Development Officer

Bright Hope International; Barrington, Northern (IL, KY); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Bright Hope is seeking a Junior Development Officer to increase revenue by cultivating donors and managing a portfolio of allies who share a commitment to alleviating poverty. The role involves planning events, engaging new donors, and coordinating with the Director of Relationship Management to advance philanthropic growth.

The position emphasizes spiritual alignment with Bright Hope’s beliefs and the goal of transforming donors’ worldview through mutual transformation, with domestic and

Qualifications

• 3+ years of development experience, preferred.
• Grant research and writing experience preferred.
• Connections to Christian philanthropic networks strongly preferred.
• Undergraduate degree preferred.
• Experience with Salesforce or other donor CRM preferred.
• Strong competency with Microsoft Office (e.g., Outlook, Word, Excel).
• Ability to travel domestically approximately 5 days per year and internationally 2-3 times per year.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; must care deeply for uplifting those suffering from extreme poverty using a Christian framework.
• Demonstrable ability to ignite passion for Bright Hope’s mission and vision.
• Demonstrable ability to effectively cold call prospective benefactors.
• Demonstrable ability to engage and inspire high-net-worth individuals to give generously.

Responsibilities

• Developing relationships with donors and crafting individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.
• Conducting in-person and virtual donor visits, locally and domestically.
• Preparing personalized gift proposals for donors, making gift solicitations, and having planned giving conversations with donors.
• Identifying and qualifying major gift prospects from existing donor base as well as from outside our existing donor base.
• Support the Director- RM with selected foundation and grant opportunities.
• Assist the RM team with the strategy, planning, and execution of donor events.
• In coordination with the Director- RM, support the planning and implementation of Hope Builders, Bright Hope’s new mid-to-high level donor society.
• Track activities and moves management in Salesforce.
• Contribute to planning and leading 2-3 international donor trips per year to program sites, creating a space for donors to be transformed through the impact of their support (mutual transformation).

Skills

Relationship building

Donor engagement

Communication

Fundraising strategy

Grant research

Education

Undergraduate degree preferred

Tools

Salesforce

Microsoft Office

Job description

Bright Hope Overview

Bright Hope exists to bring Hope to people living in extreme poverty (less than $3/day) by empowering the local church. We believe the church is an underutilized resource in the global fight against extreme poverty, and that empowering the church to bring Hope for Today, Tomorrow, and Eternity is the most effective way to help the poorest of the poor with their immediate, economic, and spiritual needs. We currently are active in five countries: Bolivia, Haiti, Kenya, Uganda, and Zambia, with plans to begin work in Benin soon.

Position Overview and Mission

The Junior Development Officer is a key member of the Relationship Management (RM) team, responsible for raising funds for Bright Hope, managing a portfolio of key individual and organizational donors, and cultivating prospective donors.

The mission of this position is to increase revenue by 1) personally representing Bright Hope to allies (donors) with charitable hearts and financial capacity, inspiring them to passion and action in support of our work, and 2) identifying, cultivating, and engaging new allies who are aligned with Bright Hope’s mission.

The Junior Development Officer will work closely with the Director of Relationship Management to advance the organization’s philanthropic growth. This may include planning and strategizing events, fundraisers, and other donor engagement opportunities, as well as leading teams when appropriate. The Junior Development Officer will report directly to the Director of Relationship Management.

This position will help create opportunities for donors to experience transformation in their worldview and understanding of poverty, just as the people served through Bright Hope’s programs experience transformation. Mutual Transformation is a core value of Bright Hope.

Lastly, the Junior Development Officer must maintain an active, personal relationship with Jesus Christ and endorse Bright Hope’s statement of beliefs.

Position Responsibilities

Manage a portfolio of donors and prospects, including (but not limited to):

• Developing relationships with donors and crafting individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.
• Conducting in-person and virtual donor visits, locally and domestically.
• Preparing personalized gift proposals for donors, making gift solicitations, and having planned giving conversations with donors.
• Identifying and qualifying major gift prospects from existing donor base as well as from outside our existing donor base.
• Support the Director- RM with selected foundation and grant opportunities.
• Assist the RM team with the strategy, planning, and execution of donor events.
• In coordination with the Director- RM, support the planning and implementation of Hope Builders, Bright Hope’s new mid-to-high level donor society.
• Track activities and moves management in Salesforce.
• Contribute to planning and leading 2-3 international donor trips per year to program sites, creating a space for donors to be transformed through the impact of their support (mutual transformation).

Qualifications

• 3+ years of development experience, preferred.
• Grant research and writing experience preferred.
• Connections to Christian philanthropic networks strongly preferred.
• Undergraduate degree preferred.
• Experience with Salesforce or other donor CRM preferred.
• Strong competency with Microsoft Office (e.g.,Outlook, Word, Excel).
• Ability to travel domestically approximately 5 days per year and internationally 2-3 times per year.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; must care deeply for uplifting those suffering from extreme poverty using a Christian framework.
• Demonstrable ability to ignite passion for Bright Hope’s mission and vision.
• Demonstrable ability to effectively cold call prospective benefactors.
• Demonstrable ability to engage and inspire high-net-worth individuals to give generously.

Personal Qualities and Values

• Self-Directed. The Junior Development Officer should have the ability to work in a self-directed manner in a fluid environment where flexibility, tenacity, and a servant’s heart is required.
• Personable yet goal-oriented communicator. The Development Officer needs to engage with donors warmly and connect with them at the level they are at but still should move the donor touchpoint toward its desired goal, whether it is a phone call, a follow-up meeting, a connection, or an ask.
• Team-Player. The Junior Development Officer should prioritize team success over recognition for individual achievements. Bright Hope values each of our team members as individuals but believe that we achieve the greatest results by working together to advance Bright Hope’s mission.
• The Junior Development Officer must be truthful, fair, and trustworthy in all aspects of their work. Bright Hope holds ourselves and our partners to the highest ethical standards as we all seek to make manifest the Kingdom of God for those in the most impoverished circumstances. To do the work of loving our neighbor in the poorest places on the planet, we must know the guiding tenets of the Christian faith and live them in action and truth.

Job Location Details

Hybrid - Chicagoland area preferred. Mostly remote with some in person meetings. Will consider fully remote for the right candidate.