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Shirley Ryan AbilityLab · 2 months ago

Strategic Partnerships Officer, Associate Vice President

Chicago, IL

Full-time

Hybrid

Senior Level, Lead/Staff, Director/Executive

$128K/yr - $213K/yr

10+ years exp

Shirley Ryan AbilityLab is dedicated to advancing human ability through innovative care and research. The Strategic Partnerships Officer will lead the principal gifts program, managing a portfolio of high-capacity prospects and collaborating with various stakeholders to secure significant philanthropic investments for the organization.

Health CareHospitalNon ProfitRehabilitation

Responsibilities

Manage and advance a personal portfolio of ~25–40 qualified prospects and donors with the capacity to contribute $5M+ in gifts or investments

Design and execute highly customized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for each prospect

Partner with board members, executive leadership, and senior program staff to engage and inspire prospects through strategic involvement and impact-driven proposals

Represent the organization at the highest level, communicating its vision, mission, and strategic priorities with clarity, enthusiasm, and credibility

Deliver between $5-$25M annually in charitable investments

Lead the development and execution of a comprehensive principal gifts strategy aligned with organizational goals and philanthropic priorities

Establish measurable goals, performance metrics, and reporting mechanisms to track progress and ensure accountability

Collaborate with colleagues across development, communications, and program areas to align principal gift efforts with campaigns and organizational initiatives

Ensure principal gift strategies are fully integrated with the organization’s broader fundraising programs, including major gifts, planned giving, and corporate/foundation relations

Supervise and mentor a small team focused on principal gift-level work, fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, and results

Provide strategic guidance, coaching, and professional development to team members within and outside of Advancement

Build and maintain a shared prospect pipeline to ensure long-term principal gift success

Work closely with the Board, board committees, and senior leadership to engage them in fundraising efforts and equip them with tools for effective donor engagement

Partner with physicians, principal investigators, and program leaders to connect prospects with organizational priorities and emerging opportunities

Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders regarding principal gift strategy and donor relationships

Qualification

Fundraising experiencePrincipal gift programsTeam managementStrategic thinkingInterpersonal skillsCustomer serviceCommunication skillsProblem solvingEmotional intelligence

Required

Bachelor's degree required

10+ years of progressive fundraising experience, with a track record of closing gifts at the $5M+ level

Demonstrated success building and leading principal gift programs in a complex, mission driven organization

Experience engaging high-level volunteers, corporate leaders, and philanthropic investors

Supervisory experience required, with proven ability to mentor and inspire high-performing teams

Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills

Strategic thinker with the ability to translate vision into actionable plans

High emotional intelligence, discretion, and the ability to navigate sensitive relationships

Deep commitment to the organization's mission and values

Preferred

Advanced degree preferred

Benefits

Shirley Ryan AbilityLab offers a comprehensive benefits program that is competitive with our industry peers in our geographic locations: <https://www.sralab.org/benefits>