Development Officer

Make-A-Wish® Illinois; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 104,000 - 109,000; Full time

Job summary

Make-A-Wish Illinois seeks a Development Officer to manage a portfolio of major gift donors and move them through identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. This frontline role aims to grow unrestricted and lightly restricted gifts supporting wishes.

The position reports to the Director of Individual Giving and collaborates with leadership, the Board, and WishMakers to expand contributed revenue and meet annual goals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent fundraising experience.
• 5+ years in fundraising with at least 3 years of direct portfolio management.
• Proven track record of closing major gifts of $10,000+ and meeting revenue goals.

Responsibilities

• Manages a portfolio of approximately 100–150 major gift donors and prospects.
• Delivers an annual fundraising goal of $1.5–3 million in personally solicited revenue.
• Executes moves management with face-to-face visits, calls, proposals, and stewardship.
• Develops cultivation and solicitation plans aligned with MAWI priorities.
• Identifies and qualifies new major gift prospects to sustain a growing pipeline.
• Prepares proposals, gift agreements, and stewardship materials communicating impact.
• Partners with gift planning to identify giving opportunities within the portfolio.
• Engages Board members and senior volunteers in cultivation and solicitation.
• Keeps CRM records up to date and reports portfolio performance against goal.
• Represents MAWI at events, including evenings and weekends.

Skills

Major gifts fundraising

Portfolio management

Moves management

Donor relations

CRM systems

Microsoft 365

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

Description

The Development Officer is a frontline fundraiser responsible for securing major gifts that fund life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. This individual carries a portfolio of major gift donors and prospects and moves them through the full development cycle, from identification and cultivation to solicitation and stewardship. The Development Officer reports to the Director of Individual Giving and partners with development leadership, the Leadership Team, Board members, and WishMakers across the chapter to grow contributed revenue from individual donors, with a focus on unrestricted and lightly restricted giving in support of Make-A-Wish Illinois’ (MAWI) mission and strategic plan. This is a portfolio-carrying individual contributor role, measured by relationships built, visits completed, and dollars raised.

• Manages a portfolio of approximately 100 to 150 major gift donors and prospects, with primary responsibility for gifts in the $10,000 to $100,000 range.
• Builds a portfolio capable of delivering an annual fundraising goal of approximately $1.5 million to $3 million in personally solicited revenue, set each year in partnership with the Director of Individual Giving and Chief Development Officer (CDO).
• Executes a disciplined moves management strategy for each donor, advancing relationships through face-to-face visits, calls, written proposals, and personalized stewardship.
• Develops tailored cultivation and solicitation plans that align donor interests with MAWI funding priorities, including wish grants, signature programs, and strategic initiatives.
• Identifies and qualifies new major gift prospects to maintain a healthy, growing pipeline.
• Prepares proposals, presentations, gift agreements, and stewardship materials that communicate impact and share the power of a wish®.
• Partners with the gift planning function to identify and refer planned giving and non-cash gift opportunities within the portfolio.
• Engages Board members and senior volunteers in the cultivation and solicitation of assigned donors as appropriate.
• Maintains accurate, timely records of all donor activity, moves, and revenue in the CRM, and reports on portfolio performance against goal.
• Represents MAWI at wish celebrations, donor events, and community functions, including some evenings and weekends.

Description

The Development Officer is a frontline fundraiser responsible for securing major gifts that fund life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. This individual carries a portfolio of major gift donors and prospects and moves them through the full development cycle, from identification and cultivation to solicitation and stewardship. The Development Officer reports to the Director of Individual Giving and partners with development leadership, the Leadership Team, Board members, and WishMakers across the chapter to grow contributed revenue from individual donors, with a focus on unrestricted and lightly restricted giving in support of Make-A-Wish Illinois’ (MAWI) mission and strategic plan. This is a portfolio-carrying individual contributor role, measured by relationships built, visits completed, and dollars raised.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Manages a portfolio of approximately 100 to 150 major gift donors and prospects, with primary responsibility for gifts in the $10,000 to $100,000 range.
• Builds a portfolio capable of delivering an annual fundraising goal of approximately $1.5 million to $3 million in personally solicited revenue, set each year in partnership with the Director of Individual Giving and Chief Development Officer (CDO).
• Executes a disciplined moves management strategy for each donor, advancing relationships through face-to-face visits, calls, written proposals, and personalized stewardship.
• Develops tailored cultivation and solicitation plans that align donor interests with MAWI funding priorities, including wish grants, signature programs, and strategic initiatives.
• Identifies and qualifies new major gift prospects to maintain a healthy, growing pipeline.
• Prepares proposals, presentations, gift agreements, and stewardship materials that communicate impact and share the power of a wish®.
• Partners with the gift planning function to identify and refer planned giving and non-cash gift opportunities within the portfolio.
• Engages Board members and senior volunteers in the cultivation and solicitation of assigned donors as appropriate.
• Maintains accurate, timely records of all donor activity, moves, and revenue in the CRM, and reports on portfolio performance against goal.
• Represents MAWI at wish celebrations, donor events, and community functions, including some evenings and weekends.

Requirements

Education

• Bachelor’s degree required, or an equivalent combination of education and professional fundraising experience.

Experience & Skills

• 5+ years of fundraising experience, with a focus on individual major giving, ideally within the nonprofit sector or a similar environment. This must include at least 3 years of direct portfolio management, personally cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding a defined book of major gift donors and prospects.
• Demonstrated track record of personally closing major gifts of $10,000 and above and meeting or exceeding annual revenue goals.
• Working command of moves management and the full donor development cycle, from identification through stewardship.
• Proficiency with donor CRM systems and Microsoft 365; experience with Salesforce or a comparable donor management system is strongly preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, from in-person solicitation to written proposals and presentations.

Additional Attributes

• Ability to build authentic relationships with donors and colleagues from varied backgrounds, lifestyles, and perspectives.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, work independently, and meet deadlines with limited supervision.
• Ability to exercise sound independent judgment and take ownership of a personal revenue goal.
• Enthusiasm for the mission and the ability to communicate impact with warmth and authenticity.
• A commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging.
• Willingness to travel to meet donors and prospects. Some night and weekend work will be required for board meetings, donor visits, and wish celebrations.

Work Schedule and Location:

Hybrid Schedule – Tuesdays and Thursdays in-person at the corporate office (200 W. Monroe, Suite 1801, Chicago, IL 60606), and Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays remote, in the event there are no off-site donor commitments. Off-site donor commitments will almost always take priority over the in-person office schedule. Business needs may dictate occasional need to adjust the hybrid schedule, and the team member is expected to accommodate the organization’s physical presence needs as part of their hybrid work agreement. Given the donor-facing nature of this role, some evening and weekend work is required to support board meetings, donor visits, and special events.

Other:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Activities and Working Conditions:

• This position is typically performed in an interior, environmentally controlled office setting. The duties of the job require extended periods of time being stationary and manipulating a computer (keyboard, monitor, mouse), and other standard office equipment including, but not limited to printer, fax, calculator, copier, telephone and associated computer/technology peripherals.
• At times this job will require an ability to lift up to 30 pounds.

Annual Salary Range: $103,700 - $109,300