Major Gifts Officer (Full-Time)

Job Description

As a 501(c)(3) federally approved not-for-profit organization, Mercy Circle can raise funds to support the mission and work of the continuing retirement community.

The heritage of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, who have served Chicago and beyond for more than 170 years, makes contributing to the place where so many Sisters have retired an attractive philanthropic choice for many constituents.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Communicating the mission and work of Mercy Circle and why it is worthy of philanthropic gifts
  • Understanding of what it means to be a Mercy-sponsored organization with a Catholic heritage
  • Collaborating with the development team for the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas as well as open communication with fundraisers working in the Chicago metro marketplace for other Mercy-sponsored organizations
  • Networking with Mercy Circle’s Estate Planning Advisory Group and creating ways to build a referral network for individuals and groups seeking worthy causes
  • Developing fresh ideas and incentives for written appeals and special events that encourage donors to consider Mercy Circle as an organization to support
  • Maintaining database of all donors and prospects that accurately summarizes unrestricted and restricted contributions, requests for gifts and the status of those asks, regrets from prospects, as well as demographic information about database contacts
  • Analyzing data to identify results, trends and opportunities
  • Sending personal thank you letter to donors to acknowledge their generosity and to provide evidence of their charitable contribution for tax purposes, as well as advising others at Mercy Circle when it is appropriate to do so
  • Updating existing donations page on Mercy Circle’s website and printed fundraising literature
  • Sustaining relationships with existing donors
  • Initiating outreach to new prospective donors

Requirements

  • Minimum of three years of successful fundraising program for another organization, preferably one that is faith-based or a senior living community
  • Demonstrates written and verbal communication skills that compel recipients to engage and respond
  • Success as a public speaker for delivering presentations, participating in or leading educational and informative seminars
  • Organizational skills to manage complementary, concurrent campaigns including personal calls, traditional mailings and eblasts, and social media channels
  • Self-starter with proven ability to work independently with limited supervision
  • Mastery of Little Green Light CRM software, Word, Excel and PowerPoint

Benefits

Full-Time Employees

  • Medical, dental, vision and prescription insurance
  • Flexible spending account
  • Employer paid life insurance policy
  • Employer paid short-term and long-term disability policy
  • 403b retirement plan with employer discretionary contribution and matching opportunities
  • Education reimbursement program
  • Employee assistance program
  • Employee referral bonus
  • Paid time off for vacation and illness

Mercy Circle is an equal opportunity employer for all candidates without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, veteran status, disability or genetics. Mercy Circle is a drug-free workplace. All job candidates undergo background checks before they can start working.

Please contact Careers@MercyCircle.org if you have any questions or would like assistance completing our application process.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services awards the top ranking—5 stars for its overall rating and 5 stars for quality staffing—to Mercy Circle. This not-for-profit provides the full continuum of care from an independent living lifestyle to skilled nursing care and has a no-entrance-fee policy.

Sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, Mercy Circle is the only faith-based retirement community on Chicago’s southwest side. Located at 3659 West 99th Street in Chicago, the campus features spacious residences at all levels of care, along with thoughtful amenities, life enrichment programs and social and friendship opportunities.