Director of Development

As the Director of Development, you will lead the Leukemia Research Foundation's fundraising programs, cultivate diverse funding streams, and advance our major gifts and planned giving initiatives. Reporting to the Executive Director, you will play a key role in developing and executing strategies to grow philanthropic support from individuals, corporations, and foundations, while managing the development efforts and fostering a culture of philanthropy.

The Director will join us at an exciting and pivotal time, to champion Foundation offerings and serve as a face of the Foundation in generating philanthropic funds. This position offers a unique opportunity for leadership growth and significant impact within the team.

To Apply: This position is currently in-person, based in our north suburban Chicago office. We value flexibility and may explore hybrid/remote work opportunities in the future.

Please forward required documents to kevin@leukemiarf.org:

• • Resume
  • Cover Letter: Explain your interest in the position and the Leukemia Research Foundation, and highlight how your qualifications match those listed below.
  • Salary Expectations: Competitive with the Chicago market for a $3M public charity and commensurate with experience.

Key Responsibilities

Development Leadership & Management

• • Fundraising Strategy: Develop and execute an annual fundraising plan to expand the Foundation’s revenue base and diversify funding sources.
  • Create strategies to achieve revenue goals and assess the effectiveness of fundraising initiatives.
  • Collaboration: Partner with the Director of Communications to design and implement a comprehensive development communications plan.
  • Team Management: Lead the Development team raising $1.2M+, including recruiting and managing potential new positions such as a Development Associate.

Major Gifts & Planned Giving

• Program Leadership: Develop and grow the major giving program aligned with the Foundation’s mission, focusing on cultivating new donor relationships and strengthening ties with existing donors.
• Donor Portfolio Management: Oversee a portfolio of prospective donors, implementing Moves Management strategies to guide cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship efforts.
• Pipeline Development: Expand the prospect and donor pipeline through research, relationship mapping, and crafting tailored cultivation plans; identify needs for new tools and materials.
• Systems Utilization: Leverage donor databases and wealth screening tools to track and advance donor engagement.
• Direct Engagement: Conduct face-to-face solicitations, design personalized donor strategies, and collaborate with staff on portfolio development and donor communication.
• Recognition and Stewardship: Ensure timely and meaningful recognition of major donors through both public and private acknowledgments.

Corporate & Foundations

• Sales – Identify, cultivate, and secure corporate sponsorships for programs and fundraising events.

General

• Continuing Education: Participate in relevant classes, webinars, and seminars (online or in person) as requested by the employee or recommended and approved by the Executive Director.
• Networking: Represent the Foundation at industry networking events as requested or approved by the Executive Director.
• Schedule Flexibility: Limited evening and weekend work as needed.
• Other Duties: Perform additional responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

• • Education: Bachelor’s degree in Nonprofit Management, Marketing, Communications, Business Administration, or a related field.
  • Experience:
  • 5–8 years of professional fundraising experience with a proven track record of growing nonprofit revenue streams.
  • Experience in the healthcare field or pharmaceutical industry is a plus.
  • Demonstrated success in securing major gifts, planned giving, and managing donor portfolios.
  • Increasingly responsible roles in development, including team leadership and a strong understanding of modern fundraising operations.
  • Certifications: Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) certification preferred but not required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities – May be representative, but not all-inclusive, of those knowledge, skills and abilities commonly associated with this position.

• Communication: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
• Software: Proficient working knowledge of Microsoft Office products and fundraising software (Raiser’s Edge and/or Little Green Light).
• Relationship Building: Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to cultivate meaningful relationships.
• Financial Management: Knowledge of budget preparation and fiscal management.
• Organization & Time Management: Ability to effectively organize, prioritize, and multitask.
• Attention to Detail: Strong attention to detail in all aspects of work.

Work Environment – Environmental or atmospheric conditions commonly associated with the performance of the functions of this job.

• • General office conditions with moderate noise levels, sitting for extended periods, using a computer, and lifting up to 15 pounds.

Physical Abilities commonly associated with the performance of the functions of this job. The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Regularly sitting performing sedentary office work.
• Regularly talking and listening and moving wrist, hand, and/or finger repetitively from computer operations.
• Ability to have clarity of vision at 20 inches or less, have precise hand-eye coordination, three-dimensional vision, and ability to identify/distinguish colors.
• Ability to achieve precise hand-eye coordination.
• Concentrated attention is required.
• Ability to lift up to 15 pounds.

About the Leukemia Research Foundation

The Leukemia Research Foundation, headquartered in Northfield, Illinois, is committed to funding innovative leukemia research worldwide and supporting people affected by leukemia. Since its founding in 1946, more than $90M has been raised to pursue better treatments and the ultimate cure for leukemia. For more information, visit the Leukemia Research Foundation’s website at leukemiarf.org.

The Leukemia Research Foundation is fair and equal in all its employment practices for persons without regard to age, race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation. Additionally, we embrace diverse teams and perspective, and we find strength in the diversity of cultural backgrounds, ideas, and experiences.