Title: Development Coordinator, Strategic Giving

Exemption Status: Non-exempt

Department: Development

Reports to: AVP, Strategic Giving

Year-Round Full-time

Position Overview:

This position serves as an integral member of the Development team, responsible for all support related to staff members in strategic and leadership giving, as well as creation and coordination of donor and prospect research. The development coordinator will support the organization's mission and the important role of individual philanthropy in the Garden's accomplishments. This position is responsible for the preparation of research profiles for all fundraising efforts and potential Board nominees, acquisition of pertinent information related to donor research, and tracking of the CEO portfolio in order to meet Garden fundraising goals. Remote work is available for two days of the regular work week for this position, after a training period of up to 90 days.

Responsibilities

In this role you will be responsible for the following:

Strategic and Leadership Gift Team Coordination

• Supporting relationship managers in the development of short and long-term cultivation and solicitation strategies for existing donors and new prospects.
• Ensuring entry of pertinent information into the donor database Raiser's Edge, including completing visit report and data entry as required. Entering and updating prospect, visit report, and event information in donor database software; and producing basic reports.
• Producing high-quality Microsoft Office documents, including correspondence, mail merges, reports, memos, meeting agendas, spreadsheets, and presentations.
• Coordinating donor visits and internal meetings. This includes reserving space, reserving golf carts, making arrangements for catering, and gathering necessary meeting materials. Maintain inventory of promotional items (donor gifts).
• Greeting occasional visitors and assisting Garden friends and donors with phone and in-person inquiries. Responding to inquiries and requests from donors, Board members, volunteers, and visitors, using excellent telephone and communications skills with sensitivity to discreet matters.
• Regularly interacting with development, member and donor services, donors, Board volunteers, other administrative assistants, communications, visitor operations, catering, security, engineering and maintenance, custodial services, horticulture, and volunteer services. The coordinator works closely with all staff and others to anticipate and execute tasks.
• Performing general clerical duties such as photocopying, processing mail, filing, collating materials for visits, and handling phone and in-person inquiries for self and others.
• Assisting with and sometimes attending development donor events (possibly several each year, including weekends), including all major gift events, which sometimes require time beyond the hours of the customary workday. Responsibilities may include production of name tags, making signage, driving a golf cart, and registering guests.
• Engaging in other projects and activities as needed for the achievement of departmental goals, placing a high priority on attention to detail and organization.

Prospect Research

• Using a variety of resources to produce, maintain, and update individual, nominating, and institutional research profiles, which include pertinent information such as background, career, financial capacity, philanthropic interests and nature of relationship to the Garden using established formats; using excellent written and verbal skills to write narrative prospect briefings and profiles.
• Creating prospect briefings for the president & CEO and for the chief development officer.
• Uncovering social and financial relationships between key members of the Garden family, donors, and prospects.
• Creating biographical sketches on attendees to Garden events for use by senior staff, primary staff managers, and selected board members.

Chicago Botanic Garden Values & Behaviors:

Qualifications

Our ideal candidate will have the following:

• Associate's degree preferred and 5 years related work experience.
• Excellent organizational skills, an ability to manage multiple priorities, attention to detail, and the ability to maintain confidentiality and work with high-profile donors.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, strong interpersonal skills, and ability to function successfully within a team structure.
• Must have a valid driver's license.
• Donor database software experience required, with Raiser's Edge highly preferred. Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite. Proficiency in virtual meeting technology, specifically Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and others, as appropriate or available.
• Ability to work events outdoors in a variety of weather conditions and including some evening and weekend hours.

Physical Demands:

Office setting. Frequent sitting, standing, walking, bending, listening, speaking, and keyboarding. Use of office equipment including computers, telephones, copiers, scanners, and fax machines. Some requirements for lifting, pushing, or pulling items less than 30 pounds.

To Apply: Cover letter required in addition to the application and resume.

Why Apply?
Come work in a setting that is like no other as you support our mission: We cultivate the power of plants to sustain and enrich life. Take the first step toward being one of the employees who make the Garden one of the treasures of the Forest Preserves of Cook County. Apply today. Please note that applicants who do not meet the required qualifications will not be considered.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, or basis of disability, or any other federal, state, or local protected class.

Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and qualifications required of personnel so classified.

In accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, Chicago Botanic Garden does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its programs or activities, including in employment or admissions. Please call (847) 835-8264 to contact our Title IX Coordinator should you have questions or concerns. Please do not call this number to inquire about job postings or the status of your application, or with solicitations from companies or third-party recruiters.