Director of Development

Summary

The Director of Development will serve as the founding fundraiser for Rush Oak Park Hospital (ROPH), responsible for creating and executing a comprehensive philanthropy program to support the hospital’s mission and priorities. The new role requires entrepreneurial leadership, creativity, and persistence to build a sustainable, community-rooted fundraising operation.

Reporting to the Executive Director of Major and Principal Gifts with a dotted line to the Chief Administrative Officer of ROPH, the Director will partner closely with hospital leadership, physicians, board members, and community stakeholders to establish giving priorities, build a robust donor pipeline, and secure transformational support. The successful candidate will embody Rush’s mission, vision, and values while serving as the visible philanthropic leader at ROPH and as a collaborative member of the Rush University System for Health Advancement team.

Other Information

Required Job Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of seven years of professional fundraising experience, including at least five years of frontline individual fundraising.
• Demonstrated success in closing major gifts ($50,000 ) and progressively larger solicitations.
• Proven ability to build or significantly expand a fundraising program, preferably in a healthcare or academic setting.
• Strong interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills.
• Ability to serve as an independent, visible representative of the Advancement team in a satellite hospital environment.
• Exceptional organizational and analytical skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities in a startup-like environment.
  
  

Preferred Job Qualifications

• Familiarity with the Oak Park community and surrounding region (strongly preferred).
• Experience establishing new fundraising initiatives or programs, whether independently or within a larger advancement organization.
• Ten or more years of nonprofit fundraising experience.
• Experience in an academic medical center or hospital grateful patient program
  
  

Physical Demands

This is largely a sedentary role; however, some filing is required. This would require the ability to lift files, open filing cabinets, and bend or stand on a stool as necessary.

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time position. Days and hours of work are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Some flexibility in hybrid hours is allowed, but the employee must be available during the “core” work hours. Employees need to be able to work extended hours due to business needs.

Travel

This position requires occasional local travel

Competencies

Disclaimer:

The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements.

Responsibilities

• In cooperation with the Executive Director of Major and Principal Gifts, the President of ROPH other ROPH leadership, central Marketing and Communications, Governance, and all other philanthropy work-units, design and implement ROPH’s comprehensive fundraising strategy, aligned with system-wide priorities.
• Serve as the primary philanthropic presence at ROPH while leveraging system-wide shared services (prospect research and prospect management, stewardship, annual giving, communications, events, data systems and reporting).
• Begin to identify, in partnership with the ROPH board and prospect management, and qualify major and principal gift prospects, with the goal of 100-150 prospects.
• Partner with ROPH leadership and physicians to identify mission-critical funding priorities and translate them into compelling philanthropic cases that align with the overall system-wide growth strategy.
• Partner closely with the Annual Giving and Marketing and Communications teams to determine and implement data-driven strategies to build a base of donors with the goal of retaining and upgrading giving.
• Partner with the Planned Giving Team, as opportunities arise.
• Launch and manage a grateful patient philanthropy program, including staff and physician engagement, training, and referral systems, partnering closely with existing clinical fundraisers.
• Engage with ROPH Board members and community leaders in early cultivation and advocacy efforts.
• Develop and coordinate donor events, tours, and community engagement opportunities tailored to the Oak Park area.
• Prepare major gift proposals, impact reports, and tailored donor communications.
• Track progress against metrics, including donor portfolio growth, visits, solicitations, and revenue.
• Contribute to building an internal culture of philanthropy within ROPH by partnering with staff at all levels
• Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
  
  

Rush is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics.