Development Manager, Individual & Planned Giving

Accountabilities:: Lead strategies and activities supporting annual revenue goals across individual donors, corporate supporters, and houses of worship. Identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward individual donors, with particular emphasis on major gifts. Build and maintain strong, personalized relationships with current and prospective donors. Plan, coordinate, and execute major fundraising campaigns, including spring appeals, sponsorship campaigns, and year-end fundraising initiatives. Develop compelling donor communications and improve thanking processes to increase personalization, consistency, and timeliness. Organize and implement donor events, communications, and stewardship opportunities for Sustainers Circle supporters. Research and recommend strategies to strengthen and expand planned giving, including legacy gifts and monthly sustaining donations. Participate in Fundraising Committee meetings and contribute donor insights, data, and fundraising recommendations to inform strategy. Monitor fundraising activity and campaign performance while identifying opportunities to improve donor engagement and revenue generation. Supervise 1–2 direct reports as organizational needs and budget allow. Collaborate across the development team and broader organization to align fundraising activities with organizational priorities. Manage multiple fundraising initiatives and donor relationships while maintaining strong attention to detail, deadlines, and follow-through. Requirements: 5–7 years of relevant fundraising or development experience, or an equivalent combination of relevant education and professional experience. Demonstrated experience cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding individual donors, including major gift fundraising. Experience planning and executing fundraising campaigns such as annual appeals, year-end campaigns, and event sponsorship initiatives. Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to develop compelling donor-facing messaging. Experience using donor CRM software to manage relationships, track activity, and evaluate campaign performance; EveryAction experience is preferred. Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple campaigns, donor relationships, and deadlines in a dynamic environment. Strong relationship-building, collaboration, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders. Passion for faith-based environmental justice, a strong work ethic, and a positive, solutions-oriented attitude. Willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends for donor events and fundraising activities; compensatory time is provided for work outside regular hours. Must reside in Illinois, Indiana, or Wisconsin. Experience developing or expanding planned giving programs, including legacy gifts and monthly sustainer programs, is preferred. Prior experience supervising or mentoring staff is preferred. Bachelor's degree is preferred. Familiarity with multifaith or interfaith community engagement is a plus. Benefits: Annual salary range of $68,000–$78,750, with a starting salary of $68,000. Full-time position with a flexible 4-day work model. Comprehensive benefits package with employee contributions, including medical, dental, and vision insurance. Life insurance and short- and long-term disability coverage. Employer-matched SIMPLE IRA retirement plan beginning the first of the month following employment. Professional development stipend. Up to 16 paid vacation days per year. 2 paid personal days per year. 5 paid sick days per year. Monthly cell phone and internet stipends. $500 one-time payment to support home office needs. Compensatory time for work performed outside regular working hours. Collaborative workplace focused on growth, learning, inclusion, and professional development. Opportunity to contribute to environmental and racial justice initiatives through meaningful fundraising work.