Strategic Gifts Donor Engagement Leader

Job Overview

Development Specialist – Strategic Gifts – Chicago office. This role is part of Feeding America’s Strategic Gifts team, managing an audience of annual donors and driving engagement to meet fundraising targets. The position promotes collaboration with network members and internal colleagues, building trust in the national donor relationship management process.

Flexible work environment: office average 2 days a week, work from home other days, and a 30‑day "work anywhere" program available each year, which can be combined with PTO or holidays.

Transparent salary ranges. Salary range: $80,000 – $85,000 (based on experience).

• Cultivates, stewards and solicits a portfolio of low-touch major gift and mid-major donors with consistent, timely, multi-dimensional communications.
• Creates and implements annual calendar of strategic programming that increases donor familiarity of and loyalty to the mission and the 2030 Strategic Plan.
• Identifies opportunities to engage new potential donors in fundraising, monitors donor behavior trends, and adapts engagement plans using data-driven decision making.
• Writes fundraising and stewardship materials, letters and proposals in alignment with organizational best practices, collaborating with Mar Com.
• Effectively communicates with donors in-person, by phone and email, building strong, personal relationships.
• Documents activity in CRM and develops plans for analyzing and reporting key performance indicators and return on investment.
• Collaborates with Relationship Managers and provides operational support for engagement plans that complement Leadership Annual Gift strategies.
• Assists with planning and execution of group stewardship activities, including donor and network-facing events in partnership with the Donor Engagement Team.

• 3-5 years of experience leading annual giving strategies in a nonprofit organization.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, and experience with or interest in learning fundraising software and SharePoint.
• Superior verbal and written communication skills and attention to detail when proofreading.
• Knowledge of fundraising best practices, especially annual giving programs.
• Experience developing donor strategies, prospect lists and research, briefing and gift request materials and donor stewardship for major donors and prospects.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively with all levels of staff, volunteers, donors and prospective donors.
• Ability to manage up and across different staff levels to bring projects to completion.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Analytical skills and strong attention to detail.

• Fosters an Enterprise Mindset
• Fosters an Open and Supportive Environment
• Leads with Accountability
• Collaborates Internally and Externally
• Focuses on People and Teams
• Manages Organization and Business Complexity
• Communicates with Impact and Influence

Feeding America participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm your authorized work status in the U.S. If E-Verify cannot confirm authorization, the employer will provide written instructions and an opportunity to resolve the issue before taking any action, including termination. E-Verify is used after you accept a job offer and complete Form I-9.