Special Events and Donor Relations Manager

Job Description

The DuPage affiliate of Habitat for Humanity (DHFH) was established in 1995 to provide decent housing to those in need who either reside or work in DuPage County, Illinois. Headquartered in Wheaton, IL, the affiliate has served over 110 families since its inception and has plans to grow in capacity to serve over 40 additional families per year.

DHFH operates under the umbrella of HFHI, but is solely responsible for funding its operation, choosing partner families, constructing, or rehabbing homes and ensuring the success of its partner families in DuPage County.

In March of 2020, Chicago South Suburbs (CSS) affiliate merged with DuPage Habitat for Humanity. Since then, both affiliates have been working in tandem to provide affordable housing for Chicago South Suburban families.

Position Summary

The Special Events and Donor Relations Manager is responsible for developing strategies, establishing goals, and implementing a program focused on special events and donors for DuPage & Chicago South Suburbs Habitat for Humanity. The funds raised through this position will support the integrated fund development plan that also includes donations and grants from local, state, and federal agencies, corporations, faith groups and associations.

This position works closely with the Senior Development Manager, event fundraising committees, board members and colleagues throughout Habitat to build long term relationships to increase awareness of and support for the organization’s mission and goals.

This position is responsible for their own portfolio of fundraising special events; integrating development plans with the Marketing and Communications team; developing and managing their budgets; responsible for the planning, oversight and execution of fundraising and development events for the organization in a manner consistent with DHFH & CSS goals, mission, and values.

Essential Functions

• Demonstrated fundraising success and budget attainment.
• Experience managing committees, team members and outside vendors/relationships.
• Leadership ability and previous project management experience.
• Demonstrated initiative, ability to work with multiple teams, and ability to manage functional areas. Experience in managing multiple responsibilities simultaneously.
• Identify and cultivate prospective donors; solicit, close and steward gifts between $1-$1,000
• Create donor stewardship communication plan – welcome email to first time donors, follow up emails, etc… ensuring all donors are well stewarded, cultivated, and recognized.
• Facilitate annual fundraising program geared towards monthly donors
• Managing benefits for the monthly giving program
• Creating and implementing targeted email outreach and quarterly newsletters
• Identifying prospects through research and event/peer to peer leads
• Accurately track all donors in Raisers Edge
• Manage donor acknowledgment procedures
• Provide regular reporting on metrics and progress
• Coordinate workplace giving program
• Support donor communications, which may include content generation.
• Write/prepare letters of inquiry, donor proposals, and other donor communication, as applicable
• Support a culture of gratitude in donor cultivation and stewardship
• Facilitate relationships with external constituents and key sectors including individual donors ($1-$1,000), associations, and community groups to expand the community presence of DHFH.
• Solicit, schedule, and execute outreach opportunities to raise awareness
• Strong professional written and verbal communication skills and outstanding interpersonal skills a must.
• Professional and cooperative manner and the ability to work with community leadership, board members and donors outside the organization.
• Demonstrated passion for and understanding of the organization’s mission, vision, and values.
• Progressive thinker and visionary with complete understanding of fundraising management and external relations.
• Ability to motivate others to produce quality materials with tight deadlines and simultaneously manage several projects.
• Strong analytical, quantitative, problem-solving, and technical skills.
• High energy, clear goal orientation and strong work ethic.
• Ability to represent DuPage Habitat for Humanity with diverse audiences.
• Ability to work weekends and evenings.
  
  

Excellent interpersonal and intercultural communication skills; excellent oral communication

Qualifications & Skills

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Three plus years of fundraising experience with a focus on peer-to-peer fundraising and special events.
• Knowledge of the not-for-profit development, fundraising, business and civic community in the DuPage County and Chicago South Suburbs area a plus.
• Working knowledge of Raiser’s Edge donor management system and research methods for funding sources.
  
  

Compensation & Benefits

DuPage Habitat offers a competitive benefit package including medical, dental, vision, life, short term disability, 403(b) and a generous paid time off package.

Note

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent in this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments. All duties and responsibilities are essential functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. To perform this job successfully, the incumbents will possess the skills, aptitudes, and abilities to perform each duty proficiently. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health or safety of themselves or others. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, or abilities. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” relationship.

The job duties listed in this job description may not be inclusive of all requirements of this position; other duties may be assigned

Company Description

Habitat for Humanity is an international organization serving over 1 million people annually around the world. It is an federated network of locally run affiliates each with its own volunteer Board of Directors and staff. DuPage Habitat is one of 8 affiliates in the Chicagoland area. Habitat for Humanity has been named Brand of the Year in the social services nonprofit category based on the 2016 Harris Poll EquiTrend® Equity Score. This is the second consecutive year the global nonprofit has been recognized for its strength in brand equity. In addition, Habitat for Humanity earned the distinction of being named the Most Loved and Most Trusted brand within its category this year.

DuPage Habitat for Humanity is a locally run affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing organization. Habitat for Humanity "Seeking to put God's love into action, Habitat brings people together to build homes, community and hope. Our vision is "A world where everyone has a decent place to live."

DHFH introduced first ReStore in a facility located in Addison in 2011 and is currently in the top 5% of performance for ReStores nationally. In late 2018, the Aurora ReStore started to integrate into DHFH operations as well. In 2019, we began to partner with Chicago South Suburbs Habitat for Humanity. The ReStore is staffed with a combination of paid employees and volunteers.

Habitat for Humanity is an international organization serving over 1 million people annually around the world. It is an federated network of locally run affiliates each with its own volunteer Board of Directors and staff. DuPage Habitat is one of 8 affiliates in the Chicagoland area. Habitat for Humanity has been named Brand of the Year in the social services nonprofit category based on the 2016 Harris Poll EquiTrend® Equity Score. This is the second consecutive year the global nonprofit has been recognized for its strength in brand equity. In addition, Habitat for Humanity earned the distinction of being named the Most Loved and Most Trusted brand within its category this year. DuPage Habitat for Humanity is a locally run affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing organization. Habitat for Humanity "Seeking to put God's love into action, Habitat brings people together to build homes, community and hope. Our vision is "A world where everyone has a decent place to live." DHFH introduced first ReStore in a facility located in Addison in 2011 and is currently in the top 5% of performance for ReStores nationally. In late 2018, the Aurora ReStore started to integrate into DHFH operations as well. In 2019, we began to partner with Chicago South Suburbs Habitat for Humanity. The ReStore is staffed with a combination of paid employees and volunteers.