Annual Giving Manager at GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY in Chicago, Illinois

Job Description:

The Annual Giving Manager is responsible for managing all aspects of the Food Depository’s multi-channel Direct Response program with the goal of acquiring, retaining and upgrading a broad and diverse donorbase of 100,000+ annual donors. This position supports the Director of Annual Giving in developing the Annual Giving and Direct Response strategy, budget, workplan and calendar, and is directly responsible for the day-to-day project management and implementation of all Direct Response appeals. The Annual Giving Manager serves as the point person for all projects and processes involving our Direct Response vendor(s), and facilitates productive collaboration between that vendor and the Food Depository’s Individual Giving Team, Development Operations Team, Marketing Team and other departmental teams as needed. This position also supports the Director of Annual Giving in planning and implementing new Annual Giving initiatives as needed, to meet or exceed the Direct Response revenue goal of $8.5MM which supports the overall Individual Giving revenue goal of $24MM.

Primary Responsibilities

• Successfully manage the Food Depository’s high volume, multi-channel Direct Response program to meet and/or exceed overall budget goal of $8.5MM+
  
  
  • Serve as the primary point person for Direct Response vendor(s), managing all projects related to Direct Response through each stage of execution – planning, implementation, evaluation, and future projections – ensuring deadlines and revenue goals are met.
  
  
  • Coordinate Direct Response communication and collaboration between the Direct Response vendor(s) and internal teams (particularly with the Development Operations and Marketing teams), with the goal of creating a strong, cross-departmental working group to drive consistent messaging and effective tracking/reporting for all Direct Response campaigns.
  
  
  • Collaborate with Direct Response vendor(s) and internal teams to create, update and maintain the annual Direct Response calendar.
  
  
  • Work with Direct Response vendor(s) to plan and implement a minimum of 2 onsite vendor meetings to report campaign outcomes and explore future programmatic opportunities.
  
  
  • Collaborate with internal team and Direct Response vendor(s) to analyze campaign fundraising results, develop insights and make strategic recommendations to help reach fundraising targets.
  
  
  • Coordinate efforts with Direct Response vendor(s) and Director of Annual Giving to expand Direct Response outreach to more diverse audiences, including the planning and implementation of Spanish-language campaign(s).
  
  

• Support Director of Annual Giving in growing and managing Annual Giving pipeline of 2,000+ donors
  
  
  • Coordinate with Direct Response vendor(s) and Direct of Annual Giving to create, implement, and assess Direct Response cultivation/solicitation/stewardship campaigns to drive moves management process for Annual Giving pipeline donors.
  
  
  • Collaborate and coordinate with Director of Annual Giving, Direct Response vendor(s), and Development Operations team to provide quarterly reports to internal team(s).
  
  
  • Work with outside vendor(s) as needed to assist with donor qualification survey process.
  
  

• Serve as strategy thought partner and project management support for Individual Giving Team colleagues and other Fund Development team members on projects related to or involving Direct Response
  
  
  • Collaborate with Gift Officers and/or Corporate/Foundation/Organization team members to identify matching gift opportunities and secure new matching dollars.
  
  
  • Support Senior Major Gifts and Planned Giving Officer and Planned Giving vendor with coordination of annual campaigns.
  
  
  • Collaborate with Direct Response vendor(s), Corporate/Foundation/Organization team, Marketing team, and Advocacy team to identify new opportunities for acquiring, retaining and upgrading Social Ambassadors.
  
  

• Assist Director of Annual Giving and support Individual Giving Team with our goal of engaging, acquiring and retaining more diverse donors
  
  
  • Coordinate efforts of outside vendor(s) and internal teams with ongoing data analysis of current donor demographics and translate that into more targeted Direct Response campaign outreach
  
  
  • Collaborate with the Director of Annual Giving, internal teams and outside vendor(s) to identify non-traditional giving channels – such as collective giving circles – to build strategies for reaching diverse audiences and incorporating community-centric fundraising into our Direct Response program
  
  
  • Work with outside vendor(s) and Marketing team to develop strategy and tools to launch first Spanish language campaign and Welcome Series
  
  

• Bachelor’s degree and five years of direct marketing experience required, including at least three years experience managing high volume, multi-channel Direct Response campaigns. Experience within fundraising is definitely a plus, but not necessarily required depending upon level of experience managing Direct Response Marketing.  


• Demonstrated success in managing multiple, complex projects simultaneously; including driving processes from planning and implementation to analysis and follow-up.


• Experience creating and monitoring project-specific budgets.


• Advanced computer skills with proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite. Experience with Convio, Raiser’s Edge CRM, and Trello a plus.


• Excellent communication skills; experience writing/editing direct mail and digital appeals and donor communications.


• Previous experience managing external vendors including leading virtual meetings and coordinating internal approval processes.


• Capacity to work remotely as needed.


• Bilingual candidates encouraged to apply – Spanish language fluency is a plus, as the Food Depository is continuing to explore and expand direct response outreach among Spanish-speaking audiences

Skills Needed for Success:

• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative working environment. Can successfully manage diverse, simultaneous tasks, meet deadlines, and take responsibility for follow-through.


• Outstanding attention to detail and drive to anticipate and pursue next steps within each stage of a project, ensuring deadlines and quality standards are met.


• Excellent interpersonal skills, including ability to communicate effectively and professionally with many levels of staff to build productive relationships.


• Demonstrated ability to work with high degree of autonomy and accountability and also as an integrated part of a high-producing team.


• Outgoing personality and customer-service orientation; enjoys initiating and cultivating direct communication with current donors and potential donors.


• Flexibility and sense of humor a must.


• Commitment to GCFD’s mission to provide food for hungry people while striving to end hunger in our community.

Exposure:

• Business to professional attire.


• Remote and in-office working environment.


• Occasional evening and weekend hours may be required as needed.


• Interacts with GCFD staff, donors, community members and vendors.