Description * The ideal candidate is a relationship-driven fundraising leader who combines a passion for healthcare and community impact with a strong business mindset. This individual will have demonstrated success building donor relationships, advancing long-term fundraising programs, managing Foundation operations, and partnering with a Board of Directors to create sustainable philanthropic support for Rush Memorial Hospital. * Monday - Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm The Executive Director of the Foundation provides visionary, strategic, and operational leadership for the Rush Memorial Hospital Foundation.
This vital role advances the mission and strategic priorities of Rush Memorial Hospital by building meaningful philanthropic partnerships, securing charitable support, and stewarding donor relationships with integrity, professionalism, and respect. The Executive Director is responsible for developing, implementing, and evaluating a comprehensive, long-term fundraising and donor-engagement strategy that supports sustainable growth of the Foundation.
This includes annual giving, major gifts, planned giving, grants, special events, corporate and community partnerships, donor stewardship, and other philanthropic initiatives. Serving as the primary liaison among the Foundation Board of Directors, hospital leadership, Foundation committees, donors, volunteers, and community partners, the Executive Director leads all strategic and operational functions of the Foundation.
The role requires a relationship-centered fundraising professional with strong business judgment, financial acumen, and the ability to operate the Foundation efficiently, responsibly, and in alignment with its charitable purpose. The Executive Director reports to the Rush Memorial Hospital Foundation Board of Directors and the Vice President of Human Resources. Requirements KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE Skills- Demonstrated success in fundraising, including the cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and retention of individual, corporate, foundation, and community donors.
Proven ability to build trusted, long-term relationships with donors, prospective donors, community leaders, volunteers, board members, and hospital stakeholders. Ability to develop and execute a strategic donor-relations and fundraising plan that includes annual giving, major gifts, planned giving, grant opportunities, special events, sponsorships, and community partnerships. Strong business and operational mindset, with the ability to manage Foundation resources, budgets, financial reporting, donor data, policies, and programs in a fiscally responsible manner.
Experience establishing measurable fundraising goals, donor-engagement metrics, return-on-investment expectations for events and programs, and regular performance reporting for the Foundation Board. Ability to identify, research, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward prospective major donors in support of Foundation priorities. Demonstrated ability to translate hospital and community needs into compelling philanthropic opportunities, cases for support, donor communications, and campaign initiatives.
Strong judgment and discretion in handling confidential donor information, gift discussions, financial information, and sensitive relationship matters. Experience using donor relationship-management systems, gift-processing systems, and financial software to maintain accurate donor records, track giving activity, manage stewardship plans, and support reporting. Knowledge- Thorough knowledge of fundraising principles, donor cultivation, major gifts, annual giving, planned giving, grant development, sponsorships, stewardship, and relationship-based philanthropy.
Knowledge of strategic fundraising planning and the development of sustainable, multi-year donor programs that build long-term philanthropic support for the Foundation. Knowledge of nonprofit and Foundation operations, including budgeting, financial oversight, gift acceptance practices, donor recognition, governance support, reporting, and operational planning. Knowledge of nonprofit financial management and business practices, with the ability to evaluate the financial impact, resource requirements, and return on investment of fundraising programs, events, and initiatives.
Knowledge of donor database/CRM best practices, including prospect management, donor segmentation, moves management, gift tracking, stewardship documentation, and reporting. Knowledge of applicable charitable giving, 501(c)(3), IRS, donor-restriction, gift acknowledgment, and confidentiality requirements. Knowledge of marketing, communications, public relations, and storytelling strategies that strengthen community awareness and philanthropic engagement.
Knowledge of grant research, proposal development, grant administration, and post-award reporting processes. Experience- Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in fundraising, nonprofit development, Foundation leadership, healthcare philanthropy, advancement, business development, or related community-focused work. Demonstrated record of success in fundraising and donor relationship management, including the cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and retention of donors and prospective donors.
Experience developing and implementing long-term fundraising strategies, donor-engagement plans, annual giving programs, major-gift initiatives, planned-giving opportunities, grant programs, sponsorships, or capital campaigns. Demonstrated experience managing a portfolio of donors and prospects, including relationship development with individuals, businesses, foundations, community leaders, and volunteers. Experience working collaboratively with a board of directors, fundraising or development committees, executive leadership, physicians, volunteers, and community stakeholders.
