Development Manager - National Office

GiGi's Playhouse Down Syndrome Achievement Center; Hoffman Estates (IL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

GiGi's Playhouse Down Syndrome Achievement Center is looking for an energetic Development Manager to enhance our fundraising efforts. The ideal candidate will possess a Bachelor's degree and over seven years of relevant experience in fundraising or sales.

This role involves developing and maintaining donor relationships, utilizing personal networks, and implementing strategies to increase contributions. Key qualities include exceptional communication and organizational skills, along with a proven record in fundraising.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of relevant sales or fundraising experience.
• Ability to communicate effectively in written and verbal forms.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office and Salesforce.

Responsibilities

• Develop new donor relationships to expand the donor base.
• Increase contributions from existing donors with diverse strategies.
• Support overall development efforts with the Chief Belief Officer.

Skills

Fundraising

Relationship management

Organizational skills

Communication

Teamwork

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Salesforce

Microsoft Office

Job description

GiGi’s Playhouse Inc. was founded in 2003 and our mission is to change the way the world views Down syndrome through national campaigns, educational programs, and by empowering individuals with Down syndrome, their families and the community. All Programs are free and are therapeutic in nature. Each program is designed to work on specific skill development, including speech and language, socialization and fine and gross motor skills. GiGi’s Playhouse has 36 locations across North America and growing.

Job Description

The Development Manager fully supports efforts to raise non-event, non-grant funding for the GiGi’s Playhouse national office. The second half of 2018 is focused on new business and quarterly goals will be established to support national growth efforts. The goals will include major gifts, annual appeals, corporate gifts, event sponsorships, etc.

To be successful in this role; the individual must be inspirational and energetic in his/her efforts to reach and inspire donors while balancing the mix of expanding the donor base and seeking ways to increase contributions from existing donors. Further, as an individual building and maintaining relationships with donors, this person must have a pleasant and professional personal presence, exceptional organizational skills and the ability to confidently manage competing priorities to ensure a collaborative effort in his/her development efforts across the national office team.

Responsibilities

• Develop new donors.
  • Develop new donor and sponsor relationships to add to the existing GiGi’s Playhouse donor base.
  • Leverage personal relationships and connections to expand into new demographics.
  • Seek local and national corporate relationships.
• Increase contributions from existing donors.
  • Implement strategies to expand contributions from existing donors relative to prior giving patterns.
  • Support the sustainability of the goals above through a variety of solicitation strategies such as direct donor solicitations, recurring gifts program, annual appeal, capital campaign, etc.
  • Solicit event sponsorships for all major organizational events such as Gala, 5k, Golf Outing, Annual Conference, GiGiFest, etc.
  • Build and maintain a clearly defined donor pipeline/funnel.
  • Incorporate “moves management” strategies including specific call and visit targets for each giving category.
  • Ensure donor database (Salesforce) is constantly up to date with contacts and contact info.
• Support efforts of Chief Belief Officer to maximize broader development opportunities.
  • Support development of presentations and other stewardship efforts.
  • Brainstorm on solicitation strategies for six-figure donors, corporate relationships and personal contacts.
• Ensure all Playhouse locations have the support they need to build an annual fundraising plan and learn important strategies to successfully raise monies in their local markets.

Qualifications

• Education and/or Experience: Bachelor’s degree required; at least seven years of relevant sales or fundraising experience. History of using successful development/fundraising concepts and appropriate solicitation techniques.
• Language Skills: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community. Ability to write speeches and articles for publication that conform to prescribed style and format. Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.
• Computer Skills: Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and the ability to work proficiently in a database program (Salesforce) to run reports.
• Physical Demands: Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. Frequently required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms. Occasionally required to stand, walk and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities include the ability to adjust focus.
• Work Environment: Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Additional Information

Teamwork: Balances team and individual responsibilities; exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; gives and welcomes feedback; contributes to building a positive team spirit; puts success of team above own interests; able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; supports everyone's efforts to succeed.

Problem Solving: Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; gathers and analyzes information skillfully; develops alternative solutions; works well in group problem solving situations; uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.

Written and oral communication: Ability to express ideas and thoughts verbally; expresses ideas and thoughts in written form; exhibits good listening and comprehension; keeps others adequately informed; selects and uses appropriate communication methods.

Adaptability: Adapts to changes in the work environment; manages competing demands; changes approach or method to best fit the situation; able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.

Innovation: Displays original thinking and creativity; meets challenges with resourcefulness; generates suggestions for improving work; develops innovative approaches and ideas; presents ideas and information in a manner that gets others' attention.

Planning/Organizing: Prioritizes and plans work activities; uses time efficiently; plans for additional resources; sets goals and objectives; organizes or schedules other people and their tasks; develops realistic action plans.

Quality: Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; looks for ways to improve and promote quality; applies feedback to improve performance; monitors own work to ensure quality.

Customer Service: Manages difficult or emotional customer situations; responds promptly to customer needs; solicits customer feedback to improve service; responds to requests for service and assistance; meets commitments.

Technical Skills: Assesses own strengths and weaknesses; strives to continuously build knowledge and skills related to technical tools.

GiGi’s Playhouse Core Values

• Enthusiasm: Bringing positive, high energy to our work.
• Best of All: Always looking to improve in all that we do. Challenge yourself every day.
• Get It Done: Making things happen and blasting through barriers when needed.
• Believe: Believe in ourselves, believe in our mission, believe we can achieve all that we set out to achieve.
• Locally Concerned, Enterprise Minded: Bringing our best of all to our local playhouse while being mindful of how our work affects the broader GiGi’s network.