The Senior Planned Giving and Major Gift Officer is a critical member of the Strategic Giving team. With an already established group of planned giving donors through the Will to End Hunger Society, this role is an exciting opportunity to build on the foundation and grow the planned giving program. The Senior Planned Giving and Major Gift Officer will work to support the Organization’s fundraising strategy to generate new planned gift expectancies and secure individual major gifts of $10,000 and above.
In collaboration with the Senior Director of Strategic Giving, the Senior Planned Giving and Major Gift Officer is responsible for the overall strategic direction, management, and expansion of the planned giving program, including designing, directing, and implementing a comprehensive program to promote and secure planned gifts for the organization. The successful candidate will be highly collaborative and adept at networking and forming relationships with demonstrated experience in closing planned and major gifts. This position will serve as the primary point of contact for a portfolio of approximately 50-75 major gift and planned giving prospects with the capacity to make gifts of at least $10,000 or significant planned gifts by providing personal outreach, engagement, and direct asks for support. They will oversee individual relationships throughout the qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship cycle. This individual will be responsible for annual revenue goals for their portfolio and department goals within the Strategic Giving and larger Individual Giving team. They will offer support related to prospect and portfolio management and program needs to other development and leadership team members. The candidate should demonstrate a strong command of fundraising principles, including direct solicitation experience, with the ability to demonstrate a proven fundraising track record that includes directly soliciting, negotiating, and closing five- to six-figure gifts and planned gifts.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Planned Giving Oversight - 70% of role
Develop in collaboration with the Senior Director of Strategic Giving measurable goals and outcomes for the planned giving program
Create a comprehensive marketing plan with our partner Stelter to encourage patrons to consider planned gifts options as part of their philanthropy, including direct mail, email, and website presence
Serve as the subject matter expert for the front-line fundraising team on gift planning options, providing proposal materials and other written materials
Provide oversight of the administration and reporting requirements for all deferred/planned gifts including bequests, trusts, life insurance, and real estate
Serve as liaison with the gift processing and finance offices on matters pertaining to past, present, and future planned gifts, including their administration and accounting
Prepare reports, briefing materials, correspondence, proposals, and related documents for the solicitation of prospects
Partner with the Cultivation and Stewardship Manager to create a recognition program for planned gift donors
Provide oversight of the administration and reporting requirements for all planned gifts to align with gift processing and finance practices in consultation and collaboration with the Finance department
Enhance donor gift planning by remaining current on the tax implications and laws and regulations governing complex and deferred gifts
Be entrepreneurial-minded and embrace technological and analytical solutions that contribute to the growth of the planned gifts program, continually striving to improve and extend relationships with donors and prospects in ways that have a quantifiable impact on philanthropic revenue
Organizes and supports small- and large-scale events that cultivate major and planned giving prospects
Major Gift Responsibilities - 30% of role
Collaborate with supervisor and other team members to develop “top prospect” lists based on giving histories, research, and relationship history
Create individualized relationship action plans for a portfolio of prospects in line with financial goals
Work with senior management to plan and execute solicitations for major gift donors
Oversee appropriate recognition opportunities for major donors, which may include special events, targeted print and online publications, or program engagement
Collaborate with other development team members on cultivation and stewardship activities as needed
Prepare comprehensive and sophisticated documents including but not limited to; briefings for leadership and colleagues; gift opportunity presentations, gift proposals, budget forecasts, etc.
Updates donor records in a timely matter with relevant data including contact reports, demographic updates, and other similar types of pertinent information
Other duties as assigned
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree with 5+ year’s development experience preferred.
Demonstrated Major Gifts experience within a non-profit organization, educational institution or other environment of similar complexity.
Excellent written and oral communication skills.
Excellent interpersonal skills to relate to donors, volunteers, and colleague
Enthusiastic contributor to the Major Gifts team and the broader Food Depository community.
Highly organized & detail oriented.
Adaptable and flexible in fast-paced environment, able to multi-task and handle several priorities simultaneously.
Demonstrated initiative and willingness to take on new projects.
Proficiency in MS Office – Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook.
Development database experience (Raisers Edge / NXT experience desirable).
PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS:
Highly motivated self-starter
Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills
Ability to independently carry out multiple and diverse tasks concurrently to meet deadlines
Benefits:
• Health, dental, and vision insurance coverage • Employer-paid life and disability insurance • Employee Assistance Program • 403(b) retirement plan with employer contribution • Generous paid time off • Parental leave • On-site gym • $3,000 annual employer-paid ThrivePass lifestyle and wellness benefit program • $250 employee referral bonus
The Greater Chicago Food Depository, Chicago’s food bank, believes a healthy community starts with food. We are at the center of a network of more than 700 partner organizations and programs – food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, mobile distributions, and other partners – working to bring food, dignity, and hope to our neighbors across Chicago and Cook County. The Food Depository addresses the root causes of hunger with job training, advocacy, and other innovative solutions.