Experience managing budgets, financial reporting, operational plans, donor data, and organizational resources in a business-minded and fiscally responsible manner. Previous leadership or management experience is preferred, including supervision of staff, volunteers, consultants, or fundraising teams. Healthcare Foundation, hospital philanthropy, nonprofit leadership, or community-development experience is strongly preferred.
PHYSICAL AND MENTAL EFFORT The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the
. Management level position without undue physical hazards. Meetings with many individuals and groups inside and outside the hospital require physical stamina and a high degree of flexibility and judgment.
Subject to long hours and sometimes taxing work pressures. ENVIRONMENTAL AND WORKING CONDITIONS The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform
. The noise level in this work environment is usually moderate. Works in an office setting.
Clean, well-lighted, and ventilated office area. ACCOUNTABILITY Reports to the Rush Memorial Hospital Foundation Board and the Hospital's Vice President of Human Resources. QUALITY ASSURANCE-KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Develop, implement, and regularly evaluate a comprehensive, multi-year fundraising strategy aligned with the strategic priorities of Rush Memorial Hospital and the Rush Memorial Hospital Foundation.
Build and maintain a robust donor pipeline through proactive prospect research, relationship cultivation, donor qualification, solicitation, stewardship, and recognition activities. Establish and manage a long-term donor-relations program that strengthens donor retention, increases donor engagement, recognizes donor impact, and encourages sustained and legacy giving. Lead major-gift fundraising efforts by identifying prospective donors, developing individualized cultivation and solicitation strategies, coordinating donor visits, and partnering with Board members and hospital leaders as appropriate.
Develop and manage annual giving, corporate giving, sponsorship, grant, planned-giving, and special-event strategies that diversify Foundation revenue and reduce reliance on any single fundraising source. Translate hospital priorities, patient-care needs, capital needs, workforce needs, and community-health opportunities into clear philanthropic cases for support. Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential donor, gift, pledge, grant, and stewardship information through the Foundation’s donor-management and financial systems.
Establish measurable annual fundraising, donor-engagement, stewardship, and operational goals; provide regular progress reports, dashboards, and recommendations to the Foundation Board of Directors. Ensure the Foundation operates with sound business practices, including effective budgeting, expense management, revenue forecasting, internal controls, financial reporting, compliance oversight, and responsible use of Foundation resources.
Evaluate fundraising events, campaigns, and programs for mission alignment, donor experience, community impact, financial return, and long-term sustainability. Partner with the Foundation Board to engage members in fundraising, donor cultivation, community outreach, advocacy, stewardship, and strategic decision-making. Serve as a visible ambassador for the Foundation and Rush Memorial Hospital by cultivating relationships with donors, businesses, civic organizations, professional advisors, and community leaders.
Develop donor communications, impact reports, recognition strategies, and stewardship activities that clearly demonstrate how charitable support advances the mission of Rush Memorial Hospital. Maintain compliance with applicable laws, regulations, organizational policies, gift acceptance procedures, donor restrictions, and 501(c)(3) requirements. Develops and reviews development program policies, procedures, and guidelines for development activities.
Orients and educates volunteer leadership to ensure superior participation on Board and Event committees; effectively motivates and supports all volunteer efforts related to Board and committee meetings. Provides organization, program direction, and general departmental support for development committee meetings. Responsible for the planning, fundraising, and implementation of key fundraising events.
Works collaboratively with Board Fund Development Committee. Oversees, recruits and trains volunteers as part of fundraising events Responsible for leading the Rush Memorial Hospital Foundation in a manner that supports and guides the organization’s mission as defined by the Board of Directors. Responsible for communicating effectively with the Board and providing, in a timely and accurate manner, all information necessary for the Board to function properly and to make informed decisions.
Responsible for the fiscal integrity of the Rush Memorial Hospital Foundation, to include submission to the Board of a proposed annual budget and monthly financial statements, which accurately reflect the financial condition of the organization. Responsible for implementation of the Rush Memorial Hospital Foundation’s programs that carry out the organization’s mission. Responsible for strategic planning to ensure that the Rush Memorial Hospital Foundation can successfully fulfill its Mission into the future.
Responsible for effective administration of the Rush Memorial Hospital Foundation's operations. Responsible for the hiring, training, and retention of competent, qualified staff and volunteers. Responsible for signing all notes, agreements, and other instruments made and entered into and on behalf of the