Major Gifts Officer

Founded in 2017, Covenant House Illinois (CHIL) provides critical protection and resources for youth ages 18-24 experiencing homelessness throughout Chicagoland and across Illinois. To date, CHIL has served nearly 2,000 young people, administering tailored, wraparound services, including interim and transitional shelter, workforce and education programming, clinical case management, life‑skills training, and more to help youth permanently escape the cycle of homelessness.

CHIL's programs and services are youth affirming, supportive, and rooted in harm reduction and trauma‑sensitive care. With a newly renovated campus on Chicago’s west side and a recently enacted three‑year strategic plan outlining a comprehensive vision of program expansion and service innovation, CHIL is uniquely positioned to meet the emerging needs of young people experiencing housing instability and provide the resources and care they need to achieve sustainable independence.

• Research, cultivate, engage, and steward individual donors—guiding them along their philanthropic journey and unlocking their full giving potential to help CHIL thrive.
• Build and manage a portfolio of donors generating significant annual and multi‑year investments for CHIL.
• Establish and track progress against revenue goals and other related fundraising activities.
• Build a pipeline for qualification and prioritization working with prospect research, development staff, and others to evaluate and determine giving potential.
• Convert mid‑level and mass‑level CHIL donors to recurring donors.
• Research and develop a pipeline of prospective CHIL donors, focusing on discovery and qualification.
• Qualify, cultivate, and manage individuals from CHIL’s pipeline of Illinois donors, with the goal of donor retention and increased CHIL giving.
• Supervise Development Operations Coordinator who supports general team operations and is responsible for accurate data entry and timely donor communications at all stages of gift processing.
• Work collaboratively with the Chief Development Officer to design and package special project proposals and engage in major gift solicitations that match donor interests with CHIL’s mission and strategic priorities.
• Develop and expand CHIL’s Planned Giving Program – The Cornerstone Society – to convert CHIL’s major‑gift ($10,000+) portfolio into Legacy Donors.
• Support fundraising, friend‑raising events, stewardship, and cultivation events, including planning small‑group engagements.
• Provide insights, data, and trends pertaining to board composition and develop a pipeline of potential board candidates based on organizational needs, strategic priorities, and an ongoing assessment of current board strengths and gaps.
• Lead CHIL’s Annual Giving Campaigns, including end of year (fiscal and calendar) and special project appeals.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Education & Experience

Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, communications, business, or related field (Master’s degree preferred).

Minimum 5 years of fundraising experience, with at least 2 years focused on major gifts or donor cultivation.

Proven track record of securing five‑ and six‑figure gifts from individual donors.

Experience with donor databases/CRMs (e.g., Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce, Donor Perfect).

Prior experience working in a nonprofit setting, especially with youth services, housing, education, or social justice (preferred).

Skills & Abilities

• Excellent interpersonal and relationship‑building skills with high emotional intelligence.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; able to craft compelling donor communications and presentations.
• Strong organizational and project‑management abilities with keen attention to detail.
• Ability to develop and implement cultivation and stewardship plans for high‑net‑worth individuals.
• Strategic thinker who can prioritize and manage multiple initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively across departments.

Work will be performed both in office settings and on‑site ential exposure to challenging behavioral situations or high‑stress environments requires the ability…