Director of Philanthropy-Planned Giving

At Northwestern Medicine, every patient interaction makes a difference in cultivating a positive workplace. This patient-first approach is what sets us apart as a leader in the healthcare industry. As an integral part of our team, you'll have the opportunity to join our quest for better health care, no matter where you work within the Northwestern Medicine system. We pride ourselves on providing competitive benefits: from tuition reimbursement and loan forgiveness to 401(k) matching and lifecycle benefits, our goal is to take care of our employees. Ready to join our quest for better?

The Director, Philanthropy reflects the mission, vision, and values of Northwestern Memorial HealthCare (NMHC), adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.

The Director, Philanthropy leads planning and implementation activities for Northwestern Memorial Foundation (NMF), including the management of projects of strategic and operational importance to NMHC. The Director, Philanthropy utilizes their program and process expertise to set departmental goals, provide clear and consistent direction and feedback to lead high-performing teams executing on key NMF deliverables. They develop and sustain relationships with both internal and external stakeholders to advance NMHC strategic initiatives.

NMF raises funds to support the health system’s strategic goals to deliver exceptional care and experience, advance and extend medical science and knowledge and enhance people, culture and resources through: (1) raising planned, principal and major gifts, (2) cultivating and stewarding donors, and (3) fostering a culture of philanthropy at NMHC.  

Responsibilities:

• Lead and manage the planned giving team of three at NMF.
• Develop and implement the planned giving strategy for NMF with the overall goal of significantly increasing planned gifts to NMF. Such strategy shall include marketing, planned giving education and training, gift officer collaboration, portfolio engagement, stewardship, and Legacy Society growth and management.
• Work closely with the NMF’s gift officers to close outright gifts, planned gifts and blended gifts that will include, but not be limited to, life-income gifts, bequest intentions, IRA qualified charitable distributions and retirement account death benefit designations, gifts of appreciated assets, charitable lead trusts, and gifts of real estate, both outright and with retained life estates, and gifts of complex assets.
• Personally manage a portfolio of up to 75 prospects. Identify, cultivate and solicit prospects for outright, planned and blended gifts. 
• Provide technical expertise and planned giving assistance to gift officers, donors and their professional advisors.
• Build and maintain relationships with professional advisors to inform and educate them about the mission and impact of NMF.
• Maintain expertise in the field of planned giving with an emphasis on current technical expertise in tax and legal aspects of philanthropic giving; utilize expertise clearly in discussions with donors, prospective donors, their professional advisors and colleagues.  
• Prepare and manage the planned giving budget and ensure that goals and objectives are met within the budget.
• Set strategic vision for programs, ensuring their support of NMHC and NMF strategic objectives;
• Understand external market and impact of all on goal-setting and team strategies for success;
• Engage in activities and processes necessary to support fundraising activities of NMF, which include donor development, stewardship, solicitation and general relationship management of NMF donors;
• Understand, develop and execute appropriate goal-oriented fundraising, donor cultivation and/or fundraising support strategies which may include annual giving, planned giving, principal and major giving and/or events;
• Develop and sustain relationships with Northwestern University and other campus partners to strengthen institutional knowledge and create opportunities for collaboration to philanthropically support patient and program needs at NMHC;
• Develop, manage and professionally grow a high-functioning team;
• Develop and manage operating budget(s);
• Maintain and/or develop organization-wide and departmental policies/procedures relevant to areas of responsibility;
• Participate in professional development opportunities to continuously strengthen leadership capabilities;
• Represent and provide support for NMF at appropriate events related to donor cultivation, stewardship and fundraising activities. This includes interactions with various levels of donors and constituents, both internally and externally;
• Respond to unanticipated complex issues as well as manage critical and confidential information;
• Utilize meaningful metrics to assess outcomes and achieve goals;
• Exemplify the NMHC values of patients first, integrity, excellence and teamwork;
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required

• Bachelor’s degree;
• 8+ years of experience in a fundraising, community outreach, healthcare or development position with a proven track record, preferably in a non-profit organization;
• Prior staff, budget and operational management experience;
• Ability to earn the confidence of a wide range of internal and external constituents and to network within a professional, corporate environment;
• Demonstrated project management, organizational, analysis and problem-solving skills;
• Excellent oral, communication and interpersonal skills;
• High degree of professionalism, sensitivity, and integrity;
• Strong intellectual curiosity, initiative and highly effective listening/communication skills;
• Proven ability to meet deadlines, communicate effectively and track details;
• Demonstrate high levels of leadership and flexibility in a team environment;
• Comfortable leading multiple projects, accurately setting priorities for team(s) on a regular basis, thinking creatively and working as both a collaborative team member and leader;
• Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).

Preferred

• Healthcare fundraising experience;
• Public speaking and presentation skills;
• Advanced degree;
• Excellent knowledge of Raiser’s Edge database.

Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status.

Background Check

Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members and, at times, internal transfers. If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check.  Results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act.

Artificial Intelligence Disclosure

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person. 

Benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Please visit our Benefits section to learn more.

Sign-on Bonus Eligibility: Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are not eligible for the sign on bonus. Exception: New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position at NM may be eligible depending upon the job family.