Position Title: Director of Individual Giving
Department: Development
Reports To: Deputy Chief Development Officer
Range: $110,000 - $120,000 (exempt)
Position Summary:As the leader of the Individual Giving team-comprising the Manager of Reach Teach Play & Steans Institute Giving, the Manager of Individual Giving, and the Coordinator of Individual Giving-the Director of Individual Giving provides strategic and operational leadership for raising $6 million to $7 million annually from individual donors contributing up to $16,499. The role establishes fundraising priorities, oversees team performance and development, and drives donor acquisition, cultivation, solicitation, and long-term stewardship strategies. In addition to leading the team's overall fundraising efforts, the Director personally manages a portfolio of Guarantor ($8,500) and President's Circle ($12,000) donors and collaborates across departments to align individual giving strategies with Ravinia's broader organizational priorities.
Key Responsibilities
Individual Giving Strategy & Annual Fund Oversight: (20%)
- Provide strategic and operational oversight of individual giving across donor levels from $1 - $16,499, driving the annual fundraising goal of $6M-$7M.
- Establish fundraising priorities, performance expectations, and strategies to achieve annual revenue, donor retention, and engagement goals.
- Maintain overall accountability for individual giving performance, ensuring alignment between team activities, fundraising outcomes, and organizational priorities.
- Collaborate with the Director of Operations & Strategy and Manager of Donor Research & Communications to inform solicitation strategies and maximize fundraising opportunities across donor segments.
Team Leadership & Development: (20%)
- Lead, develop, and oversee the Individual Giving team, including the Manager of Reach Teach Play & Steans Institute Giving, Manager of Individual Giving, and Coordinator of Individual Giving.
- Establish team priorities, provide direction and coaching, and monitor individual and collective performance against fundraising goals.
- Foster a collaborative, accountable, and results-oriented team culture that supports professional development and achievement of departmental objectives.
Donor Cultivation & Portfolio Management: (40%)
- Personally manage and cultivate a portfolio of Guarantor ($8,500) and President's Circle ($12,000) donors through individualized engagement, solicitation, and relationship-building strategies.
- Execute fundraising strategies to secure new, renewed, and increased gifts while meeting established performance benchmarks, including face-to-face donor visits and retention goals
- Lead the management and stewardship of specialized donor recognition societies to deepen engagement and strengthen philanthropic commitment among top-tier donors.
Donor Stewardship, Retention & Pipeline Development: (20%)
- Design and implement comprehensive, multi-tiered stewardship strategies that strengthen donor relationships, improve retention, and encourage increased philanthropic support.
- Partner with the Operations & Strategy team to identify and qualify emerging major-gift prospects within the Annual Fund donor pool, developing a sustainable pipeline for donor upgrades.
- Establish strategies to increase donor engagement and progression across giving levels supporting long-term donor growth and the development of future major-gift relationships.
Other duties as assigned
Knowledge and Skills Required (*Preferred)
- Non-profit fundraising strategy, direct ask execution, cross-functional collaboration, team leadership and staff development, donor cultivation and solicitation, annual fund management, quantitative goal tracking, and long-term donor stewardship.
- *Background in development and donor engagement for performing arts venues, cultural institutions, or academic settings.
Education and Experience
- Bachelor's degree in Non-Profit Management, Communications, Business Administration, or equivalent practical experience.
- Minimally 8 years of experience in non-profit fundraising with a proven track record of meeting quantitative fundraising metrics, achieving annual visit targets, maintaining high donor retention rates, and securing new donors.
Success Factors
- Fundraising Performance: Consistently achieves annual individual giving revenue goals of $6 million to $7 million through effective fundraising strategies, portfolio management, and team performance.
- Donor Engagement & Retention: Builds and sustains meaningful donor relationships, strengthens retention, and increases philanthropic support through effective cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.
- Team Leadership & Development: Builds a collaborative, accountable, and high-performing team through clear direction, coaching, professional development, and effective performance management.
- Strategic Planning & Pipeline Growth: Develops and implements strategies that expand donor engagement, identify emerging prospects, and increase donor progression to higher giving levels.
- Operational Effectiveness & Collaboration: Uses fundraising data, performance metrics, and cross-functional partnerships to evaluate results, inform decisions, improve solicitation strategies, and advance organizational fundraising priorities.
Work Environment
This is a full-time position based in Highland Park, IL. The role requires on-site presence for event execution, including evenings, weekends, and peak summer festival hours as dictated by the event schedule. In-office or remote work arrangements are determined based on department needs.
Benefits
Excellent health and welfare benefits include medical, dental, vision, flexible spending accounts, commuter benefits, TeleDoc options, and life insurance. Company-paid employee well-being program, basic life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, and four weeks of paid parental leave. Benefits also include comprehensive time off plans (holidays, vacation, sick, and personal days). Additionally, a generous employer-sponsored 401(a) retirement savings plan, employee-elected 403(b) retirement savings plans, learning and mentorship opportunities, and Ravinia lawn tickets for two (general admission) to the grassy areas, ideal for picnics (all concerts, except the Gala day concert).
