Associate Director of Philanthropy

Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce; Naperville (IL); On-site; USD 85,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

DuPage Foundation seeks an Associate Director of Philanthropy to advance its mission by planning and executing fundraising strategies that grow operating revenue streams and nondiscretionary assets. The role identifies, cultivates, and steward relationships with individuals, businesses, foundations, and advisors to support outright and planned gifts across the community.

Working with the Vice President for Advancement and volunteers, this role expands the donor base and funding partnerships,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; 5+ years in fundraising or related field; 2+ years in planned giving.
• Experience with major gifts and donor stewardship.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work with executives and volunteers.

Responsibilities

• Engage, cultivate, and steward a portfolio of 125-150 donors and prospects for five-, six-, and seven-figure gifts.
• Support fundraising programs and the All In DuPage campaign to grow endowment and capacity.
• Lead growth of Legacy Society and foundation partnerships with benefit and recognition programs.
• Educate donors about giving opportunities through personal consultations and events.
• Cultivate relationships with professional advisors to generate referrals.
• Create and maintain gift and fund agreements compliant with laws and standards.

Skills

Relationship-building

Public speaking

Project management

Donor cultivation

Communication (oral & written)

CRM systems

Microsoft Office

Event planning

Education

Bachelor’s degree

CFRE / CAP / CFP / JD / MBA (preferred)

Tools

CRM databases

PowerPoint

Microsoft Office

Job description

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.

Organization

DuPage Foundation is DuPage County’s champion for philanthropy. We bring together people,

Summary

knowledge, and resources to address our community’s greatest challenges and opportunities
through collective impact. Our mission is simple, yet profound: to foster philanthropy, connect
donors to area needs, and build community partnerships as we help people give efficiently and
effectively to the causes they love and create lasting charitable endowments. With more than
$180 million in assets under management, we have granted more than $120 million throughout
DuPage County and beyond since our founding in 1986.

Position 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.

To Apply

To Apply: Email a PDF cover letter and resume with “Associate Director of Philanthropy” in the subject line to Hiring Manager at [e-mail]. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and considered under the strictest of confidence. The position posting will close August 28, 2026. NO CALLS PLEASE.

Hiring Policy

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.