Development Manager

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Development Manager (Full-Time) Congregation Or Shalom
Location: 21 Hawthorn Parkway, Vernon Hills, IL 60061
Reports to: Executive Director

OVERVIEW

Congregation Or Shalom, a warm and inclusive Reform Jewish community in Vernon Hills, Illinois, is seeking a motivated, relational, and execution-oriented Development Manager to help grow and sustain our culture of philanthropy.

This full-time role combines relationship-building, solicitation, and strong operational execution. The Development Manager actively manages a defined portfolio of donors and prospects, participates in donor cultivation and solicitation, and plays a hands-on role in advancing annual giving, planned giving, and future campaign readiness. Working in close partnership with the Executive Director, this role helps ensure that fundraising efforts are intentional, consistently advanced, and aligned with organizational priorities.

A key focus of this role will be expanding legacy and planned giving, including gifts made through required minimum distributions and donor-advised funds, as well as supporting the planning and project management of a future capital or endowment campaign in advance of Congregation Or Shalom’s 50th anniversary.

This role offers the opportunity to take on increasing responsibility over time, with growth in scope aligned to organizational priorities and individual performance.

WORK SCHEDULE

• Full-time, in-office position based at Congregation Or Shalom
• Core working hours are Monday–Friday, 9:30 AM–5:00 PM, with an early dismissal at 3:00 PM on Fridays in observance of Shabbat
• Some evening and weekend hours are required during busier periods, including fundraising campaigns, donor events, and holidays

RESPONSIBILITIES

Fundraising Strategy, Donor Management, and Solicitation (50%)

• Manage, steward, and expand a defined portfolio of donors and prospects, including systematic cultivation, solicitation, follow-up, retention, and long-term relationship development
• Conduct donor solicitations independently and in collaboration with the Executive Director, clergy, and lay leaders, including annual giving, planned giving conversations, and targeted leadership-level asks
• Support and help execute the annual fundraising program, including High Holiday appeals, year-end giving, spring fundraising events, and other campaigns
• Prepare and present development reports, donor insights, and progress updates for staff and lay leadership
• Maintain accurate donor and prospect records in the CRM, ShulCloud preferred
• Coordinate donor communications in partnership with the Communications Coordinator
• Serve as staff liaison to the Development Committee, including meeting preparation, materials, follow-up, and accountability tracking

Relationship Building, Stewardship, and Philanthropic Growth (30%)

• Build and sustain meaningful relationships that strengthen Congregation Or Shalom’s culture of generosity and shared responsibility
• Partner with the Executive Director to advance donor stewardship across giving levels through personalized outreach and impact communication
• Collaborate with clergy, staff, and lay leaders to support shared fundraising efforts and coordinated donor engagement
• Equip staff and lay leaders with development best practices, donor follow-up strategies, and stewardship approaches
• Support and expand planned giving efforts, including legacy gifts and contributions made through required minimum distributions and donor-advised funds
• Support planning, coordination, and project management for a future capital or endowment campaign tied to Congregation Or Shalom’s 50th anniversary
• Build and maintain relationships with external Jewish funders, foundations, and philanthropic partners to increase awareness of and investment in Congregation Or Shalom
• Design and support cultivation and stewardship touchpoints that deepen long-term connection to the congregation’s mission and impact

Grant Support (10%)

• Support a small number of targeted grant applications aligned with Congregation Or Shalom’s strategic priorities
• Maintain a grant calendar and reporting deadlines for awarded grants
• Coordinate grant materials and reporting in collaboration with the Executive Director and clergy

Operational Coordination and Process Improvement (10%)

• Ensure smooth coordination, tracking, and internal handoffs related to fundraising and donor engagement
• Identify and support process improvements that strengthen development workflows, data integrity, and follow-up consistency
• Partner with the Executive Director and relevant staff to evaluate, implement, and maintain donor management and fundraising systems
• Serve as primary point person for development-related systems, supporting basic training, documentation, and effective use across the organization

QUALIFICATIONS

Education
Bachelor’s degree encouraged. Coursework or training in nonprofit management, fundraising, communications, or a related field is a plus.

Experience

• 2–3 years of experience in development, fundraising, nonprofit advancement, or a related role, with demonstrated readiness to take on increasing responsibility
• Demonstrated experience participating in donor cultivation or solicitation, including making or supporting direct asks
• Experience managing donor or prospect information in a CRM system, ShulCloud preferred

Skills

• Strong relationship-building and interpersonal communication skills
• Comfort initiating donor conversations and participating in solicitation efforts
• Strong organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple fundraising priorities simultaneously
• Ability to translate strategy into action through consistent follow-up and execution
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Familiarity with planned giving concepts, including required minimum distributions and donor-advised funds, or willingness to learn
• Ability to work collaboratively in a relational, mission-driven environment
• Experience in Jewish communal life or values-aligned organizations is a plus

KEY ATTRIBUTES

• Warm, professional, and confident in relationship-based settings
• Highly organized, reliable, and detail-oriented
• Comfortable taking initiative and owning outcomes within defined responsibilities
• Proactive problem-solver who brings structure to complex fundraising efforts
• Flexible and adaptable in a dynamic community environment
• Willingness to attend occasional evening and weekend events as needed

WHAT WE OFFER

• Annual salary range of $65,000–$75,000, commensurate with experience
• Health insurance, short-term disability, paid family leave, and access to a retirement plan
• Paid time off, including Jewish and federal holidays, with flexible time for evening and weekend work
• Professional development through ATID, Advancing Temple Institutional Development, and a collaborative, supportive staff culture

WHERE YOU WORK

Congregation Or Shalom is located in the northwest suburbs of Chicago at 21 W Hawthorn Parkway, Vernon Hills, IL. We are a welcoming, relationship-centered community where personal connection is at the heart of everything we do. Some evening and weekend availability is required for donor and community engagement.

TO APPLY

Please email your resume and cover letter to info@orshalomlc.com. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Final offers will be contingent on reference and background checks.

Not sure you meet 100% of the qualifications? Please apply anyway. We encourage applications from individuals whose experience and skills align with the spirit of this role, even if they do not check every box.

Congregation Or Shalom is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against qualified applicants or employees based on any protected characteristic under federal, state, or local law.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $65,000.00 - $75,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 403(b)
• Employee discount
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Professional development assistance

Work Location: In person