ABOUT MAKE-A-WISH ILLINOIS
For 40 years, Make-A-Wish Illinois (MAWI) has transformed the lives of children with critical illnesses by granting life-changing wishes that bring hope, strength, and joy. A proud chapter of Make-A-Wish America, MAWI is part of the largest wish-granting organization in the world. Since its founding in 1980, Make-A-Wish has granted more than 585,000 wishes globally through 57 U.S. chapters and 40 international affiliates operating across six continents. Every 33 minutes, somewhere in the United States, a child’s wish is granted.
A thriving chapter within the network, MAWI serves children across Illinois with creativity, compassion, and impact. Since its inception, the chapter has granted more than 18,000 wishes, offering joy and hope to children and families. In fiscal year 2025 alone, MAWI will grant more than 700 wishes, with the bold goal of ultimately reaching 1,000 wishes annually – ensuring every eligible child in Illinois experiences the magic of a wish.
MAWI’s impact is powered by the dedication of more than 1,000 volunteers, a team of 55 professional staff, and an engaged and forward-thinking Board of Directors. The chapter raises more than $10M annually through individual, corporate, and foundation giving, as well as statewide fundraising events. To fulfill its ambitious vision, MAWI aims to double this revenue over time, scaling its operations to expand reach and deepen impact.
Widely recognized as one of the most innovative chapters in the Make-A-Wish network, MAWI frequently pilots best practices that are adopted nationally. Its leaders contribute to the movement across the U.S., shaping strategies and models that expand the power of wishes worldwide.
Under the leadership of CEO Stephanie Springs since 2005, MAWI has thrived—granting over 14,000 wishes during her tenure and increasing revenue by 87%. With her planned transition, alongside the planned transition of the Chief Development Officer, the organization is poised for its next era of growth and transformation.
What’s Next
As MAWI celebrates its 40th anniversary, the organization is looking ahead with bold ambition. Guided by a recently approved 2026–2028 Strategic Map, MAWI will focus on:
- Achieving diversified revenue growth to sustain and expand wish granting.
- Maximizing and nurturing community & brand visibility and engagement across Illinois.
- Scaling wish granting capacity and sustainability, aiming for vision fulfillment of 1,000 wishes annually.
- Engaging and developing staff and volunteers, fostering a supportive and inclusive culture.
- Driving efficiency and effectiveness in systems and operations to ensure long-term impact.
These priorities reflect MAWI’s values—integrity, innovation, impact, community, child-focus, and inclusion—and set the stage for the organization’s most ambitious chapter yet.
For more information about Make-A-Wish Illinois, visit https://wish.org/illinois.
THE OPPORTUNITY
In early 2026, Make-A-Wish Illinois will welcome its next Chief Development Officer (CDO). The CDO will join Make-A-Wish Illinois at an exciting moment in its history—one defined by growth and innovation—and will play a key role in the organization meeting its bold goals.
As MAWI celebrates its 40th anniversary and prepares to welcome a new CEO, the CDO will help shape and execute a bold vision for the future of philanthropy one that increases the donor base and builds a development program that fosters deeper, more enduring donor relationships and a culture of sustained partnership and impact.
Reporting to the CEO, the CDO provides strategic leadership, oversight, and accountability for the revenue-generating, philanthropic, and donor engagement functions of Make-A-Wish Illinois. This leader will oversee a team of 11, including five direct reports (Corporate Giving Director; Individual Giving Director; Senior Gift Officer; Signature Events Director; Donor Relations Coordinator).
In the short term, the CDO will focus on executing key priorities outlined in MAWI’s recently developed “revenue roadmap” for FY26. This includes strengthening and expanding emerging initiatives such as Trees of Joy, positioning it as a lasting donor acquisition event; launching the first Affinity Funds, with room for future growth; and leveraging MAWI’s investment in MarketSmart to enrich lead production and deepen donor engagement and relationship management. The CDO will also have the unique opportunity to help finalize and participate in the organization’s 40th Anniversary celebration—a milestone event culminating in June 2026 that will bring together 40 wish families at a “wish-popular” theme park and invite donors to participate in person and through special giving opportunities.
Looking ahead, the CDO will be charged with building a sustainable, relationship-driven revenue model capable of growing annual revenue from approximately $10 million to $20 million or more, enabling MAWI to fulfill its vision of reaching every eligible child in Illinois with the power of a wish.
Key responsibilities of the CDO include, among others:
Strategic Fundraising & Revenue Growth
- Develop, in collaboration with the CEO and Board, a multi-year revenue growth plan and annual development operating plan with clear goals, metrics, timelines, and accountability.
- Lead diversified funding streams (individual donors, major gifts, planned giving, corporate, foundation, signature events) for growth and management of risk from any single source.
- Oversee design and execution of major gift, mid-level giving, planned giving, recurring giving, and campaign (if applicable) initiatives.
