Associate Director of Philanthropy

DuPage Foundation; Downers Grove (IL); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

DuPage Foundation seeks an Associate Director of Philanthropy to advance its mission by planning, advancing, and executing fundraising strategies that grow operating revenue and endowment assets. You will identify, cultivate, and steward relationships with individuals, businesses, foundations, and advisors to secure outright and planned gifts for the community.

Working closely with the Vice President for Advancement, you will lead major and planned gift efforts, manage donor portfolios, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and a minimum of 5 years' fundraising or nonprofit development experience, including planned giving.
• Familiarity with estate planning and tax considerations for charitable giving is preferred.
• Proven success building relationships with high-net-worth individuals, businesses, and foundations to secure significant contributions.
• Experience working with executive leadership and volunteers to execute fundraising strategies and goals.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to articulate complex concepts clearly.

Responsibilities

• Engage, cultivate, and steward a donor portfolio of 125–150 prospects, soliciting five-, six-, and seven-figure gifts.
• Support a fundraising program generating tens of millions in outright and planned gifts, including campaigns like All In DuPage.
• Lead growth of Legacy Society and foundation-partner programs with member benefits and stewardship.
• Educate donors through consultations and events on charitable giving strategies and opportunities.
• Cultivate relationships with professional advisors and obtain referrals through presentations and committees.
• Create and maintain gift and fund agreements compliant with laws and standards.
• Coordinate with Advancement and Communications to prepare briefings and collateral for donors.
• Submit action reports and keep staff informed of key activities.
• Represent the Foundation at donor and professional advisor events and networks.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Fundraising

Relationship building

Communication (oral/written)

Public speaking

Project management

Ambassador/advocacy

Initiative

Tech literacy

Education

Bachelor's degree

CFRE/CAP/CFP/JD/MBA or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office

CRM databases

Presentation software

Job description

Status

Full-Time, Exempt (Hybrid - 4 Days On-Site); Salary Range: $80,000-$90,000

Summary

The Associate Director of Philanthropy will advance DuPage Foundation's mission by planning, advancing, and executing fundraising strategies that elevate and grow its general operating revenue streams and nondiscretionary assets. This role is responsible for identifying, cultivating, and stewarding relationships with current and prospective individuals, businesses, foundations, and professional advisors, supporting them and their clients in making effective and impactful outright and planned charitable gifts to benefit their community and favorite causes, achieving their unique charitable goals.

Through a mix of strategic constituent portfolio management, cultivation and stewardship activities, and gift agreement and report development, the Associate Director will serve as a key relationship builder and project manager across the Foundation’s philanthropic endeavors. This individual will be expected to thoroughly understand the Foundation’s charitable programs and giving vehicles, effective gift planning strategies and techniques, and local needs and opportunities, while working collaboratively across teams to advance funding relationships.

The ideal candidate is a highly skilled major and planned gift professional with proven success in relationship-building, charitable gift planning, project management, and public speaking. Working closely with the Vice President for Advancement, other staff, and volunteer leaders, the Associate Director will expand the Foundation’s base of donors, partners, and fundholders. They must possess a high degree of initiative, curiosity, attention to detail, and empathy, as well as a genuine desire to help others and raise the quality of life throughout DuPage County.

Responsibilities

• Engage, cultivate, and steward a portfolio of 125-150 current and prospective donors with a focus on identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and closing outright and planned gifts of five, six, and seven figures from individuals, businesses, and private foundations, while demonstrating an unwavering commitment to helping them achieve their unique short- and long-range charitable goals.
• Support the execution of a comprehensive fundraising, charitable planning, and stewardship program that generates tens of millions of dollars annually in outright and planned charitable gifts—especially our $35 million All In DuPage campaign to grow our permanent, discretionary, community-grantmaking endowment and strengthen our organizational capacity and sustainability.
• In partnership with the Vice President for Advancement, lead the continued growth of the Foundation’s Legacy Society and corporate and private foundation partnership programs, including the development and execution of membership benefits, recognition, and stewardship activities for these initiatives.
• Educate current and prospective donors about charitable giving opportunities and strategies through personal consultations and the planning and execution of programs and events focused on charitable giving strategies for individuals and families, private foundations, and businesses.
• Cultivate and steward relationships with professional advisors (e.g. attorneys, wealth advisors, accountants, trust officers, life underwriters), to build their understanding of the Foundation and charitable giving strategies and obtain referrals through personal consultations, presentations to professional advisor firms, active participation in the Foundation’s Professional Advisor Committee, and continuing education events.
• Create and maintain gift and fund agreements for portfolio donors, ensuring that all charitable contributions and fund agreements comply with federal and state law, Community Foundation National Standards, the AFP Donor Bill of Rights, and Foundation policies.
• Coordinate with the Advancement and Communications teams to supply relevant information and prepare briefings, case illustrations, and other collateral for current and prospective donors.
• Submit action reports and keep staff apprised of key constituent and gift activities.
• Represent the Foundation at various charitable giving and professional advisor councils and networks, and at key community events as requested.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and a minimum of 5 years' experience in fundraising, not-for-profit development, sales, trust or financial services, or a related field required, with at least 2 years' experience in planned giving. Advanced training or professional certification preferred (e.g., CFRE ® , CAP ® , CFP ® , JD, MBA, etc.).
• Familiarity with estate planning and/or income, capital gains, and estate tax issues preferred.
• Demonstrated success developing relationships with high-net-worth individuals, businesses, professional advisors, and private foundations to secure charitable contributions of five and six figures.
• Experienced working with executive and volunteer leadership to execute effective strategies to achieve organizational major and planned gift fundraising goals.
• Superior oral and written communication skills, with the ability to comprehend and clearly communicate complex concepts.
• High degree of initiative and the capacity to manage multiple projects from start to a successful and timely conclusion.
• Ability to be an effective ambassador for the Foundation among diverse constituent groups.
• Strong computer skills including Microsoft Office suite, operational CRM databases, and presentation software.
• Willingness to occasionally work beyond regular business hours, including some evenings and weekends.
• Existing knowledge of the DuPage County philanthropic landscape a plus.

DuPage Foundation considers applicants for all positions without regard to gender, race, color, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, political affiliation, marital status, sexual orientation, pregnancy, or any other legally protected status.

The DuPage Community Foundation d/b/a DuPage Foundation raises the quality of life throughout DuPage County by fostering philanthropy, connecting donors to area needs, and building community partnerships.