Senior Coordinator, Development

acs; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 33,000 - 37,000; Full time

Job summary

The American Cancer Society is seeking a Development Operations professional in Chicago to provide comprehensive fundraising and operational support for multi-million-dollar portfolios across channels. The role ensures timely execution, maintains systems, and supports data insights and reporting to drive revenue growth.

Responsibilities include event logistics, donor stewardship, and collaboration across teams, with travel limited to area events.

Qualifications

• Associate degree or equivalent experience preferred.
• 3+ years in event support, fundraising operations, or related admin support; 5+ years may be preferred for lead-level scope.
• Strong customer service and stakeholder relationship skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines while delivering accurate, high-quality work.
• Ability to collaborate across teams and adapt to changing portfolios and systems.

Responsibilities

• Provides fundraising and event execution support to ensure revenue targets and flawless execution.
• Maintains organized task and reminder systems; tracks deadlines and follows through on issues.
• Performs financial and administrative tasks including processing donations and expenses.
• Supports CRM data needs, generates reports, and provides insights for decision-making.
• Acts as a subject matter expert on tools and programs; assists with training and projects.
• Supports volunteers and leadership activities, including communications and recognition.

Skills

Customer service

Cross-functional collaboration

Problem solving

Organizational skills

Adaptability

Written and verbal communication

Policy understanding

Education

Associate degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Salesforce/CRM

Reporting tools

Procurement tools

Auction/event tools

Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Office

Job description

At the American Cancer Society, we're working to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. Our employees and 1.3 million volunteers are raising the bar every single day. We are a culture comprised of diverse backgrounds and experience, to better serve our communities.

The people who work at the American Cancer Society focus their diverse talents on our lifesaving mission. It is a calling. And the people who answer it are fulfilled.

Responsible for providing comprehensive fundraising and operational support to multi-million-dollar portfolios (individual, corporate and event channels) and their associated teams. Support may be delivered either embedded within a team or through a dispatched model based on business needs and resource alignment. Ensures efficient execution of business operations and continuity of support during staff vacancies and peak workload periods by delivering temporary remote coverage and/or assigned portfolio support. Serves as a key member of the development support ecosystem, critical to achieving revenue success through excellent internal and external relationship management, high-quality customer service, revenue support functions, and event and relationship execution. Depending on assignment and level, may serve as a content expert in key fundraising programs and internal platforms, lead specialized support initiatives, and mentor/onboard new coordinators to accelerate proficiency and consistency of execution.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Provides fundraising and event execution support in partnership with event managers and development leadership to ensure best-in-class execution and achievement of revenue targets; supports planning, timelines, logistics, and high-impact opportunities; manages relationships with participants, volunteers, partners, sponsors, and vendors to ensure strong customer experience and stewardship. 50%
• Manages operational systems and workflow execution by implementing and maintaining organized task and reminder systems; proactively monitors deadlines and deliverables; identifies issues, recommends solutions, and drives follow-through to support revenue growth strategies and operational excellence. 15%
• Performs financial and administrative support activities including processing donations and payments, tracking expenses, supporting reclasses as needed, and ensuring work is completed in alignment with internal policies, procedures, and controls. 15%
• Supports customer relationship management and constituent data needs by inputting and maintaining information in relevant platforms; generating reports and insights to support revenue performance, prospecting/engagement efforts, and team decision-making. 10%
• Serves as a subject matter expert in tools, platforms, and/or fundraising programs (as assigned) by troubleshooting, providing guidance to staff, developing/correcting materials, and contributing to training, workgroups, or projects. 5%
• Provides volunteer and leadership support including committee/board support, volunteer recruitment/communications, scheduling, recognition, and stewardship; may support executive volunteer engagement and other leadership-facing needs. 5%

EXPERIENCE/QUALIFICATIONS:

Minimum Degree Required: Associate degree preferred or a combination of education and relevant work experience.

Years of experience: Typically, 3+ years of event support, fundraising operations, or comparable business/administrative support experience; 5+ years and/or demonstrated advanced/lead experience may be preferred for lead-level scope and mentoring responsibilities.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITY:

• Demonstrated ability to deliver high-quality customer service to internal and external stakeholders; builds strong, credible relationships quickly.
• Skilled in partnering and collaborating across teams to ensure consistent communication, integration, and shared ownership of timelines and outcomes.
• Ability to proactively identify needs/issues, define problems, assess options, and implement practical solutions.
• Strong organizational skills; effectively manages multiple priorities and deadlines while delivering accurate, high-quality work.
• Ability to adapt quickly to changing portfolios, teams, priorities, and systems; able to ramp up rapidly in new contexts.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; develops and delivers communications tailored to varied audiences and needs.
• Ability to interpret and implement policies and procedures with attention to accuracy and compliance.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and collaboration tools (e.g., Microsoft Teams) and ability to learn and utilize internal platforms and data systems (e.g., Salesforce/CRM, reporting tools, procurement/contract tools, auction/event tools, etc.)

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:

Limited travel to area meetings and events, including some evening and weekend work.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

No specific physical requirements.

The starting rate is $24 to $27. The final candidate's relevant experience/skills will be c