Annual Campaign Plan (including Major Gifts) – 50%

• Design and implement a comprehensive development strategy to expand and diversify CURE’s funding base and set growth-oriented revenue goals.
• Personally, manage a portfolio of 25-50 of the organization’s top donors and prospects; build and implement individual cultivation, solicitation and stewardship plans.
• Provide positive, collaborative support to the CEO, founder and key board members and volunteers; oversee their solicitation and stewardship activities.
• Act as the primary organization liaison for the Board of Directors. Leverage their relationships to identify and develop relationships with donor prospects.
• Oversee CURE’s efforts to maximize corporate and foundation support as a means of annual campaign revenue generation.

Communications and Awareness – 10%

• Collaborate with the Director of Marketing and Communications to ensure the integration of consistent philanthropy-themed messaging throughout CURE’s external communications and identify opportunities to enhance CURE’s image and promote the CURE brand.
• In partnership with the CEO, develop and implement a strategy to increase CURE’s visibility across the Epilepsy community.
• Serve as an effective spokesperson and storyteller to promote CURE’s mission, initiatives and research.
• Develop and enhance organizational relationships with existing and prospective Chicago-based and national corporate partners.

Development Operations – 20%

• Oversee and motivate CURE’s development team with an emphasis on collaborative goal setting and individual accountability toward qualitative and quantitative objectives.
• Lead a team of development professionals responsible for the following:
• Creation of mission driven annual campaigns
• Acquisition, cultivation and stewardship of major gifts
• Expansion of corporate and foundation support
• Refinement and promotion of a planned giving program
• Management of all aspects of fundraising and awareness events.
• Advocate and advance best practices in fundraising and relationship management.
• Model solicitation best practices for staff and key volunteers to ensure a comfort level of all those individuals involved in development.
• Ensure the consistent and effective maintenance of development operating systems including gift acknowledgement, stewardship obligations and list generation.
• Perform other related duties, as required.

Event Oversight – 15%

• Oversight, strategy development and execution for CURE’s signature fundraising events including:
• CURE’s Annual Gala (Chicago)
• Out-of-state fundraisers.
• Oversee and mentor the staff team managing logistics for all other events including:
• Peer-to-peer fundraisers
• Cultivation events
• Days of Science
• Disney Days.

Planning and Reporting – 5%

• Create and manage the department’s annual budget and revenue goals. Provide regular updates to the CEO, Director of Finance and the Board.
• Work with the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Science Officer to identify new funding opportunities with an eye toward the intersection between donor interests and organizational needs.
• Provide routine updates to major gift donors, corporate sponsors and funders, specifically as research findings or measurable outcomes are publicized.

• A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible fundraising experience with stronggeneralist knowledge as well as the ability to build excellent donor relationships and solicit major gifts.
• A minimum of seven years of management experience preferred. Previous experience at a voluntary health organization and/or a national non-profit a plus.
• Strong knowledge of the principles, ethics and practices of successful fundraising
• concepts and appropriate solicitation techniques including planned giving.
• The ability to create and implement a detailed annual fundraising plan that includes specific revenue goals and other key performance indicators.
• Experience and comfort working with corporate leaders, high-level donors and philanthropists. Candidates should have a track record of successful five- and six- figure major gift solicitations.
• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills; strong presentation and public speaking abilities.
• Proficient technology skills and demonstrated ability to create an efficient, data-driven development operations plan. Some experience with Raiser’s Edge is required.
• A natural aptitude for building highly effective, results-oriented teams, leading by example with a strong work ethic.
• Deep knowledge of the Chicago-area philanthropic landscape with a focus on broadening the organization’s reach internationally.
• Passion for CURE’s mission and the ability to promote and communicate the philosophy, values and impact of the organization to external and internal stakeholders.
• Familiarity with and knowledge of other voluntary health organizations and their fundraising practices.
• A bachelor’s degree; an advanced degree or CFRE would be preferred.