Associate Director, Donor Relations Job Opening at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago in Chicago, IL

General Summary of Position Responsibility:

The goal of the Donor Relations department is to build and maintain strong relationships with the hospital's donors so that Lurie Children's may continue to achieve fundraising success. The function of this position is to provide leadership and strategic direction as the Donor Relations department handles four primary areas of programming critical to deepening life-long donor relationships: acknowledgement, recognition, stewardship and accountability. Within this framework, the Associate Director is responsible for managing two of these areas: a comprehensive gift acknowledgement program and a strategic donor recognition program. Both of these programs are critical to strengthening donor ties with the institution and encouraging continuing and increased levels of giving. This position will work very closely with Prospect Managers and leadership throughout the Foundation, as well as staff throughout the medical center, on the job functions below.

Essential Job Functions:

1. With Director, set priorities for overall Donor Relations program and collaborate on annual program plan and goals.
2. Manager the Donor Relations Coordinator.
3. Act as Donor Relations Liaison to a portfolio of major gift donors with responsibility for acknowledgment, recognition, and stewardship.
4. Manage and oversee donor recognition activities, including development and maintenance of donor displays, naming opportunities and named spaces, and donor listings. Manage naming opportunity and named space data with assistance from Coordinator, Donor Relations. Directly oversee Coordinator's role in recognition program.
5. Manage a comprehensive and stair-stepped acknowledgement program, including daily and weekly letters from the Foundation President, the Medical Center CEO and physicians and caregivers throughout the institution. Work with Director, Foundation Finance to ensure a seamless and donor-centered approach to both gift receipting and acknowledgement. Directly oversee the work of Coordinator, Donor Relations and Donor Relations Officer as it relates to their responsibilities in the execution of the acknowledgement program.
6. Manage recognition displays, listings and strategy as it pertains to Lurie Children's giving societies: John P. Wilson Society (estate commitments); Children's Circle of Care ($10,000 annually) and Circle of Corporate Champions ($10,000 annually). With Director, Donor Relations ensure appropriate and meaningful recognition for the Children's Visionary Circle ($1 million lifetime).
7. Actively participate in benchmarking and "best practice" sharing with local and national colleagues.
8. Ensure gifts are credited to appropriate funds, understand the purposes of funds, and offer donor-centered perspective when collaborating with Prospect Managers, Service Line Administrators, and Physicians.
9. Work with Director, Donor Relations on gift acceptance policies, ensuring that donor intent is communicated to Fund Directors and Administrators.
10. In partnership with Director, Donor Relations and Director, Foundation Finance, ensure funds are being used appropriately by the Service Line Administrators and Physicians.
11. Participate in development of recognition events and communications opportunities, in coordination with Communications team and Prospect Managers, for donor constituencies staffed by this position.
12. As required, prepare timely stewardship reports and visits from Prospect Managers, physicians, and volunteers.
13. Ability to take on additional responsibilities and support the Donor Relations team with special projects when appropriate and necessary.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

1. A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university required.
2. Three to five years of experience in development work, preferably in a healthcare or higher education setting and/or in Stewardship or Donor Relations.
3. Current or past membership in the Association of Donor Relations Professionals preferred.
4. Discretion with confidential materials required.
5. Exceptional written communication skills required.
6. High level understanding of financial data, and basic understanding of accounting, required.
7. Spreadsheet, database, and Raiser's Edge software experience required.
8. Ability to work independently in a deadline-oriented team environment required.
9. Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills as well as creativity and resourcefulness.
10. Attention to detail and the ability to prioritize and execute multiple projects under demanding deadlines are essential.
11. Must possess strong writing, editing, and mathematical skills
12. Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills as well as creativity and resourcefulness.
13. Dexterity to operate computer equipment required.
14. This position conducts meetings and events at other hospital campus locations and off-site venues, which may require standing for long periods of time as well as carrying and light lifting
15. Candidates should be able to attend meetings and events that may take place in the evening or on weekends