Strategic Giving Officer

Title: Strategic Giving Officer

Exemption Status: Exempt

Department: Development

Reports to: Director, Strategic Giving

Year-round, Full-time

Hybrid: Requires a minimum of three days per week on-site at the Glencoe campus office, with additional on-site presence as needed for donor meetings, events, or other scheduled meetings.

Year-Round Full-time employees of the Chicago Botanic Garden are eligible for the following Benefits:

• 2025 Chicago Botanic Garden Benefit Guide - Year-Round Full-time

Compensation Philosophy:

At the Chicago Botanic Garden, our compensation philosophy is rooted in our core values: Growth, Understanding, Resilience, and Trust through Transparency. We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels respected, valued, and appreciated.

Our objective is to create compensation and growth opportunities for our employees that are highly competitive, internally equitable and transparent. The foundation of our efforts is a straightforward approach that can be easily communicated by managers with defined pay ranges for all positions. When posting job openings, we share the minimum salary up to the budgeted amount.

The starting salary for new staff members is determined by considering the salary range assigned to the position and by reviewing the candidate's qualifications for the job as compared with job responsibilities. Prior work experience should be considered in determining the salary offer, provided that it is relevant to the job. Additional factors such as secondary language proficiency or advanced degrees that enhance performance may also be considered. A candidate's salary may exceed the minimum amount based on factors such as experience, additional skills (e.g., secondary language proficiency), or pertinent degrees that enhance the individual's contribution to the role but are not required. Opportunities for increased compensation are provided through referral bonuses, shift differentials, Thank You Pay, promotions, and periodic pay increases based on the Garden's overall performance and financial budgets.

Our total compensation and benefits package is people centric. We prioritize employee wellness across three pillars: physical, mental, and financial. Our goal is to offer innovative total rewards that support continuous professional growth, personal development, and provide the flexibility needed to balance personal and professional commitments.

Position Overview

The strategic giving officer is an integral member of the Development team, responsible for advancing the mission and strategic priorities of the Chicago Botanic Garden by securing major gifts of $50,000 and above from individuals. The strategic giving officer manages a dynamic portfolio of high-potential donors and prospects and plays a pivotal role in deepening donor relationships and philanthropic support for the institution's priorities related to horticulture, education, plant science, and urban agriculture.

Key Responsibilities

• Proactively manage a targeted portfolio of approximately 125 major gift prospects, working to secure annual and special gifts of $50,000 or more.
• Develop and implement engagement, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies to generate positive donor sentiment and increase philanthropic investment. Meet annual metrics around donor engagement and solicitation activity.
• Provide high-touch, individualized stewardship, including regular updates, personalized communications and tours, and respond to inquiries, ensuring donors have meaningful connections to their impact.
  • Develop and maintain a comprehensive working knowledge of the Chicago Botanic Garden and its programs, to clearly and compellingly communicate the Garden's needs to donors and prospects in conversation and in writing.
  • Collaborate with colleagues to develop compelling, tailored proposal materials for priority funding opportunities. Secure required internal approvals and submit proposals in a timely manner.
  • Initiate and facilitate planned giving conversations with appropriate prospects, in collaboration with designated team members.
  • Research gift prospects as required using internal and online data resources; prepare briefing materials as needed.
  • Write reports on donor visits, detailing outcomes and knowledge gained. Record all donor engagement actions and reports in Raiser's Edge NXT.
  • Attend donor events (occasional evenings/weekends required) to maximize engagement and support the development division.

Key Qualifications and Competencies

Our ideal candidate will have the following:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required.
• Minimum four years of experience in front-line development or related relationship management.
• Proven record of closing five-figure and above gifts preferred.
• Outstanding interpersonal and verbal and written communication skills required.
• High motivation, entrepreneurial mindset, and creative problem-solving skills essential. Efficient and productive with minimal direct oversight.
• Comfortable and authentic in working with high-net-worth individuals. Active listener and observer of nonverbal cues who employs good judgment and confidentiality.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Ability to work independently and function successfully within a team structure and across the Garden while demonstrating strong interpersonal skills.
• Must have a valid driver's license and ability to travel locally as required and nationally, if necessary.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, donor databases (Raiser's Edge NXT preferred), and virtual meeting technology.
• Ability to work events outdoors in a variety of weather conditions, including some evenings and weekends.

Physical Demands:
Office setting. Frequent sitting, standing, walking, bending, listening, speaking, and keyboarding. Use of office equipment including computers, telephones, copiers, scanners. Some requirements for lifting, pushing, or pulling items less than 30 pounds. Ability to staff events outdoors in a variety of weather conditions.

To Apply:
Cover letter required in addition to the application and resume.

Why Apply?
Come work in a setting that is like no other as you support our mission: We cultivate the power of plants to sustain and enrich life. Take the first step toward being one of the employees who make the Garden one of the treasures of the Forest Preserves of Cook County. Apply today. Please note that applicants who do not meet the required qualifications will not be considered.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, or basis of disability, or any other federal, state, or local protected class.

Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and qualifications required of personnel so classified.

In accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, the Chicago Botanic Garden does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its programs or activities, including in employment or admissions. Please call (847) 835-8264 to contact our Title IX Coordinator should you have questions or concerns. Please do not call this number to inquire about job postings or the status of your application, or with solicitations from companies or third-party recruiters.