Development Manager, Individual Giving & Engagement

Position Title: Development Manager, Individual Giving & Engagement

Immediate Supervisor: Director of Development

Classification: 40 hours/week

Location: Hybrid (Northbrook, IL)

About the Cancer Wellness Center:

Cancer Wellness Center’s mission is to help individuals and their loved ones navigate a cancer diagnosis through whole-person care, expert guidance, and a welcoming community. The Center provides free, comprehensive psychosocial support to individuals impacted by cancer, empowering them through professional counseling, support groups, education, wellness programs, and community connection. Guided by our core values of compassion, excellence, integrity, collaboration, and inclusiveness, we ensure that those facing cancer, and their loved ones, receive the support they need during this life-changing time.

Position Summary:

The Development Manager, Individual Giving & Engagement is a key member of the Development team, responsible for building and growing a portfolio of individual donors and prospects to strengthen philanthropic support for Cancer Wellness Center's mission. This position plays an important role in helping the organization achieve and exceed its $2.5 million annual fundraising goal.

Through strategic relationship-building, donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship, this position increases annual and long-term giving while connecting donors to the meaningful impact of their philanthropy. The role also oversees fundraising events, sponsorship activities, as important strategies for donor cultivation and community engagement. The ideal candidate is a relationship-driven fundraiser who is confident making fundraising asks, and thrives when working collaboratively with donors, volunteers, board members, and community leaders to advance a shared mission.

Key Responsibilities

Individual Giving & Donor Development:

• Develop and implement strategies to increase annual giving, donor retention, donor upgrades, and acquisition of new individual supporters.
• Maintain an active portfolio of qualified donors and prospects through regular meetings, calls, stewardship touches, and solicitation activities.
• Identify, qualify, and cultivate major gift prospects in partnership with leadership and board members.
• Create individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans for assigned donors and prospects.
• Track and report progress toward donor pipeline metrics, fundraising goals, and portfolio performance.

Events, Sponsorships & Engagement:

• Provide oversight of the Center's fundraising and stewardship events, ensuring they support donor engagement, revenue growth, and organizational objectives.
• Manage sponsorship strategy, corporate partnerships, and volunteer leadership associated with events.
• Oversee event planning logistics through vendors, committees, staff, and contracted event planners.
• Evaluate event effectiveness, return on investment, and opportunities to strengthen donor cultivation and stewardship outcomes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience.
• 5+ years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, donor relations, business development, sales, or a related field.
• Demonstrated success managing a portfolio of donors and closing charitable gifts through relationship-based fundraising.
• Experience managing donor portfolios, and fundraising events.
• Experience partnering with board members and volunteers to advance donor relationships and fundraising outcomes.
• Experience with moves management conducting donor discovery, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities.
• Experience with donor databases and CRM systems (Raiser's Edge a plus).
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.

Skills & Attributes

• Ability to strategically move donors through the cultivation and solicitation cycle.
• Demonstrated success building long-term philanthropic relationships.
• Comfort working with fundraising metrics, donor pipelines, and revenue goals.
• Entrepreneurial approach to identifying and pursuing new funding opportunities.

Compensation and Benefits

Compensation range $75,000-$90,000 annually, commensurate with experience and qualifications. Cancer Wellness Center offers a comprehensive benefits program, which includes medical insurance, 401(k), 401(k) match and paid time off (PTO).

Equal Opportunity Statement

Cancer Wellness Center is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and organizational need.