Development Officer Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Bright Hope Overview:

Bright Hope exists to bring Hope to people living in extreme poverty (less than $3/day) by empowering the local church. We believe the church is an underutilized resource in the global fight against extreme poverty, and that empowering the church to bring Hope for Today, Tomorrow, and Eternity is the most effective way to help the poorest of the poor with their immediate, economic, and spiritual needs. We currently are active in five countries: Bolivia, Haiti, Kenya, Uganda, and Zambia, with plans to begin work in Benin soon.

Position Overview and Mission

The Development Officer is a key member of the Relationship Management (RM) team, responsible for raising funds for Bright Hope, managing a portfolio of key individual and organizational donors, and cultivating prospective donors.

The mission of this position is to increase revenue by 1) personally representing Bright Hope to key allies (donors) with charitable hearts and financial capacity, inspiring them to passion and action in support of our work, and 2) identifying, cultivating, and engaging new, affluent allies who are aligned with Bright Hope's mission. Preference will be given to candidates who have connections to existing Christian philanthropic networks that they can leverage to identify prospective donors.

The Development Officer will work closely with the Director of Relationship Management to advance the organization's philanthropic growth. This may include planning and strategizing events, fundraisers, and other donor engagement opportunities, as well as leading teams when appropriate. The Development Officer will report directly to the Director of Relationship Management.

This position will help create opportunities for donors to experience transformation in their worldview and understanding of poverty, just as the people served through Bright Hope's programs experience transformation. ThisMutual Transformation is a core value of Bright Hope.

Lastly, the Development Officer must maintain an active, personal relationship with Jesus Christ and endorse Bright Hope's statement of beliefs.

Position Responsibilities

Manage a portfolio of donors and prospects, including (but not limited to):

• Developing relationships with donors and crafting individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.
• Conducting in-person and virtual donor visits, locally and domestically.
• Preparing personalized gift proposals for donors, making gift solicitations, and having planned giving conversations with donors.
• Identifying and qualifying major gift prospects from existing donor base as well as from outside our existing donor base.
• Support the Director- RM with selected foundation and grant opportunities.
• Assist the RM team with the strategy, planning, and execution of donor events.
• In coordination with the Director- RM, support the planning and implementation of Hope Builders, Bright Hope's new mid-to-high level donor society.
• Track activities and moves management in Salesforce.
• Contribute to planning and leading 2-3 international donor trips per year to program sites, creating a space for donors to be transformed through the impact of their support (mutual transformation).

Qualifications

• 3+ years of development experience in a major gifts role preferred.
• Grant research and writing experience preferred.
• Connections to Christian philanthropic networks strongly preferred.
• Undergraduate degree preferred.
• Experience with Salesforce or other donor CRM preferred.
• Strong competency with Microsoft Office (e.g.,Outlook, Word, Excel).
• Ability to travel domestically approximately 5 days per year and internationally 2-3 times per year.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; must care deeply for uplifting those suffering from extreme poverty using a Christian framework.
• Demonstrable ability to ignite passion for Bright Hope's mission and vision.
• Demonstrable ability to effectively cold call prospective benefactors.
• Demonstrable ability to engage and inspire high-net-worth individuals to give generously.

Personal Qualities and Values

• Self-Directed. The Development Officer should have the ability to work in a self-directed manner in a fluid environment where flexibility, tenacity, and a servant's heart is required.
• Personable yet goal-oriented communicator. The Development Officer needs to engage with donors warmly and connect with them at the level they are at but still should move the donor touchpoint toward its desired goal, whether it is a phone call, a follow-up meeting, a connection, or an ask.
• Team-Player. The Development Officer should prioritize team success over recognition for individual achievements. Bright Hope values each of our team members as individuals but believe that we achieve the greatest results by working together to advance Bright Hope's mission.
• The Development Officer must be truthful, fair, and trustworthy in all aspects of their work. Bright Hope holds ourselves and our partners to the highest ethical standards as we all seek to make manifest the Kingdom of God for those in the most impoverished circumstances. To do the work of loving our neighbor in the poorest places on the planet, we must know the guiding tenets of the Christian faith and live them in action and truth.

Note - This job description is not intended and should not be construed to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, efforts, or working conditions associated with this job. It is intended to be an accurate reflection of the job's principle elements.