Coordinator, Institutional Giving

DEPARTMENT: Development
REPORTS TO: Manager, Foundation & Government Relations
STATUS: Full-time, Exempt
SALARIED: $50,000
 
POSITION OVERVIEW:   

Shedd Aquarium is seeking an eager and qualified fundraising professional to join our Development Department as the Coordinator of Institutional Giving (IG). This is a great opportunity for a young career professional to learn about development, nonprofit, and institutional giving work.  

Reporting to the Manager of Institutional Giving (formerly Foundation & Government Relations), the Coordinator will be responsible for supporting a portfolio of current and prospective institutional (Foundation, Government, Corporate) funders. An impactful writer, the Coordinator will develop a variety of written materials for current and prospective funders, including but not limited to proposals, renewals, reports, and e-mail communications. The Coordinator will also assist in the development of stewardship materials like one-pagers, infographics, and document templates (as examples) for the IG Team to use for a larger swath of donors. As needed, the Coordinator will facilitate site visits, aquarium tours, and miscellaneous connections (e.g., volunteer events, program observation, introductory meetings, etc.) with donors and prospects. Internally, the Coordinator will keep the database of current grant activities and archives up to date using Shedd’s CRM software and digital resources like SharePoint. The Coordinator of Institutional Giving will play an important role in advancing Shedd Aquarium’s renowned work and impact. The role requires excellent written and verbal communication, organizational skills, attention to detail, and a passion for securing funding to support Shedd’s mission. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.   

• Demonstrate commitment to Shedd’s vision, mission, and values
• (25%) Manage a portfolio of Institutional (Corporate, Foundation & Government) donors by:
  • Developing accurate written grant materials (proposals, reports, letters, agreements, etc.) that are submitted on time, as instructed
  • Creatively stewarding and engaging current and prospective funders
  • Researching prospective funders to add to the donor pipeline
  • Maintaining accurate and comprehensive donor records in SharePoint
• (35%) Serve as the lead CRM software (Tessitura) administrator for the Institutional Giving Team by:
  • Keeping accurate records of IG Team donors via plans including due dates, major contact points, gift amounts, etc.
  • Tracking data and creating lists of different cross-sections of information (giving type, donor interest, amount, etc.) for accurate reporting of metrics using CRM software
  • Work with Donor Engagement/Development Services and Operations to assess and update lapsed records and donor pipeline records
• (25%) Manage the fulfillment of the Corporate Partner Benefits program through high-quality, detailed communication
  • Quickly and efficiently answer e-mails, calls, or other communications for the fulfillment of donor benefits including ticketing, parking, event attendance, etc.
  • Conduct proactive outreach for benefit usage from current partners to ensure engagement
  • Partner with the Manager, IG on passive and active Corporate Member acquisition strategies
• (15%) Proactively lead the stewardship communications for IG donors and other team members
  • Using information from Development and other sources assists in crafting e-mails personalized for donor outreach 
  • Assist team in the development of timed stewardship materials such as newsletters, updates, and other informational outreach materials
• Collaborate with staff members across the organization – particularly programmatic teams and finance – to gather information (e.g., grant budgets, qualitative and quantitative program outcomes, etc.), identify viable funding opportunities, develop quality grant materials, and execute grants from start to finish
• Respond to internal and external questions and/or requests for written materials, programmatic outcomes, grant compliance information, etc.
• Plan and/or facilitate site visits, aquarium tours, and miscellaneous connections (e.g., volunteer events, program observations, introductory meetings, etc.) with donors and prospects as needed.
• Adhere to all aspects of Shedd’s grant processes
• Participate in regular team meetings, departmental meetings, organizational meetings, and cross-departmental working groups as instructed
• Establish and sustain a comprehensive understanding of the aquarium’s programs and operations
• In conjunction with the Manager IG, maintain an annual solicitation calendar
• With the IG team, evaluate and enhance internal operations to increase transparency and efficiency
• As needed and requested, assist in staffing after-hours special events hosted by the Development Department such as annual galas and member and donor events
• Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS: The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. 

Education: 

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field of study. Comparable experience can be considered instead of a degree.

Experience:   

• A minimum of 1-2 years experience in development with a focus on applying for grants, managing partnerships, and fundraising from institutional sources
• Experience working with CRM databases and Microsoft Office suite, preferably for fundraising purposes
• Experience translating complex issues and data into digestible formats for consumption by multiple stakeholders

SPECIAL SKILLS & CHARACTERISTICS:  

• Excellent interpersonal skills and a demonstrated ability to work well in a team setting or independently
• Accomplished and versatile writing background
• Strong active listening skills, excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to plan and facilitate meetings
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage and prioritize multiple demands and deadlines
• Excellent time management and organizational skills; a detail-oriented mindset resulting in high-quality work and a strong, proactive follow-through
• Ability to gather data and analyze it for meaningful insights
• A passionate and enthusiastic attitude and commitment to advancing Shedd’s work, mission, and vision

BENEFITS WORKING AT SHEDD: We offer competitive compensation packages and opportunities for professional growth within our organization. 

• Medical Insurance, including FSA and HSA plan options
• Vision and Dental Insurance
• Accrued Paid Time Off
• Up to 12 Paid Holidays
• Life Insurance
• Parental Leave and Adoption Assistance
• 401(k)
• Discounted Parking and Public Transit Subsidies
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee Wellness program, including Preventive Care Incentive
• Employee Discounts
• Employee Tickets

Reasonable Accommodations: 
Shedd Aquarium is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need reasonable accommodations for any part of the employment process, please email us at jobs@sheddaquarium.org. 

We strongly encourage people of color, LGBTQ+ community, veterans and active duty military, parents, individuals with disabilities, and individuals from all cultural backgrounds to apply. Shedd Aquarium is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes everyone to our team.