Cultivation and Stewardship Senior Manager is responsible for overseeing the creation and implementation of the annual cultivation and stewardship plan and related donor engagement activities to ensure successful donor cultivation, solicitation, recognition, and retention. The Cultivation and Stewardship Sr., Manager plays a key role in the organization’s successful moves management process, partnering with frontline fundraising staff to develop customized, multi-channel donor communications, outreach strategies and engagement opportunities that support and enhance quality contact opportunities.
Leadership Responsibilities
• Collaborates with Individual Giving and Corp/Found/Org teams to strategize, design, and implement the annual Cultivation and Stewardship plan.
• Provides leadership of the Cultivation and Stewardship team. This includes supporting the day-to-day functionality, as well as facilitating hiring, training, mentoring, evaluation, and professional development of staff.
• Fosters and exhibits an attitude of teamwork both within and between functional areas.
• Serves as the point person for donor engagement activities as well as Food Depository sponsored events and provide overall direction of event activities.
• Assesses through quantitative and qualitative analysis the metrics associated with donor experience to enhance and revise communications and strategies related to cultivation and stewardship initiatives.
• Develops annual Cultivation and Stewardship expense cost center, including budgeting, leadership approval, vendor communications, supplier diversity targets and purchase order/invoicing for all Cultivation and Stewardship related activities.
Cultivation and Stewardship Responsibilities
• Responsible for building out an annual engagement calendar that includes a variety of outreach opportunities and strategies tailored to specific donor segments and donor types.
• Serves as point person for Leadership Team members (particularly CEO and Chief Philanthropy Officer for high touch outreach (acknowledgments, updates, event invitations) for targeted donors
Donor Engagement and Event Responsibilities
• Drives cultivation and stewardship efforts related to all giving events.
• Evaluates, reimagines, and updates current events menu to make recommendations and implement changes
• Serves as point person for ongoing micro-events and donor engagement opportunities (such as webinars, virtual tours, onsite/offsite donor visits, virtual and onsite volunteer opportunities, etc.), serving on ad hoc planning committees as needed.
• Leads event management for Commercial Real Estate Awards, Chicago Marathon, and other large third-party events.
• Bachelor’s degree and 7-10 years of fundraising experience required, including at least three years working to drive donor cultivation and stewardship program in a high volume, complex fundraising environment
• Outstanding writing and editing skills and ability to adapt writing style
• Experience coordinating, planning and/or managing cultivation and stewardship events required
• Strong project management and time management skills; demonstrated success in building timelines, hitting milestones, and meeting deadlines
• Proactive planner, with excellent analytical thinking skills and attention to detail
• Advanced computer skills with Microsoft Office Suite. Experience with Raisers Edge, Events CRMs such as Classy, and/or Luminate/Convio is a plus.
• Strong presentation, communications, and interpersonal skills a must
• Flexibility and sense of humor; thrives in a fast-paced working environment
EXPOSURE:
• Business to professional attire
• Evening and weekend hours are occasionally required, based on schedule of supporter engagement opportunities
• Interacts with GCFD staff, donors, community members and vendors
• Health, dental, and vision insurance coverage
• Employer-paid life and disability insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer contribution
• Generous paid time off
• Parental leave
• On-site gym
• $3,000 annual employer-paid ThrivePass lifestyle and wellness benefit program
• $250 employee referral bonus
The Greater Chicago Food Depository, Chicago’s food bank, believes a healthy community starts with food. We are at the center of a network of more than 700 partner organizations and programs – food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, mobile distributions, and other partners – working to bring food, dignity, and hope to our neighbors across Chicago and Cook County. The Food Depository addresses the root causes of hunger with job training, advocacy, and other innovative solutions.