Description
About Marwen:
Marwen educates and inspires young people to nurture their growth and build their futures through art and community. Founded in 1987, the no-cost studio and pathway programs exist for young people in Chicago who want to explore visual arts and do not have access to arts programming due to financial and systemic barriers. Courses are facilitated by intergenerational teaching artist teams. For more information, visit www.marwen.org.
Overview of Position:
Marwen is seeking a relationship-driven fundraiser to grow our mid-level portfolio of individual donors. The Annual Fund Manager will solicit, cultivate and steward donors who give between $500 - $2,500, deepening their engagement with Marwen, and building a strong pipeline for future major gifts. As part of the Fundraising Team, the Manager will contribute to the growth of the donor base and build a strong culture of philanthropy.
This role is Ideal for someone who:
Enjoys engaging large groups of supporters through creative fundraising campaigns and donor experiences
Is energized by building a community of recurring supporters
Thinks strategically about donor acquisition, retention, and lifetime value
Enjoys using data, storytelling, and donor insights to strengthen giving programs
Entry and Mid-Level Individual Giving (50%)
Build and manage a portfolio of giving prospects (securing gifts at $500 - $2,500) to generate new and increased revenue from entry and mid-level donors
Implement and assess moves management strategies through high-touch engagement to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward annual fund and monthly donors
Conceptualize and execute multi channel fundraising campaigns for giving campaigns (e.g., quarterly, year-end appeals and Giving Tuesday)
Develop and grow Marwen’s monthly donor program through acquisition, stewardship, retention, and upgrade strategies
Develop compelling fundraising messaging in partnership with the Communications team
Partner with Senior Manager of Individual Giving, Deputy Director, Development and Executive Director to advance relationships with top donors through personalized stewardship
Partner with department leadership to develop fundraising budgets, monthly updates, and quarterly forecasts
Stewardship & Individual Giving Initiatives (25%)
Partner with Senior Manager of Individual Giving to develop and execute personalized donor stewardship plans, ensuring sustained engagement through in-person meetings, solicitations, stewardship events, and tailored communication strategies
Partner with the Senior Manager of Institutional Giving to identify and cultivate individual prospects within the corporate area
Fundraising Events (25%)
Partner with Senior Manager of Individual Giving to develop and implement strategies to cultivate new individuals who attend fundraising events and convert into recurring donors
Support event logistics including scheduling, managing event timelines, identifying staffing/volunteer roles, etc.
Collaborate with the Deputy Director, Development to support the engagement and fundraising participation of the Associate Board, Family Advisory Board, and alumni groups
Attend Donor Relations & Development Committee meetings as needed
The ideal candidate will have:
Bachelor’s degree preferred
3-5 years experience in individual fundraising
A proven track record of cultivating, soliciting and stewarding entry and mid-level donors, as well as knowledge of the Chicago arts and national philanthropic community
Experience developing and executing successful fundraising campaigns, recurring giving initiatives, and donor stewardship strategies
Strong relationship-building and storytelling skills
Strong project management and organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail and follow-through
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Familiarity with moves management strategies and donor database systems (e.g., GiveSmart)
Ability to work independently while collaborating with a team
To apply, please send a cover letter and resume to fundmanager@marwen.org with the subject line “Annual Fund Manager.” Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with priority given to those submitted by August 15, 2026.
Requirements
The ideal candidate will have:
Bachelor’s degree preferred
3-5 years experience in individual fundraising
A proven track record of cultivating, soliciting and stewarding entry and mid-level donors, as well as knowledge of the Chicago arts and national philanthropic community
Experience developing and executing successful fundraising campaigns, recurring giving initiatives, and donor stewardship strategies
Strong relationship-building and storytelling skills
Strong project management and organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail and follow-through
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Familiarity with moves management strategies and donor database systems (e.g., GiveSmart)
Ability to work independently while collaborating with a team
