Development Project Manager

Chicago, IL
Posted on  

Job Description

WTTW (Chicago PBS) and WFMT (classical music radio station) are looking for a Development Project Manager. This individual is responsible for managing and supporting development activities that raise revenue for WTTW and WFMT, including the WTTW and WFMT gala, WTTW and WFMT special projects, and annual major donor giving, along with stewardship activities such as donor recognition and benefit fulfillment. Support Senior Director, Director of Development, and Associate Director of Development.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Annual Gala Celebration

  • Support revenue efforts for annual gala by working closely with Senior Director. This includes preparing solicitation letters, primary and secondary acknowledgements, ensuring accurate and timely benefit fulfillment, and tracking revenue.
  • Work with team researcher to generate prospects for gala as well as on own.
  • Update and maintain sponsor listings and guest information.
  • Manage pre- and post-event communications with sponsors and other stakeholders, including drafting of emails and preparing accurate merge lists.
  • Prepare for the management of day-of activities including seating and registration.

Special Projects and Major Gifts Annual Fund

  • Writing proposals and other solicitation materials for special projects.
  • Staff leadership on solicitations, stewardship, and other major donor communications.
  • Maintain credit lines for special projects and assist with interdepartmental communication.
  • Maintain knowledge of and support research for current and prospective major donors.
  • Work with team members to ensure that solicitation efforts are in line with other priorities.

Trustee Annual Fund

  • Support trustee annual fund efforts by preparing solicitations, acknowledgements, stewardship, and collateral materials working closely with Senior Director.
  • Track trustee annual fund progress and manage individual trustee giving plans in database. 
  • Fulfill meaningful stewardship plans, including benefits, for donors and maintain awareness of stewardship opportunities throughout the year.

Stewardship and Recognition

  • Be a point person for major donors and team members in implementing benefit fulfillment.
  • Copy writing, editing, and scheduling for Radio.
  • Work inter-departmentally with TV and radio on-air teams, web team, marketing, and sales to manage stewardship on-air, online, and in-print on behalf of development team and remain up-to-date and knowledgeable regarding recognition opportunities, availability, and deadlines.
  • Work with supervisor to develop policies surrounding benefits and benefit fulfillment in conjunction with development leadership team.
  • Manage the careful review of sponsor recognition for on-air presentations and printed materials.
  • Prepare monthly on-air recognition for sponsors, coordinate implementation and communication with staff, and ensure benefit fulfillment taking place accurately and in a timely manner.
  • Identify, execute, and assist with the personalized, meaningful cultivation and stewardship of prospects, major donors, and trustees. This can include mailings, packages, reports, emails, and other outreach.
  • Participate in review of donor solicitations for special project and gala, invitation lists, etc. pairing the review with excellent recall.
  • Assist in the tracking and analysis of vital data as it relates to our major donors, including managing donor records in our CRM system.

Additional Duties

  • Assist with donor events (virtual, in-person, and hybrid) including planning, list management, communications, staffing senior leadership, execution, follow up, and recording vital data.
  • Cross training in specific areas to provide back up for colleagues.
  • Other duties as assigned.

SKILLS/QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Positive, team-oriented attitude a must   
  • Strong verbal and written skills (Fundraising material creation and copy-editing a plus)
  • Strong communication skills
  • Excellent organizational, planning, and record-keeping skills
  • Ability to handle detailed work with accuracy, flexibility, and sensitivity
  • Customer service skills
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office
  • Proficiency with event planning software (Cvent experience a plus)
  • Understanding of CRMs (Tessitura experience a plus)
  • Self-motivated
  • Eager to learn
  • License to operate a motor vehicle

EXPERIENCE: 

  • Candidate must have 3 years’ experience working in a development/fundraising office
  • Experience in communicating with donors and/or clients, a plus
  • Project management
  • Event experience a plus
  • Research experience a plus

MINIMUM EDUCATION: Bachelor’s Degree, a plus. Continuing education, also a plus.