Youth Guidance is seeking a strategic, entrepreneurial, and relationship-driven Director of Philanthropy to help lead the organization's next phase of philanthropic growth. Reporting to the Chief External Affairs Officer and partnering closely with the Senior Director of Philanthropy, CEO, Board of Directors, Campaign Cabinet, and volunteer leaders, this senior frontline fundraiser will build and manage a portfolio of approximately 50 high-capacity donors and prospects capable of making commitments of $100,000 to $1 million and beyond.
The Director of Philanthropy will develop and execute sophisticated cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies that secure transformational investments from individuals, family foundations, corporations, and other philanthropic partners. Success in this role requires exceptional relationship-building skills, strategic thinking, disciplined portfolio management, and the ability to partner effectively with executive leadership and volunteer leaders to advance Youth Guidance's Bright Futures Campaign and long-term philanthropic sustainability.
This is an exceptional opportunity to help shape the future of one of the nation's leading youth development organizations. As Youth Guidance expands its national impact and advances the Bright Futures Campaign, the Director of Philanthropy will play a pivotal role in securing the philanthropic investments needed to strengthen organizational sustainability, expand evidence-based programs, and ensure that more young people have access to the support they need to thrive.
Essential Duties/Responsibilities:
Major Gifts and Portfolio Management
- Serve as a key frontline fundraiser for the Bright Futures Campaign; secure leadership commitments to the campaign’s Impact Fund and Endowment.
- Manage and grow a portfolio of approximately 50 high-capacity prospects and donors.
- Develop and execute individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for prospects capable of making six- and seven-figure commitments.
- Conduct a high volume of meaningful donor interactions, including qualification meetings, cultivation visits, solicitation meetings, site visits, and stewardship engagements.
- Advance donors through a disciplined move-management process resulting in transformational philanthropic investments.
- Secure unrestricted, multi-year, campaign, endowment, and blended gifts that support Youth Guidance's strategic priorities.
Fundraising Strategy and Revenue Generation
- Partner with the CEO, Chief External Affairs Officer, Senior Director of Philanthropy, and volunteer leaders to develop and execute strategies for priority philanthropic prospects.
- Develop and implement strategies to engage wealth advisors, trust officers, estate planning attorneys, and family office professionals to expand Youth Guidance's philanthropic network and pipeline of major gift opportunities.
- Develop compelling donor strategies, proposals, briefing materials, and solicitation plans.
- Achieve annual fundraising goals while contributing to Bright Futures Campaign milestones.
Executive and Volunteer Partnership
- Serve as a strategic fundraising partner to the CEO, executive leadership, Board of Directors, and Campaign Cabinet.
- Prepare executive leaders and volunteer partners for donor meetings, solicitations, and stewardship opportunities
- Support donor engagement opportunities including campaign briefings, site visits, investor events, and other targeted cultivation experiences.
- Collaborate with leadership, campaign volunteers and board members to develop targeted engagement opportunities for family philanthropists, donor-advised fund holders, wealth advisors, and prospective legacy donors.
Planned Giving and Long-Term Philanthropic Investment
- Partner with the Chief External Affairs Officer, Senior Director of Philanthropy, and external advisors to help strengthen Youth Guidance's planned giving and endowment fundraising efforts.
- Help secure commitments that support Youth Guidance's long-term sustainability, including endowment, legacy, and other future-focused philanthropic investments.
- Partner with donors and their advisors to explore tax-efficient charitable giving strategies, including gifts of appreciated assets, donor-advised funds, estate gifts, and blended giving opportunities that align donor philanthropic goals with Youth Guidance's mission.
- Support the development of systems, materials, stewardship practices, and donor engagement strategies that strengthen Youth Guidance's long-term philanthropic pipeline and legacy giving program.
- Collaborate with leadership to develop donor education opportunities related to charitable planning and long-term philanthropy.
Cross-Functional Collaboration and Operations
- Work closely with Marketing & Communications, Finance, Programs, and Development Operations, as needed, to deliver an exceptional donor experience.
- Maintain accurate donor strategy, portfolio activity, and forecasting information in Salesforce.
- Monitor portfolio performance and recommend strategy adjustments to maximize fundraising results.
Minimum Qualifications:
- A bachelor’s degree is required.
- 7–10 years of progressively responsible fundraising experience, with a strong emphasis on major gifts.
- Demonstrated success securing multiple six-figure gifts and experience participating in strategies leading to seven-figure commitments.
- Demonstrated experience moving prospects through a disciplined move-management process, including timely follow-up, strategy development, and Salesforce documentation.
- Experience managing planned giving, donor-advised funds, charitable gift planning strategies, and philanthropic advisory networks.
- Demonstrated ability to partner effectively with CEOs, board members, and volunteer leaders in donor cultivation and solicitation efforts.
- Exceptional communication, relationship management, and strategic planning skills.
- Proficiency using Salesforce or comparable CRM systems.
Preferred
- Comprehensive growth or capital campaign experience.
- Experience securing endowment, planned, or blended gifts.
- Experience engaging wealth advisors, family offices, or philanthropic advisory networks.
- Passion for educational equity, youth development, and evidence-based social impact.
Competencies
- Strategic thinker with strong fundraising instincts
- Exceptional relationship builder
- Executive presence and sound judgment
- Highly organized and results-oriented
- Collaborative and mission-driven
- Resilient, proactive, and entrepreneurial
Skills/AbilitiesDemonstrates Youth Guidance Core Competencies:
- Communication: Uses effective written and oral communication with internal staff, teams, and community served; demonstrates empathy and listening
- Equity mindset: Understands and is committed to goals of equity; consistently brings an equity mindset to the organization’s work and workplace
- Growth mindset: Views growth as important for personal and professional development; seeks out opportunities to expand skills, even if change is required; demonstrates curiosity and eagerness to learn
- Supervisory skills: Effectively manages and develops others, ensuring delivery of high-quality work
- Mission driven: Demonstrates commitment to the mission of the organization as a whole and alignment with organizational values
Demonstrates Youth Guidance Leadership Competencies:
- External representation and relationship building: An ability to form and maintain strong, trusting relationships with diverse stakeholders.
- Leads with vision: Has an inspiring vision for the future of the organization, beyond the status quo, and communicates it effectively; leads with courage and willingness to take risks in service of impact.
- Develops and motivates others: Motivates others and supports their development through strong coaching and mentoring. Effectively stewards self and others through both small- and large-scale changes.
- Manages with data: Understands data; analyzes data and identifies insights and implications
- Strategic thinking and resource management: Considers the future of the organization proactively and responsively; weighs diverse inputs to inform strategies; identifies innovative opportunities when relevant; makes and communicates decisions that effectively balance tradeoffs.
- Team building: Builds strong relationships with teams and colleagues; fosters effective teams and collaborative efforts.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions
- Must be able to sit for an extended time
Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Able to spend extended time on a computer in a workstation
- This position operates in a hybrid work environment based in Chicago. The successful candidate is expected to be available for regular in-person meetings with donors, prospects, board members, volunteers, colleagues, and community partners, as well as organizational events and leadership meetings. The schedule should be driven by fundraising priorities and organizational needs.
Youth Guidance is an equal opportunity employer and proudly values diversity. Youth Guidance does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law and is committed to creating a dynamic work environment that values diversity along all of these lines. People of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
