(Chicago/Hybrid) The Philanthropy Specialist, Leadership Giving will work to increase charitable gifts to the Fellowship by building meaningful and lasting relationships with donors. The Philanthropy Specialist will work with mid-level donors by providing a valued and authentic experience via telephone, email and mail with the goal of providing donors with a direct connection to The Fellowship. The position of Philanthropy Specialist is designed to inspire donors to consider renewing, maintaining, or increasing their current annual giving. Philanthropy Specialists will be responsible for cultivating new donors through donor outreach practices. This position is based in our Chicago headquarters.

We are seeking an individual with a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent education and related experience. A minimum of 3 years of fundraising solicitation or sales (outbound telemarketing, inside). A minimum of 5 years telephone customer service experience with some sales experience may be considered. Training in fundraising principles and practices, a plus.

Essential Job Responsibilities Include:

• Mid-Level Donor Engagement & Solicitation: Solicit donations from donors in assigned portfolio with an eye toward closing gifts to achieve team fundraising goals.
• Lead Generation: Contact and connect with donors who have been identified through predictive analysis to evaluate additional giving potential and share Fellowship projects and discuss their possible interest.
• Moves Management Documentation: Enter all correspondence into Donor Moves Management Database: Provide detailed recommendation and pertinent information of the donor.

Technical & Individual Skills:

• Experience successfully managing personal portfolio of clients or donors.
• Must understand the donor relationship building process, how to negotiate and when to close the deal.
• Experience working in Microsoft Office 365 Suite and donor databases.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, along with the ability to relate to multiple audiences, use diplomacy and tact to build strong relationships, motivate donors and close gifts.
• Excellent customer service skills necessary to interact with donors and staff efficiently.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy required.
• Listen compassionately, probe effectively, establish a good rapport with donors and develop long-term relationships. Must be able to express genuine compassion for issues of concern to donors.
• Knowledge of both Jewish and Christian beliefs with the ability to empathize with the strongly held religious and/or political belief systems of both.
• Must be passionate about the ministry of IFCJ and comfortable with prayer requests.

The Fellowship is an organization of bridge builders whose vision is that Jews and Christians will reverse their 2,000-year history of discord and replace it with a relationship marked by dialogue, understanding, respect and cooperation. Together we are able to help more than a million Jews in need each year. Our success is built on a culture that celebrates the differences in who we are, what we have experienced, and how we think.

Come and experience all that The Fellowship offers, including the ability for you to make an impact in a global nonprofit with collaborative team members, professional growth opportunities and mission focused work. We have great benefits, newly designed offices and are located on Wacker Drive, across from the Chicago Riverwalk. Please submit your resume and salary requirements.

Key words: Donor management, lead generation, relationship building.

We are an equal opportunity employer (EOE).