Associate Director of Individual Giving

Title: Associate Director of Individual Giving

FLSA Status: Salary, Exempt

Salary: $75k-$85K

Reports To: Senior Director of Development

Cover letter and resume required to be considered

Associate Director of Individual Giving

Ignite stands with youth on their journey to a home and a future with promise. We are a leading non-profit, human services organization dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty for youth, ages 10-26. While Ignite has a long-standing history that dates to 1976, we continue to create new ways to serve our community. Today, we have more than 63 full-time and part-time staff as well as over 100 volunteers who contribute to our mission.

Through housing, education, employment, career planning, financial empowerment, mental health support, and community connection, we enroll more than 800 youth per year, on the path to reaching their full potential. Following their time with Ignite, many of our youth achieve financial stability and move into their own long-term home. Ignite intends to be the last program our youth will ever need, but the family and place they can always call home. As a 2025 Chicago Innovation Award winner, Ignite is leading the way in creating new housing and service models that help youth put homelessness behind them for good. At Ignite, we envision a world where all young people have the support they need to be defined by their potential, not their circumstances.

Position Summary

Ignite is seeking a relationship-driven and highly organized fundraising professional to manage and grow our individual giving program with a strong focus on mid-level donor cultivation, stewardship, and major donor pipeline development.

This role will work in tandem with the Senior Director of Development to create meaningful donor experiences that deepen engagement, increase retention, and grow philanthropic investment in Ignite's mission. The Associate Director of Individual Giving will oversee strategies that move donors from first gift to long-term partnership while helping identify and cultivate future major gift supporters.

The ideal candidate is someone who enjoys building authentic relationships, crafting thoughtful stewardship experiences, analyzing donor behavior, and collaborating across teams to create a culture of philanthropy.

Key Responsibilities

Individual Giving Strategy & Donor Cultivation

Manage and grow Ignite's individual giving program, with a focus on mid-level donors and recurring supporters.

Develop strategies to increase donor retention, upgrades, and overall engagement.

Create segmented outreach plans for annual donors, recurring donors, event supporters, and emerging major donors.

Identify opportunities to deepen donor relationships through personalized communication and meaningful touchpoints.

Stewardship & Donor Experience

Lead stewardship efforts to ensure donors feel connected to the impact of their support.

Create and manage donor acknowledgment processes, stewardship timelines, and engagement plans.

Coordinate donor communications including thank-you letters, impact updates, invitations, and special outreach.

Help create thoughtful donor experiences tied to events, volunteer opportunities, and site visits.

Major Donor Pipeline Development

Identify donors with capacity and engagement potential for major gifts.

Conduct donor research and assist in developing individualized cultivation strategies.

Support the CEO and Senior Director of Development with prospect tracking, briefing materials, and follow-up.

Maintain and strengthen a moves management process within Salesforce.

Data & Portfolio Management

Maintain accurate donor records and engagement tracking in Salesforce.

Analyze giving trends, donor behavior, and campaign performance to inform strategy.

Build and manage donor portfolios, tracking next steps and relationship activity.

Assist with fundraising reporting and revenue forecasting.

Collaboration & Events

Partner with the development and communications teams on annual campaigns and donor engagement efforts.

Support fundraising events through donor cultivation, stewardship, and follow-up strategies.

Work collaboratively across departments to ensure a consistent and donor-centered experience.