Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago provides superior pediatric care in a setting that offers the latest benefits and innovations in medical technology, research and family-friendly design. As the largest pediatric provider in the region with a 140-year legacy of excellence, kids and their families are at the center of all we do. Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago is ranked in all 10 specialties by the U.S. News & World Report.

Location

Olympia Center

Job Description

The Associate Director, Legacy and Leadership Giving is an exciting new role within the reimagined Annual, Legacy & Leadership Giving Department. Reporting to the Senior Director, this role offers the opportunity to join at a pivotal moment as we prepare for a new campaign at Lurie Children’s. The Associate Director will play a key role in expanding 1) legacy giving to take advantage of the “silver tsunami” and 2) leadership/mid-level giving ($1K–$49K). The Associate Director will champion legacy giving, build internal gift planning competency and provide technical expertise across the Foundation. As both a supervisor of a small team and an individual contributor, they will actively manage a portfolio of leadership/mid-level and legacy donors, to drive immediate revenue while building a pipeline for long-term legacy contributions.

This role requires a personable, results-orientated professional with a proven ability to use metrics to inform annual plans, make data-driven decisions, and achieve ambitious goals. The Associate Director will bring fresh ideas and best practices to donor engagement, stewardship, and solicitation and is expected to maintain and grow ~$6 million annual revenue. A critical component will be building awareness of legacy giving and exploring a legacy challenge campaign in partnership with development colleagues along with governing and fundraising boards.

The ideal candidate will be an engaging collaborator, skilled in relationship-building, and committed to innovation and excellence. The Lurie Children’s Foundation offers a flexible work environment where self-motivation, accountability and inclusivity are highly valued. If you’re ready to make a meaningful impact and serve as a passionate ambassador for Lurie Children’s, we invite you to consider joining our team.

Essential Job Functions:

Serve as the Foundation’s subject matter expert for planned giving, including estates/wills. Charitable remainder trusts and other deferred giving vehicles, in addition to gifts of assets such as DAFs, IRAs, stocks. Champion planned giving outright and blended gifts to colleagues across the Foundation through resources, coaching and collaborative joint engagement with donors and prospects.

Play a key role in the development of annual business plan and budgets for the program.

Oversee the daily activities focused on the identification, cultivation, solicitation, growth and stewardship of leadership and legacy donors to deepen relationships while producing short-term revenue and long-term future income streams..

Provide leadership, direction, motivation and supervision to members of the Legacy and Leadership team. Establish specific objectives and performance standards for each direct report.

Serve as a subject matter expert to the Direct Response Team, who are responsible for planning and executing marketing strategies that promote the planned gifts program, convey the tax advantages of deferred giving, and describe how planned gifts are beneficial components to financial and estate planning.

Maintain relationships with professional advisors through the Legacy Partners initiative. As needed, plan Legacy Partner educational events and retain speakers.

Forge and maintain strong relationships with donors, volunteers, administrators, physicians, program directors, and other staff.

Serve as a mentor to staff by helping to strengthen the skills and professional development.

The qualified candidate will be comfortable representing Lurie Children’s confidently and professionally at site visits, fundraising events and industry presentations.

Participate in activities that support the development profession, including speaking at conferences and helping to plan them.

The successful candidate will be creative, able to think globally, pay attention to the details, work with volunteer partners, and be able to manage many tasks simultaneously.

Perform job functions adhering to service principles with focus of innovation, service excellence and teamwork to provide the highest quality care and service to our patients, families, co-workers and others.

Required Experience:

A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university is required.

5 - 7 years of experience in leadership/major giving and planned giving. Experience in healthcare and/or academia is strongly preferred. 

Comprehensive understanding of tax implications and other aspects of planned giving vehicles.  Technical proficiency is necessary to succeed in this position.  A candidate must either already have the knowledge or have an educational or employment background that is evidence of a capacity to master technical subjects.

Strong and effective management and coaching skills are necessary as is a willingness to coordinate and collaborate with other teams to meet shared goals.

Discretion with confidential materials required.

Experience with Raiser’s Edge or other fundraising databases helpful.

Ability to work independently in a deadline-oriented team environment required.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills required. A strong command of the English language.

Participate in the life of Lurie Children's by attending meetings, special events, donor cultivation and recognition programs and other gatherings where the presence of the Associate Director, Leadership & Legacy is required or desired.

Proven ability to be resourceful, opportunistic and entrepreneurial.

Education

Bachelor's Degree (Required)

Pay Range

$99,840.00-$164,736.00 Salary

At Lurie Children’s, we are committed to competitive and fair compensation aligned with market rates and internal equity, reflecting individual contributions, experience, and expertise. The pay range for this job indicates minimum and maximum targets for the position. Ranges are regularly reviewed to stay aligned with market conditions. In addition to base salary, Lurie Children’s offer a comprehensive rewards package that may include differentials for some hourly employees, leadership incentives for select roles, health and retirement benefits, and wellbeing programs. For more details on other compensation, consult your recruiter or click the following link to learn more about our benefits.

Benefit Statement

For full time and part time employees who work 20 or more hours per week we offer a generous benefits package that includes:

Medical, dental and vision insurance

Employer paid group term life and disability

Employer contribution toward Health Savings Account

Flexible Spending Accounts

Paid Time Off (PTO), Paid Holidays and Paid Parental Leave

403(b) with a 5% employer match

Various voluntary benefits:

Supplemental Life, AD&D and Disability

Critical Illness, Accident and Hospital Indemnity coverage

Tuition assistance

Student loan servicing and support

Adoption benefits

Backup Childcare and Eldercare

Employee Assistance Program, and other specialized behavioral health services and resources for employees and family members

Discount on services at Lurie Children’s facilities

Discount purchasing program

There’s a Place for You with Us

At Lurie Children’s we embrace and celebrate diversity and equity in a serious way. We are committed to building a team with a variety of backgrounds, skills, and viewpoints — recognizing that diverse identities strengthen our workplace and the care we can provide to the Chicago community and beyond. We treat everyone fairly, appreciate differences, and make meaningful connections that foster belonging and allyship. This is a place where you can be your best, so we can give our best to the patients and families who trust us with their care.  

Lurie Children’s and its affiliates are equal employment opportunity employers.  We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, pregnancy, protected veteran status, order of protection status, protected genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Support email: candidatesupport@luriechildrens.org