Founders' Council Senior Manager

Our Mission : Since the 1893 World Columbian Exposition, our organization has aimed to connect people to the natural environment and human history.

The Founders’ Council is the Field Museum’s premier leadership annual giving society, recognizing donors who contribute $2,500 or more annually in unrestricted support.

Reporting to the Director of Individual Giving and Auxiliary Groups, the Founders’ Council Senior Manager will oversee a portfolio of approximately 150 donors and prospects to manage all aspects of the growth, retention, and stewardship of the full Founders’ Council donor community (400+ total households).

This role supports the pipeline from lower-level annual giving and between leadership annual giving, major gifts, and planned giving.

This position manages the Donor Relations Specialist, overseeing their support of annual fund stewardship and donor benefit fulfillment.

The Senior Manager is the primary liaison for Founders’ Council volunteer leadership, inclusive of Founders’ Council Trustee co-chairs and the Founders’ Council Advisors, a volunteer group charged with growing philanthropy at leadership levels.

The Founders’ Council Senior Manager will design and help plan and implement Founders’ Council campaigns, events, communications, travel, and stewardship efforts.

This position works closely with the Individual Giving Manager, Major Gifts and Planned Giving team, and Senior Manager of Auxiliary Groups.

Duties and Responsibilities :

Manage a portfolio of 150 donors and prospects, executing quarterly solicitation and stewardship letters, in addition to strategic custom solicitations on an individual basis, including major gift level, blended gift, and asks in partnership with Field scientific staff and / or the President’s office

Develop and execute long-term strategies for annual fundraising growth from Founders’ Council donors including the identification and acquisition of new prospects and donors, increased retention and upgrades of current donors, and stewardship

Engage Senior Museum Leadership as partners in solicitation and stewardship of staff philanthropic support, including solicitation of the President’s Leadership Team at the Founders’ Council level

Manage the Donor Relations Specialist, overseeing and guiding their stewardship support and donor benefit fulfillment.

Guide the activity of the Founders’ Council Co-Chairs and Advisors; supporting their meetings and involvement, and recruiting Trustee support and partnership.

Promote Founders’ Council Concierge service to enhance donors’ visits with the goal of more active, engaged members. The Donor Relations Specialist, serves as primary contact for answering Founders’ Council inquiries promptly.

Support the Director in data analysis and reporting related to Founders’ Council philanthropic activity

Collaborate with the Institutional Advancement events team and Museum departments to develop a robust annual calendar of donor programming, including events, travel, personalized behind-the scenes-tours, and other special opportunities to meet Museum leaders, staff specialists, and partners

Qualifications :

Bachelors’ degree required

5+ years of Development experience and understanding of Individual / Annual Giving programs is required; at least 2+ years of managing an upper-level donor circle preferred

Sophistication and ability to serve as a key liaison and advocate for the Founders’ Council internally and externally; ability to collaborate with other departments across the Museum

Must be able to think creatively and strategically, and communicate ideas, concepts, and plans with enthusiasm and diplomacy to donors and internal audiences

Must possess strong communication skills - written, verbal, and inter-personal; ability to articulate mission-related accomplishments to small and large audiences

Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends for events and donor visits

Strong organizational and data-interpretive skills; familiarity with Raisers’ Edge database; superior knowledge of Word and Excel

A commitment to the Museum’s mission and ability to learn and adapt to shifting priorities

Comfort managing and analyzing data and making related strategic planning recommendations

Comfort with working with colleagues at all levels, including the CEO, academic professionals, and volunteers

Collaborative nature and comfort working within the structure of a large institution, building and managing processes, and consensus-building

A passion for science, natural history, and public engagement

The Field Museum is an equal-opportunity employer. We are committed to providing a workplace free from discrimination, embracing diversity, and fostering mutual respect.

We value the unique perspectives each team member brings, which empowers our ability to innovate and overcome challenges.

At the Field Museum, we are dedicated to making our career website and recruitment process accessible to everyone. If you encounter any difficulty when using or accessing our online application, or if you need a reasonable accommodation for completing your application, participating in interviews, or any other part of the selection process, please reach out to us at [email protected].