.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental Vision plans
• Health Spending Accounts & Flexible Spending Accounts
• PTO: Starting at 15 days a year; based on FLSA status and tenure
• Holidays: 11 paid holidays comprised of six core holidays and five floating holidays
• 401K with 6% match
• Paid Family Leave
• Employee Assistance
• Disability and Insurance: Short + Long Term
• Service Awards and recognition

What This Job Offers

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