Associate Director of Individual Giving

Job Description

Job Description

We have an opening for an Associate Director of Individual Giving to support the Development department at MCA Chicago. Reporting to the Director of Individual Giving, the Associate Director of Individual Giving leads the Museum of Contemporary Art’s annual giving program, including leadership annual donors, support groups, and donor travel programs. This role manages the museum’s mid-level donor pipeline, driving acquisition, retention, and upgrades while identifying prospects for major gift cultivation. They serve as the primary relationship manager for leadership annual donors and support groups contributing between $1,500 and $15,000 annually, including Circle, Emerge, and the Women’s Board and oversee annual solicitations, donor stewardship, engagement strategies, and support group leadership advising. They also plan and execute at least one donor travel program annually and provide oversight for entry-level annual giving activities. To be successful in this role, you will:

• Lead strategy and execution for annual giving and support group programs (Circle, Women’s Board, Emerge) to acquire, retain, and upgrade donors in the $1,500–$15,000 range.
• Build and manage a diverse donor pipeline to achieve annual revenue goals of at least $1.2 million.
• Serve as primary relationship manager for leadership annual donors and support groups; manage a portfolio of approximately 60 donors and prospects with tailored cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.
• Partner with volunteer leaders to support donor engagement and solicitation efforts.
• Oversee planning and execution of support group events and meetings, including program development, communications, and coordination with internal teams to ensure alignment with strategic goals.
• Plan and deliver at least one annual donor travel program, in partnership with external consultants, to support cultivation and fundraising (e.g., international art fairs).
• Lead a comprehensive, multi-channel annual giving program (direct mail, email, social, onsite, and personal outreach) to secure unrestricted support and grow participation.
• Develop and implement strategies for donor renewal, reactivation, and upgrades using data-driven and moves management approaches.
• Design and execute engagement and benefit strategies for donors and prospects across all leadership annual giving groups.
• Identify and qualify prospects for deeper engagement, including major gift opportunities, in collaboration with Development colleagues.
• Partner with the Director of Individual Giving to align annual giving strategy with institutional fundraising priorities and campaigns.
• Collaborate across Development to ensure effective donor pipeline movement and coordinated communications, stewardship, and solicitation strategies.
• Track performance against goals and maintain accurate donor records in the CRM system.
• Use data, analytics, and benchmarking to evaluate program effectiveness and identify opportunities to expand and diversify the donor base.
• Manage budgets for Annual Giving, Circle, Women’s Board, and Emerge programs.
• Support and attend museum events and meetings as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned by Director of Individual Giving or the Chief Development Officer.

QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• 5-7 years of progressive experience in fundraising within complex organizations.
• Demonstrated success managing annual giving and/or membership programs.
• Proven ability to build and sustain relationships with donors and volunteers.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience producing compelling donor-facing materials.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across teams and influence stakeholders.
• High attention to detail and strong problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated discretion in handling confidential information.
• Experience with CRM systems.
• Ability to travel as needed and attend events, including occasional evenings/weekends.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365.
• Ability to perform occasional light lifting.
• General mobility throughout the museum.

BENEFITS OF WORKING AT THE MCA INCLUDE:

• Individual and MCA-provided retirement savings plans.
• Paid time off.
• Pre-tax, reduced rate parking and Ventra/Metra benefits.
• Free admission to MCA exhibitions for yourself and guests.
• Free admission to many special and member events.
• Reduced price tickets to MCA Stage performances.
• Discounts on dining in Marisol and in our award-winning MCA Store.
• Access to our onsite library.
• Opportunities to attend curator-led staff tours.
• Free or discounted admission to many other cultural institutions across the United States.

Full-time staff are also eligible for a robust benefits package that includes health, dental, and vision insurance plus free life, AD&D, short-term and long-term disability insurance.

This is a full-time position with a schedule determined by department and operational needs, which may include evenings and weekends, with occasional additional hours as required. This position is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement per the Remote Work Policy.
40 hours per week.