Senior Major Gifts and Planned Giving Officer

Chicago, IL
Hybrid - 3 days onsite

Position Overview
Join a purpose-driven team working to end hunger and tackle its root causes through community partnerships, advocacy, and direct food distribution. Every role contributes to a powerful mission that helps provide millions of meals annually to individuals and families in need. Be part of a movement creating lasting change by increasing access to nutritious food and building a healthier, more equitable future for all.

As the Senior Major Gifts and Planned Giving Officer, you will lead the organization's major and planned giving efforts, securing individual gifts of $25,000 and above while driving the strategic growth of the planned giving program and expanding the legacy gift pipeline. You will manage a portfolio of approximately 100 major gift and planned giving donors and prospects, guide relationships through all stages of qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship, and partner with colleagues to achieve annual revenue goals and long-term philanthropic impact

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute an annual major and planned giving strategy, in collaboration with the Senior Director of Individual Giving and team members, with defined goals, objectives, and performance metrics
• Partner with the Senior Director of Individual Giving and colleagues to identify and cultivate top prospects using giving history, research, and relationship insights
• Collaborate with external partner organizations to convert planned giving interest into confirmed donor commitments
• Create and implement customized relationship and solicitation plans for an assigned portfolio aligned with fundraising goals
• Actively manage a portfolio of approximately 110 major gift and planned giving donors and prospects
• Work closely with senior leadership to plan, coordinate, and execute major gift solicitations
• Collaborate with the Donor Engagement team to develop meaningful recognition opportunities for major donors and legacy society members
• Oversee and grow the organization's legacy giving society, including stewardship and engagement strategies
• Prepare high-quality fundraising materials, including leadership briefings, gift opportunity presentations, proposals, and budget forecasts
• Partner with the Finance team and IRA custodians to ensure accurate, timely completion, duplication, and execution of all planned giving documentation
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date donor records, including contact reports, demographic updates, and other relevant donor information

Qualifications

• Demonstrated expertise in major and planned giving, with a successful track record of soliciting, negotiating, and closing five- and six-figure outright and planned gifts
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
• Strong interpersonal abilities, with the capacity to build effective relationships with donors, volunteers, and colleagues
• An enthusiastic and collaborative contributor to the Major Gifts team and the broader organizational community
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with strong time management skills
• Adaptable and flexible in a fast-paced environment, able to manage multiple priorities simultaneously
• Self-motivated, with a demonstrated willingness to take initiative and lead new projects
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications
• Experience using development databases; familiarity with Raiser's Edge / NXT preferred
• Primarily office-based role with limited exposure to warehouse environments
• Regular interaction with staff, Board members, donors, volunteers, and the general public
• Local travel required based on events, with occasional evening and weekend availability

Compensation

• Salary: $105,000 - $115,000
• 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

Career Blazers Nonprofit Search maintains a broad focus so that your search can be thorough, and inclusive of all relevant options. We carefully consider your desired outcome, skills, and experience. The professionals at Career Blazers Nonprofit Search maintain your confidentiality and will not send your resume to a client without your approval.

Career Blazers is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.