Senior Philanthropy Manager

MPN Research Foundation; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

MPN Research Foundation in Chicago seeks a Senior Philanthropy Manager to lead major donor programs, expand planned giving, and grow a high-impact donor pipeline to accelerate research funding.

You will co-lead donor strategy, analyze giving trends, build Salesforce dashboards, and partner with leadership to craft compelling cases for support that inspire strategic investments and lasting philanthropy.

Qualifications

• :Proven track record in philanthropy and major donor engagement within the non-profit sector.
• :Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent; advanced degree preferred.
• :Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to engage stakeholders.
• :Technical proficiency in development tools and fundraising analytics.
• :Strong analytical skills and ability to leverage data to inform fundraising strategies.
• :Strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities with focus on impact.
• :Experience in developing systems and processes to enhance fundraising efficiency.
• :Chicago-based preferred, but not required.

Responsibilities

• Manage and grow an existing portfolio of high-net-worth donors.
• Identify, cultivate, and secure new major donors.
• Partner with leadership to secure high-impact contributions.
• Maintain major-donor forecast and pipeline with board-ready reporting.
• Develop data-informed strategies to prioritize prospects and forecast revenue.
• Serve as analytics expert to inform outreach and growth opportunities.
• Act as Salesforce expert for philanthropy with dashboards and data hygiene.
• Lead donor stewardship and progression to higher levels of giving.
• Cultivate relationships for legacy and planned giving.
• Utilize wealth-screening tools to identify donor capacity and affinity.

Skills

Major donor growth

Salesforce

Wealth-screening tools

Data analytics

Forecasting

Donor pipeline development

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

Salesforce

Wealth-screening platforms

Prospect research tools

Job description

MPN Research Foundation (MPNRF) is dedicated to funding and advancing original research in pursuit of new treatments—and eventually a cure—for essential thrombocythemia (ET), polycythemia vera (PV), and myelofibrosis (MF), blood cancers that are known collectively as myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN). Founded in 1999, MPNRF was the first organization in the MPN space and is the only one focused on advancing research. From its unique position at the intersection among three key stakeholders—patients, researchers/clinicians, and the biopharma/biotech industry—MPNRF facilitates a collaborative approach to research that elevates the patient voice in research and drug development, brings disease experts together, and accelerates the industry’s understanding of an extremely complex group of diseases.

Job Overview
MPN Research Foundation is seeking a strategic, relationship-driven Senior Philanthropy Manager to join the development team to co-lead individual, family foundation, and corporate fundraising efforts. This pivotal role is responsible for growing and managing a portfolio of high-net-worth donors, cultivating new major donor relationships, and securing transformative contributions to advance our mission.

The ideal candidate brings a strong track record in major gifts, planned giving, and donor pipeline development. They are equally comfortable operating at a strategic level and executing hands‑on development work - including forecasting, analytics, and data‑driven outreach. Expertise in Salesforce, wealth‑screening tools, and fundraising analytics is essential.

As a key driver of revenue growth and long‑term organizational sustainability, the Senior Philanthropy Manager will co‑lead donor strategy, deepen donor engagement, secure planned giving commitments, and maximize donor potential through thoughtful stewardship and insight‑driven decision‑making. This is an opportunity to join a small, innovative, mission‑focused team dedicated to accelerating research and improving the lives of people living with MPN cancers.

Job Duties

Major Donor Growth

• Manage and actively grow an existing portfolio of high-net-worth donors , ensuring both strong retention and increased annual commitments.
• Identify, cultivate, and secure new major donors through strategic research, outreach, and personalized cultivation plans.
• Partner closely with the leadership team, marketing, operations and Board of Directors to secure high-impact contributions.
• Maintain the comprehensive major-donor forecast and pipeline , ensuring accuracy, strategic clarity, and board‑ready reporting.
• Develop data‑informed strategies to prioritize prospects, deepen engagement, and forecast revenue.
• Serve as the internal analytics expert, leveraging data to inform outreach strategy, predict donor behavior, and identify growth opportunities.

CRM, Wealth Screening & Data Systems Expertise

• Act as the Salesforce expert for the philanthropy function - building dashboards, optimizing workflows, maintaining data hygiene, and ensuring accurate reporting.
• Utilize wealth‑screening platforms and prospect‑research tools to identify, segment, and evaluate donor capacity and affinity.
• Lead the creation and continuous improvement of systems, processes, and analytic tools to increase fundraising efficiency.

Drive Successful Progression of Key Donors

• Develop individualized cultivation and stewardship plans for top donors and prospects.
• Coordinate with team members to ensure meaningful, timely, and coordinated donor engagement.
• Advocate for increased philanthropic investment in the organization’s mission, moving donors toward higher levels of impact.
• Develop strategies to convert grassroots and mid‑level donors into long‑term major donors.
• Track campaign performance and identify opportunities to elevate giving and deepen engagement.

Planned Giving Leadership

• Cultivate and manage relationships with donors interested in legacy and planned giving.
• Work with legal and financial advisors to structure and secure planned giving commitments.
• Integrate planned giving conversations into broader major donor strategies.

Donor Insights, Segmentation & Propensity Modeling

• Use donor‑management, analytics, and wealth‑screening tools to track donor profiles, giving histories, and engagement patterns.
• Leverage propensity-to-give data to optimize outreach, qualify prospects, and prioritize portfolios.
• Analyze trends to identify opportunities for stewardship, upgrades, and new donor acquisition.
• Outline & implement processes inclusive of documentation expectations memorialized with the creation of necessary standard operating procedures.

Board of Directors Engagement

• Cultivate philanthropic leadership among Board members, encouraging meaningful participation in giving and fundraising.
• Leverage Board networks to identify, introduce, and cultivate new major donor prospects.

Thought Leadership & Strategic Influence

• Serve as a thought leader on philanthropy, guiding staff and Board leadership on trends, strategy, and best practices.
• Stay current on advancements in cancer research and related technologies to inform donor messaging and case‑for‑support development.

Corporate Sponsorship Growth

• Develop and actively grow a portfolio of corporate partners and sponsors, ensuring strong retention, increased annual support, and long‑term strategic mission‑aligned relationships.
• Identify, cultivate, and secure new corporate sponsorships through targeted research, relationship‑building, and customized sponsorship proposals aligned with organizational priorities.
• Collaborate closely with the leadership team, marketing, programs, and Board of Directors to secure high-impact corporate investments and mutually beneficial partnerships.

Qualifications:

• Proven track record in philanthropy and major donor engagement within the non‑profit sector.
• Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent; advanced degree preferred.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and inspire stakeholders.
• Technical proficiency in relevant research methodologies and development tools.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to leverage data to inform fundraising strategies.
• Strategic thinking and problem‑solving abilities, with a focus on driving innovation and impact.
• Experience in developing and implementing systems and processes to enhance fundraising efficiency.
• Chicago based preferred, but not required
• Ability to work collaboratively in a dynamic, fast‑paced environment.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to prioritize and execute tasks effectively in unstructured or ambiguous situations.
• Passion for the mission of the MPN Research Foundation and a commitment to making a difference in the lives of those affected by MPNs.
• Familiarity with marketing principles and strategies is a plus.
• Ability to straddle the team environment and individual tasks to achieve common goals

Reporting Lines:

This individual reports to the Director of Operations & Growth Strategy

If you are passionate about making a difference in the field of cancer research and possessing the necessary skills and qualifications, we invite you to join our dynamic team. Together, we can contribute to the ongoing fight against cancer and improve the lives of those affected by this devastating disease.