Gift Officer

Communities In Schools of Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 78,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Generous paid time off

Job summary

Communities In Schools of Chicago (CIS) seeks a relationship-driven Gift Officer to join our Development team. You will manage a donor portfolio of approximately 90 donors, focusing on gifts of $10,000 and above, and cultivate, solicit, and steward prospects to grow philanthropic support for CIS and the Brighter Futures Campaign.

Working with the Director of Major Gifts, leadership, and Board members, you will develop compelling proposals and communications, deepening relationships with

Qualifications

• Five years of nonprofit fundraising experience preferred with donor relationship management.
• Strong interpersonal, relationship-building, and written/verbal communication skills.
• Experience cultivating and managing donor relationships, including major donors and organizational leaders.
• Ability to develop compelling proposals and donor correspondence.
• Excellent organizational skills, adaptability, and ability to manage multiple priorities.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 90 donors (individuals, corporate, and foundations) focusing on gifts of $10,000+.
• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward current and prospective donors to grow philanthropic support.
• Support the Brighter Futures Campaign by developing relationships with donors capable of multi-year commitments of $25,000+.
• Partner with the Board and Leadership Council to strengthen donor relationships and engage new major gift prospects.
• Develop donor proposals, letters of request, and personalized donor communications.
• Build a deep understanding of CIS of Chicago's mission, programs, values, and fundraising priorities.
• Foster a culture of gratitude through thoughtful donor engagement and stewardship.
• Collaborate with the Development team and contribute to a professional, accountable work environment.

Skills

Fundraising

Donor relations

Proposal writing

Communication

Organization

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Gift Officer

At Communities In Schools (CIS) of Chicago, we believe students can enhance their learning when their needs are met and that includes mental and emotional health. Every day, we partner with Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and hundreds of community organizations to bring no-cost, high-quality programs directly to schools. These programs help students stay focused, engaged, and on track to graduate.

During the 2026-27 school year, we will serve an estimated 90,000 students across 260 schools, connecting them to life-changing support from arts and academic enrichment to health and mental wellness services. And we need your help to make it happen.

The mission of Communities In Schools of Chicago is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. The vision of CIS of Chicago is to ensure that every public school student in Chicago graduates from high school prepared to succeed. The organization's core values are Impact, Integrity, Relationships, and Social Justice.

Position Overview

Communities In Schools of Chicago (CIS of Chicago) is seeking a relationship-driven fundraising professional to join our Development team as a Gift Officer.

The Gift Officer will manage a portfolio of approximately 90 individual, corporate, and foundation donors, focusing on gifts of $10,000 and above. This role is responsible for building meaningful donor relationships through identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship to support the organization's mission, programs, and Brighter Futures Campaign.

Working closely with the Director of Major Gifts, organizational leadership, and members of the Board of Directors and Leadership Council, the Gift Officer will play an important role in growing philanthropic support and advancing opportunities for Chicago students and schools.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 90 individual, corporate, and foundation donors, with a focus on gifts of $10,000 and above.
• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward current and prospective donors to grow philanthropic support.
• Support the Brighter Futures Campaign by developing relationships with prospective donors capable of making multi-year commitments of $25,000 or more.
• Partner with members of the Board of Directors and Leadership Council to strengthen donor relationships and engage new major gift prospects.
• Develop compelling donor proposals, letters of request, and personalized donor communications.
• Build a strong understanding of CIS of Chicago's mission, programs, values, and fundraising priorities.
• Foster a culture of gratitude through thoughtful donor engagement and stewardship.
• Collaborate with the Development team and contribute to a professional, accountable, and relationship-focused work environment.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Minimum of five years of nonprofit fundraising experience preferred, with direct fundraising and donor relationship management experience.
• Strong interpersonal, relationship-building, and communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Experience cultivating and managing donor relationships, including engaging major donors and organizational leaders.
• Ability to develop compelling proposals and donor correspondence.
• Excellent organizational skills, adaptability, and the ability to manage multiple priorities independently.
• Commitment to the mission of Communities In Schools and a passion for advancing equity and social justice for Chicago's students and families.

What You’ll Get

• Salary Range: $77,500 - $80,000
• Comprehensive benefits, including health insurance, retirement plan, and generous paid time off.
• A collaborative community of educators, nonprofit leaders, and partners working together to create lasting change across Chicago.
• Meaningful impact with the opportunity to change lives - one student, one school, and one community at a time.

Additional Information

This position reports to the Director of Major Gifts. Occasional evening and weekend availability is required to support donor engagement and organizational events.

Communities In Schools of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where all individuals feel valued, respected, and supported. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy (including childbirth and related medical conditions), race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, age, disability, medical condition, marital or family status, veteran or military status, citizenship, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

This commitment applies to every aspect of employment at CIS of Chicago-including recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, compensation, and all other conditions of employment. We believe that building a workforce that reflects the communities we serve strengthens our mission to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.