Senior Director, Major Gifts - Build a High-Impact Donor Portfolio

The Community Solution Education System; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time‑off

Medical and dental coverage

Life and disability insurance

Retirement plan with employer match

Flexible spending accounts (FSA)

Tuition reimbursement

Professional development

Employee appreciation events

Job summary

The Chicago School is seeking a Senior Director, Major Gifts in Chicago to lead fundraising for four priority funds. You will build and own a major gifts book, cultivate six- and seven-figure gifts, and collaborate with the President and Executive Cabinet to position the institution for strategic opportunities.

This externally focused role requires ongoing donor engagement, proposal development, and stewardship to achieve annual fundraising goals, with travel as needed and a one-year employment

Qualifications

• 7+ years of frontline major gift fundraising experience
• Experience managing a personal portfolio of 50-75 major and principal gift prospects
• Some direct or matrixed management experience
• Familiarity with Chicago area funders, corporations, or foundations
• Experience building a fundraising pipeline and closing major gifts from limited infrastructure

Responsibilities

• Build and manage a portfolio of principal and major gift prospects from the ground up, personally driving each prospect through identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship
• Prepare and negotiate proposals and gift agreements for six- and seven-figure commitments
• Build new relationships with local, regional, and national funders aligned to the four priority funds; conduct prospect research and identification as needed
• Design and execute donor stewardship plans for major donors, including gift acknowledgment, impact reporting, and ongoing engagement to ensure retention and upgrade of major and principal gift support
• Work with the President and Executive Cabinet to determine how best to position the institution for the four priority funding opportunities
• Manage and coach Major Gifts personnel; set portfolio strategy together and review pipeline moves regularly
• Oversee execution of employee and trustee giving campaigns, managed by Director, Major Gifts, ensuring alignment with overall fundraising strategy
• Coordinate with External Affairs teams and other institutional leaders to ensure a cohesive strategy in support of university goals
• Set annual fundraising goals in conjunction with the President
• Maintain and oversee accurate, timely records of all activity in Raiser’s Edge
• Report monthly on key metrics, including visits, proposals, and dollars raised against goal

Skills

Major gifts fundraising

Portfolio management

Donor cultivation & solicitation

Pipeline development

Leadership & collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Raiser’s Edge

Job description

The Chicago School is seeking a Senior Director, Major Gifts in Chicago to lead fundraising for four priority funds. You will build and own a major gifts book, cultivate six- and seven-figure gifts, and collaborate with the President and Executive Cabinet to position the institution for strategic opportunities.

This externally focused role requires ongoing donor engagement, proposal development, and stewardship to achieve annual fundraising goals, with travel as needed and a one-year employment