Philanthropy Associate

Children's Place Association

About Children’s Place Association:

We champion equity and access for every child and family, no matter their circumstances or where they call home.

Since 1991, Children’s Place Association has worked alongside families, local government agencies, community groups, and businesses to create brighter futures for Chicago’s children. Our comprehensive services empower families to build stronger foundations and open doors to a more hopeful tomorrow by addressing challenges like health disparities, poverty, neighborhood violence, and racial injustice.

https://www.childrens-place.org/

Position Details

Philanthropy Associate
Job
Full-time
Office/WFH
100% remote
5/6/2025
Chicago Illinois
Chicago, IL
The Philanthropy Associate (PA) is a key member of the Philanthropy team, providing broad-based support across fundraising, donor relations, event coordination, and donor communications initiatives. This position works closely with the Chief Philanthropy & Communications Officer and other team members to identify and steward individual, corporate, and foundation supporters; track fundraising progress; and assist in executing events and engagement activities.
 
In addition to supporting year-round fundraising activities, the PA plays a pivotal role in coordinating special events and fundraisers. Responsibilities include serving as a liaison to external vendors and committees, assisting with event organization and logistics, building relationships with donors and sponsors, and acting as an onsite host to ensure a positive donor experience. This special events support will be rotated among team members depending on the event.
 
A key function of this position includes processing all gifts—both monetary and in-kind—maintaining the donor and volunteer database, generating financial and activity reports, preparing timely donor acknowledgements, and managing donor-related activity connected to special events and fundraising campaigns.
 
The PA also assists with donor-centric communications, helping to develop compelling appeals, stewardship messages, event collateral, and impact materials. While distinct from the Communications Director role, the PA may contribute content ideas, assist with copywriting, and support the production of development-related materials to enhance donor engagement. (Note: This position does not manage the organization’s social media, newsletters, or public relations but may provide support where donor communications intersect with those channels.)
 
This is a position for a proactive, relationship-oriented, and detail-driven individual who thrives in a mission-based environment and values collaboration, creativity, and impact.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following: Other duties may be assigned.

Gift Processing, Donor Records and Finances

  • Manage all aspects of gift processing and donor acknowledgment, including entering and updating donor information in Raiser’s Edge, processing contributions, preparing and sending timely thank-you letters, and maintaining accurate constituent mailing lists.
  • Generate financial and donor reports and support ongoing system maintenance and data integrity efforts.
  • Collaborate with the Chief Philanthropy Officer and Finance team on monthly gift reconciliation and financial reporting.
  • Process vendor invoices and track accounts with external vendors and service providers.
  • Monitor and manage pledges, ensuring timely follow-up and accurate records.
  • Track and reconcile event-related revenue and expenses to support budget monitoring and reporting.
  • Maintain and regularly update Board and Committee rosters; provide staff and leadership with current records and reports.
  • Ensure confidentiality, consistency, and accuracy of all financial and donor data.

Impact Reporting/Tracking Fundraising Efforts

  • Develop and present reports that track the progress, outcomes, and effectiveness of fundraising appeals, campaigns, and special events.
  • Analyze and synthesize gift and donor data to generate insights and impact summaries for use in donor communications, including appeals, annual reports, and stewardship materials.
  • Monitor donor trends to identify lapsed donors, recommend re-engagement strategies, and flag opportunities for donor upgrades.
  • Track and manage donor engagement and giving activity specific to special events and fundraising initiatives.

Fundraising and Relationship Management

  • Partner with team members to research, identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward prospective and current donors, including individuals, corporations, foundations, and other supporters.
  • Manage the full donor and sponsor lifecycle—ensuring timely acknowledgment, recognition, benefit fulfillment, and ongoing engagement.
  • Develop giving and volunteer opportunities that align donor interests with organizational priorities, enhance visibility, deepen engagement, and promote community involvement.
  • Support the planning and execution of fundraising initiatives, including annual giving campaigns, special events, legacy giving efforts, corporate engagement programs, webinars, in-kind drives, and volunteer-led activities.
  • Coordinate special stewardship and donor appreciation projects to reinforce relationships and demonstrate impact.
  • Assist the Chief Philanthropy and Communications Officer in donor and sponsor communications to sustain strong relationships and foster continued investment in the organization’s mission.

Committees/Special Events

  • Serve as a liaison to event planners and volunteer committees for the annual gala and a range of special events, including Early Learning Center graduation, Adopt a Family, in-kind donation drives, third-party fundraisers, and community mixers—in collaboration with the Philanthropy and Programs teams.
  • Support the Chief Philanthropy Officer and Communications Director by helping coordinate committee communications, including scheduling meetings, preparing agendas and minutes, tracking action items, fundraising activities, and member engagement.
  • Manage donor and sponsor data related to events, including tracking benefits, recognition, and follow-up activities to ensure a seamless and professional experience.
QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
 
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

  • Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in Business, Nonprofit Management, Communications, or a related field.
  • Minimum of 3 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising or development, with demonstrated success securing gifts from individuals, corporations, foundations, and other private sources.
  • Solid understanding of fundraising strategies, donor cultivation, gift processing, and fiscal management.
  • Proven experience working with volunteer committees and supporting event-based fundraising.
  • Skilled in planning, organizing, and executing the logistics of special events and donor engagement activities.
  • Familiarity with digital platforms used for fundraising and awareness-building is a plus.
  • Strong grasp of the nonprofit and human services sector, including ethical considerations and donor confidentiality.
  • Ability to conduct research, analyze data, and synthesize information into clear reports and materials.
  • Knowledge of marketing and promotions principles is a valuable asset.
 
COMPUTER SKILLS:

  • Proficiency with Raiser’s Edge or similar donor management/CRM systems required.
  • Advanced working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, SharePoint).
  • Comfort with leveraging technology to manage projects and improve workflow efficiency.
 
PROFESSIONAL QUALITIES:

  • Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
  • Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to engage effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including donors, volunteers, staff, and community partners.
  • Highly organized and detail-oriented, with strong project management abilities and the capacity to prioritize multiple tasks.
  • Collaborative team player with a proactive, positive, and solutions-focused attitude.
  • Self-motivated and able to work independently with minimal supervision.
  • Creative thinker with sound judgment and effective problem-solving skills.
  • Receptive to feedback, open to learning, and committed to continuous growth.
  • Accountable, dependable, and committed to delivering high-quality results.
  • Demonstrates integrity, professionalism, and alignment with the mission and values of Children’s Place Association.
  • Respects and values diverse backgrounds, identities, and lived experiences of colleagues, clients, and stakeholders.

Pay Range: $55,000 - $65,000 per year.


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