Director of Development - Major Gifts

Description

TITLE: Director of Development - Major Gifts

Special Olympics Illinois is a not-for-profit sports organization offering year-round training and competition in 18 sports to a community of more than 55,000 traditional athletes, Young Athletes, Unified partners, coaches, volunteers, and more. It strives to be a global leader in shaping a culture where people with and without intellectual disabilities are fully integrated into the community by providing year-round opportunities in competitive sports, health education, leadership and personal development. As a part of the Special Olympics Illinois team, you’ll join an energetic and hard-working group of individuals committed to transforming the lives of those we serve.

Special Olympics Illinois is thrilled to announce several new opportunities to join our expanding Development team! In line with our strategic plan to build the movement, change the game, expand our roster, and champion inclusion, we are adding key roles to enhance our capacity and drive greater impact. This is an exciting time to join our dynamic and successful Development team, as we work together to empower and include individuals with intellectual disabilities throughout Illinois. If you are passionate about making a difference and want to contribute to a powerful mission, we encourage you to apply and help us shape a future of inclusion and opportunity!

Position Overview

The Director of Development - Major Gifts plays a pivotal role in advancing the mission of Special Olympics Illinois (SOILL) by cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding individual major gift donors and prospects to secure financial support for the organization's programs. The position will focus on building long-term relationships with individuals capable of making significant contributions, ensuring their gifts support the mission and strategic objectives of SOILL.

Primary Duties And Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Program Management

• Develop and execute strategies to broaden and diversify the donor base while increasing efforts to secure new contributions from individuals, managing a pipeline of current and prospective donors at the $10,000 level and above
• Develop an annual plan and budget for the cultivation and solicitation of major gifts
• Manage the major gifts program, achieve program metrics, and track short-term and long-term fundraising goals
• Lead regular reporting sessions with staff members, the CEO, and Board Members, providing regular benchmark and progress reports
  
  

Donor Cultivation and Solicitation

• Identify, qualify, cultivate, and solicit major gift prospects through personalized engagement strategies; independently manage a well-qualified portfolio of 100 to 120 major gift prospects
• Assisted by the Prospect Research and Database Manager, direct research to identify major gift prospects and develop donor profiles including financial capability, special interests, history, and current connections with the organization
• See that prospects are assigned to appropriate persons – the President & CEO, Chief Development Officer, Senior Director of Development, Board Members, and other key organizational leaders and volunteers
• Help assign prospects to key staff members and organizational leaders as relationship managers, including the President & CEO, Chief Development Officer, Senior Director of Development, and members of the Board of Directors
• Work with relationship managers who have major gift assignments to update contact reports and donor engagement for each prospect to include cultivation, involvement, solicitation, and appropriate acknowledgment
  
  

Stewardship and Relationship Management

• Develop and implement stewardship strategies for all relationship managers that enhance donor satisfaction and long-term engagement
• Show gratitude for donations through personalized acknowledgements, and keep donors informed and involved by attending events and maintaining regular contact
• Ensure donors feel valued and connected to the impact of their gifts
  
  

Team Leadership and Development

• Lead, mentor, and expand the major gifts team, fostering a collaborative, results-oriented environment
• Provide ongoing training and professional development opportunities to staff to enhance their skills in major gift fundraising
  
  

Performance Measurement and Analysis

• Monitor and report on the progress of the major gifts program, using data-driven metrics to assess effectiveness and adjust strategies as needed
• Ensure compliance with all relevant policies and regulations regarding fundraising and donor privacy
  
  

Requirements

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• A commitment to the mission and work of Special Olympics Illinois and its core values
• A minimum of five (5) years of successful major gifts and development experience
• Bachelor’s degree required. Advanced degree or CFRE certification is a plus.
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills that demonstrate a willingness to listen and share
• Deep personal integrity and honesty, with a commitment to transparency, accountability, respect, and teamwork
• A constant learner who is interested in being a proactive, positive member of the team
• The ability to learn quickly and to translate ideas into action, with a decision-making approach that is thoughtful, consultative, decisive and results oriented
• Highly motivated and a self-starter
• A demonstrated commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion within the organization and incorporating DEIB in fundraising and development efforts, ensuring equitable treatment of all members and donors
  
  

Work Schedule And Requirements

• SOILL offers a hybrid work environment with a minimum of three days on site at either the office located in Chicago or the regional office in Lombard, IL
• Days and hours of work are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m
• Flexibility to travel state-wide with the highest frequency in the Chicagoland area. Overnight travel will be required several times/year
• Light work required, which involves lifting no more than 20 pounds at a time with some lifting or carrying of objects weighing up to 10 pounds; requires some walking, standing, and/or sitting with some pushing and pulling of arm or leg controls; includes sedentary work
• Close visual acuity required to perform activities such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading; visual inspection involving small defects, small parts, and/or operation of machines; operating motor vehicles
• Physical mobility required: must be able to climb stairs, assist in setup and breakdown at events, stand or sit for long periods of time, and load and unload vehicles
• First Aid/CPR Training and Certification required or willing to obtain within the first six months; must be able and willing to effectively administer First Aid/CPR on-site during events
• Valid driver’s license and proof of insurance is required
• Offers of employment are contingent upon clear results of a background check
  
  

Salary Description

$60,000 - $90,000

Benefits

This full-time position includes an excellent compensation and benefits package including health, dental, vision, life, voluntary disability insurance, a retirement savings plan with company match, generous paid time off benefits, and more.

Special Olympics Illinois is committed to building a diverse, creative, engaged, collaborative, and hard-working team that is dedicated to our athletes, our communities, and each other. Our employees are our most valuable asset, and we aim to create a positive atmosphere where employees feel valued and fulfilled. We truly want people to love working here, and we strive to create a culture that allows for growth, opportunity, and fun.

Special Olympics Illinois is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, creed, age, disability, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, familial status, pregnancy, predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, criminal conviction, and all other protected classes under federal or state laws.