Deputy Director, Midwest Region

 

Information about the role and the Office:

The Development office is responsible for planning, developing, directing and implementing an extensive program to solicit, process, accept and recognize philanthropic gifts and bequests in support of the Museum’s mission.

 

The Deputy Director, Midwest Region is responsible for soliciting gifts and developing fundraising programs in communities throughout the Chicagoland area and for related community outreach and cultivation activities in support of these programs to meet the priority needs of the Museum.

 

This position is located in Highland Park, IL and is hybrid telework eligible, within the local commuting area of the Museum worksite. This is a full-time, donated (non-federal) position paid with the Museum’s private funds. Salary is commensurate with experience. 

 

Duties, and Responsibilities for the role:

• Develops strategy, directs and provides oversight for all major donor identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship activities in the Midwest region, with a strong focus on the Chicagoland area.

• Supervises the work of other major gift officers.

• Actively manages and expands an initial portfolio of 125-150 major gift prospects, focusing on solicitations of $25,000 and higher.

• Grows the Museum's donor base via entrepreneurial outreach throughout the Chicago

metropolitan area and previously uncultivated surrounding areas. Within three years,

successfully reach and sustain a personal annual goal in excess of $3 million via high-touch, relationship-based major gifts fundraising.

• Manages and ensures the sustained success of major Chicago-based fundraising events,

including, but not limited to, an annual fundraising Luncheon, volunteer leadership engagement initiatives and parlor meetings with the expectation of generating over $4 million annually.

 

Minimum Qualifications for the role:

• At least 10 years of successful experience as a major gift fundraiser, with a proven track record of personally soliciting and closing six-figure and higher annual, capital, and endowment gifts with the ability to reach aggressive fundraising goals.

• Leadership skills; success in partnering with internal and external stakeholders as a collaborative team player.

• Experience as a supervisor of frontline fundraisers.

• Experience in the Chicagoland philanthropic community; knowledge of the broader region a plus.

• Proven ability to devise and execute new fundraising strategies, identify new prospect opportunities and cultivate them to fruition.

• Excellent written and verbal communications and strong interpersonal skills.

• Entrepreneurial, creative and able to execute on new ideas and motivate others to do the same.

• A genuine commitment to the values, mission, and ideals of the Museum.

• Familiarity with Google Workspace/ MicroSoft Office or similar computer applications.

 

Preferred Qualifications for the role:

• Familiarity with the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and Holocaust history.

• Four-year college degree; advanced degree desirable.

• Comfort working in a creative, problem-solving, results- and team-oriented environment.

 

The application deadline for this position is September 18, 2026.

Interested applicants should apply with their resume and cover letter for consideration.