Director of Major and Planned Giving

Director of Major and Planned Giving
Fourth Presbyterian Church

Position Description

The Director of Major and Planned Giving is responsible for developing and managing a portfolio of major donors and prospects in support of the annual fund, the capital campaign, and long-term planned giving. Reporting to the Senior Director of Development, this role plays a vital part in deepening relationships with members and supporters who have the capacity to make significant philanthropic commitments.

This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated fundraising professional to deepen their skills in major and planned giving, with guidance and mentorship from senior staff. The Director partners closely with clergy, senior staff, and volunteer leadership to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major donors. They also oversee and grow the planned giving program, helping donors make legacy commitments that will sustain Fourth Church and Chicago Lights for generations to come.

About Fourth Presbyterian Church and Chicago Lights
Fourth Presbyterian Church is a welcoming and inclusive congregation located on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile. With a long tradition of spiritual leadership, civic engagement, and community outreach, the church is home to both a vibrant congregation and Chicago Lights, its nonprofit partner. Together, Fourth Church and Chicago Lights serve thousands of individuals each year through worship, education, and social service programming.

The church is preparing to launch a transformational $50 million capital campaign while sustaining a thriving $5 million annual giving program.

Schedule

The role is a full-time position, generally based on a 40-hour work week. The typical schedule is Monday through Friday; however, occasional evening and weekend work may be required depending on project deadlines or business needs, which may result in work weeks exceeding 40 hours. This position is hybrid with a minimum of two days required onsite. Remote workdays are negotiable with the Supervisor based on job responsibilities and activities.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage a dynamic portfolio of 75–100 major gift prospects, with a focus on gifts of $25,000 and above
• Create and execute personalized cultivation and solicitation strategies
• Conduct 8–10 donor meetings per month to advance relationships and gift conversations
• Maintain detailed contact reports and track progress toward individual and team goals
  Capital Campaign Engagement
• Partner with the CDO, clergy, and campaign leadership to move prospects through the gift pipeline
• Prepare briefing materials, proposals, and personalized campaign communications
• Support campaign volunteers in their peer-to-peer outreach
  Planned Giving Program
• Oversee and grow the Fourth Presbyterian Church legacy giving society
• Identify and cultivate planned giving prospects through conversations, events, and educational materials
• Work with donors and advisors to facilitate bequests and other planned gift vehicles
• Support legacy society volunteers in their outreach and stewardship efforts
  Collaboration and Communication
• Work closely with the Senior Director of Development and development team to ensure coordinated outreach
• Partner with clergy to build donor relationships grounded in shared values and vision
• Serve as an ambassador of the church’s mission and ministries in all donor interactions

Qualifications

• Minimum 3–5 years of progressive experience in major gifts or individual giving, with a proven track record of securing 5-figure or more gifts desired
• Experience with planned giving, estate planning, or legacy society management preferred (but not required)
• You’re a natural relationship-builder who thrives on one-on-one conversations and mission-driven connection
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills
• Comfortable engaging donors in faith-informed giving conversations
• Highly organized, goal-oriented, and able to manage multiple priorities
• Familiarity with donor CRM systems (e.g., Raiser’s Edge or Salesforce)
• Knowledge of or experience within a church or faith-based context is a strong plus

Compensation
This is a full-time salaried position with an annual salary range of…