Associate Director of Individual Giving

Position Overview

Salary: $72,000.00 - $93,000.00 Annually

Full‑time position with a schedule determined by department and operational needs, which may include evenings and weekends and occasional additional hours as required. Eligible for a hybrid work arrangement per the Remote Work Policy. 40 hours per week.

We have an opening for an Associate Director of Individual Giving to support the Development department at MCA Chicago. Reported to the Director of Individual Giving, the Associate Director leads the Museum of Contemporary Art’s annual giving program, including leadership annual donors, support groups, and donor travel programs. This role manages the museum’s mid‑level donor pipeline, driving acquisition, retention, and upgrades while identifying prospects for major‑gift cultivation.

The Associate Director serves as the primary relationship manager for leadership annual donors and support groups contributing between $1,500 and $15,000 annually—including Circle, Emerge, and the Women’s Board—and oversees annual solicitations, donor stewardship, engagement strategies, and support‑group leadership advising. The position also plans and executes at least one donor travel program annually and provides oversight for entry‑level annual giving activities.

• Lead strategy and execution for annual giving and support group programs (Circle, Women’s Board, Emerge) to acquire, retain, and upgrade donors in the $1,500–$15,000 range.
• Build and manage a diverse donor pipeline to achieve annual revenue goals of at least $1.2 million.
• Serve as primary relationship manager for leadership annual donors and support groups; manage a portfolio of approximately 60 donors and prospects with tailored cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.
• Partner with volunteer leaders to support donor engagement and solicitation efforts.
• Oversee planning and execution of support group events and meetings, including program development, communications, and coordination with internal teams to ensure alignment with strategic goals.
• Plan and deliver at least one annual donor travel program, in partnership with external consultants, to support cultivation and fundraising (e.g., international art fairs).
• Lead a comprehensive, multi‑channel annual giving program (direct mail, email, social, onsite, and personal outreach) to secure unrestricted support and grow participation.
• Develop and implement strategies for donor renewal, reactivation, and upgrades using data‑driven and moves‑management approaches.
• Design and execute engagement and benefit strategies for donors and prospects across all leadership annual giving groups.
• Identify and qualify prospects for deeper engagement, including major gift opportunities, in collaboration with Development colleagues.
• Partner with the Director of Individual Giving to align annual giving strategy with institutional fundraising priorities and campaigns.
• Collaborate across Development to ensure effective donor pipeline movement and coordinated communications, stewardship, and solicitation strategies.
• Track performance against goals and maintain accurate donor records in the CRM system.
• Use data, analytics, and benchmarking to evaluate program effectiveness and identify opportunities to expand and diversify the donor base.
• Manage budgets for Annual Giving, Circle, Women’s Board, and Emerge programs.
• Support and attend museum events and meetings as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Director of Individual Giving or the Chief Development Officer.

• 5-7 years of progressive experience in fundraising within complex organizations.
• Demonstrated success managing annual giving and/or membership programs.
• Proven ability to build and sustain relationships with donors and volunteers.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience producing compelling donor‑facing materials.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across teams and influence stakeholders.
• High attention to detail and strong problem‑solving skills.
• Demonstrated…