Director of Development

Posted:
4/16/2026, 1:53:14 AM

Location(s):
Illinois, United States ⋅ Chicago, Illinois, United States

Experience Level(s):
Senior

Field(s):
Operations & Logistics

Department:

88012 Advocate Foundation Operations - General Op Expenses

Status:

Full time

Benefits Eligible:

Yes

Hours Per Week:

40

Schedule Details/Additional Information:

The Director of Development will manage significant portfolios of individual, foundation, and corporate prospects and donors, with responsibility for cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major and principal gifts in support of priority initiatives. Working closely with hospital executives, physicians, and foundation leadership, the Directors will play a key role in advancing campaign readiness, donor engagement strategies, and philanthropic growth aligned

Ideal candidates will bring demonstrated campaign experience, strong relationship‑building skills, and the ability to operate strategically in a complex, matrixed environment.

Pay Range

$51.05 - $76.60

Major Responsibilities:

  • Ideal candidate will bring demonstrated campaign experience, strong relationship‑building skills, and the ability to operate strategically in a complex, matrixed environment.
  • Personally responsible for maintaining a portfolio of individual prospects/donors which includes obtaining new donors, managing existing donor relationships, and ensuring maximum donor retention and growth in giving. Maintains an active pool of viable prospects and focuses on securing gifts of $25,000 or greater.
  • Coordinates and implements all aspects of the annual fundraising plan under the direction of Foundation leadership for fundraising priorities, inclusive of engaging committees/volunteers, special event coordination and soliciting support.
  • Establish and maintain strategic relationships with internal and external partners to enlist active support of fundraising program.
  • Responsible for identifying and qualifying new potential donors to continually build donor portfolio.
  • Collaborate with Planned Giving and Grants teams on strategy and vehicles for major gifts.
  • Mentor teams (Managers and Development Coordinators) in regards to day to day activities and mentor staffs through various stages of building a relationship with donors, prospects, and volunteers.
  • Partner with central operations teams to effectively integrate all areas of fundraising such as annual fund, special events, planned giving, giving from corporations, foundations, and organizations, stewardship, prospect research and communication.
  • Responsible for meeting the team’s annual fund-raising goal and the Foundation’s annual fund-raising goal for philanthropy, donor visit goals, as well as, managing expenses as budgeted.
  • Follows the standards of input for the donor database and donor files to maintain the consistency of all Foundation prospect/donor information.
  • Performs human resources responsibilities for staff which include interviewing and selection of new employees, promotions, staff development, performance evaluations, compensation changes, resolution of employee concerns, corrective actions, terminations, and overall employee morale.
  • Develops and recommends operating and capital budgets and controls expenditures within approved budget objectives.
  • Responsible for understanding and adhering to the organization's Code of Ethical Conduct and for ensuring that personal actions, and the actions of employees supervised, comply with the policies, regulations and laws applicable to the organization's business.


Licensure, Registration, and/or Certification Required:

  • None Required.


Education Required:

  • Bachelor's Degree in Marketing or related field.


Experience Required:

  • Typically requires 7 years of experience in non-profit development and fundraising. Understanding of different aspects of comprehensive fundraising program. Experience working with boards or volunteer committees. Includes 3 years of management experience in developing and maintaining successful annual giving, major giving, and capital campaign programs for a large complex organization.


Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required:

  • Knowledge of non-profit fundraising best practices and various forms of development solicitation practices, including events, major gift solicitation and planned giving.
  • Proven success with direct donor solicitation and stewardship.
  • Excellent communication skills both written and verbal.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills for building strong relationships with donors of all levels, volunteers, community leaders, corporate representative, foundation officials and AdvocateAurora leadership.
  • Ability to handle multiple projects and effectively manage and set priorities.
  • Ability to manage and/or coach team members.
  • Proficiency in using the Microsoft Office Suite or similar products and experience using fundraising software (raisers edge).
  • Excellent interpersonal skills for building strong relationships with donors of all levels, volunteers, community leaders, corporate representative, foundation officials and AdvocateAurora leadership.


Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

  • This position requires some travel so there will be exposure to weather and road conditions.
  • Operates all equipment necessary to perform the job.
  • Exposed to a normal office environment.


This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.

Our Commitment to You:

Advocate Health offers a comprehensive suite of Total Rewards: benefits and well-being programs, competitive compensation, generous retirement offerings, programs that invest in your career development and so much more – so you can live fully at and away from work, including:

Compensation

  • Base compensation listed within the listed pay range based on factors such as qualifications, skills, relevant experience, and/or training
  • Premium pay such as shift, on call, and more based on a teammate's job
  • Incentive pay for select positions
  • Opportunity for annual increases based on performance

Benefits and more

  • Paid Time Off programs
  • Health and welfare benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability
  • Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses
  • Family benefits such as adoption assistance and paid parental leave
  • Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs
  • Educational Assistance Program

About Advocate Health 

Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit, integrated health system in the United States, created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois; Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama; and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health services nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. It is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs 155,000 teammates across 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations, and offers one of the nation’s largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to providing equitable care for all, Advocate Health provides more than $6 billion in annual community benefits.