- Drive innovation in fundraising models, exploring and testing new channels or donor engagement approaches to expand reach.
- Monitor fiscal performance, pipeline metrics, forecast trends, and adjust tactics as needed to hit targets.
- Work with finance and operations to align development plans with budget, cash flow, and financial controls.
Donor Cultivation, Solicitation, & Stewardship
- Personally manage a portfolio of major & principal donors, with active engagement plans, and meet a defined individual fundraising target.
- Cultivate and solicit major gifts, working in partnership with the CEO and Board for high-net-worth prospects and relationships.
- Oversee the Corporate Giving Program ensuring broad corporate engagement across the corporate revenue producing opportunities.
- Ensure best practices in donor stewardship, recognition, reporting, and engagement across the donor lifecycle.
- Oversee donor research, prospect identification, and move management strategies using data and analytics.
- Promote a culture of philanthropy across the organization—engaging and coaching staff, volunteers, and Board in donor-facing roles.
Department Leadership
- Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing development team with clarity of roles, goals, and performance metrics.
- Lead a team that collaborates across the revenue funding streams to produce the highest donor engagement.
- Ensure workflows, tools, systems, and policies enable efficient, scalable, and high-quality execution.
- Foster internal coordination and integration with Marketing & Community Advancement, Mission Delivery, and Operations to ensure alignment of messaging, cultivation, events, and mission impact.
Board & Volunteer Engagement
- Act as lead staff liaison to the Fund Development Committee, ensuring active Board fundraising engagement with the appropriate tools and training.
- Equip Board members and key volunteers to be effective ambassadors, stewards, and solicitors of donors.
- Work with volunteer fundraising committees or councils, as appropriate, to activate networks and support.
External Representation & Partnerships
- Serve as an ambassador and internal/external face of the organization in donor, corporate, foundation, and community settings.
- Build strategic partnerships and alliances with corporations, foundations, civic organizations, and community stakeholders to strengthen philanthropic support.
- Stay current on philanthropic trends, regional funding landscape, and emerging opportunities.
- Represent the organization at external events, meetings, conferences, and public engagements.
- Work collaboratively with Make-A-Wish America on donor opportunities and stewardship, revenue policies, and resources needed for the chapter team.
Metrics, Reporting, & Accountability
- Regularly report to the CEO, senior leadership, and Board on fundraising performance, pipeline, forecasts, variances, and risk mitigation strategies.
- Use data and analytics to assess performance, identify gaps, and adjust strategies.
- Ensure accurate and timely donor reporting, gift attribution, budgets, and forecasts.
- Establish, monitor, and manage key performance indicators (KPIs) for both individual team members and the function as a whole.
CANDIDATE PROFILE
While it is understood that no candidate will offer every desired skill, quality, and characteristic, the following offers a detailed, aspirational view of the ideal candidate profile:
A Passion for the Mission & Commitment to Equity
The ideal candidate will bring:
- A deep and authentic passion for MAWI’s mission and a fundamental belief in its power to create life-changing experiences for children and families.
- An infectious enthusiasm that inspires others to rally behind the cause and expand the organization’s impact.
- An unwavering commitment to the highest standards of ethics and integrity.
- A championing spirit for equity, inclusion, and belonging, ensuring communities across Illinois feel represented and engaged.
- Cultural humility and compassion, recognizing and valuing the emotional weight of MAWI’s mission while supporting staff, volunteers, and families with care.
A Strategic Fundraiser and Builder of Sustainable Growth
The ideal candidate will bring:
- A track record of designing and executing comprehensive fundraising strategies that drive sustainable, multi-channel revenue growth.
- Broad experience across major gifts, annual giving, corporate and foundation relations, planned giving, and special events.
- Success cultivating and soliciting significant gifts, personally managing a major donor portfolio, and engaging high-net-worth donors.
- Experience leading and motivating fundraising teams to meet ambitious goals.
- The ability to leverage data, analytics, and donor insights to inform strategy and measure progress.
A Collaborative and Inspirational Leader
The ideal candidate will bring:
- Strong leadership and management skills with the ability to inspire, coach, and hold accountable a dedicated team of 11 professionals.
- Exceptional communication and influence skills to engage donors, peers, Board members, volunteers, and staff across the organization.
- A collaborative spirit that fosters alignment across teams and functions, ensuring a unified approach to donor engagement and mission advancement.
- Emotional intelligence, authenticity, and the ability to build trust and enthusiasm internally and externally.
An Operationally Savvy and Accountable Executive
The ideal candidate will bring:
- A balance of strategic thinking and hands-on execution to deliver results with excellence and care.
- Strong organizational and project management skills, able to prioritize competing needs while maintaining clarity and focus.
- The ability to implement systems, processes, and metrics that promote accountability and transparency.
- Comfort operating in a data-informed environment and translating insights into actionable strategies.
A Bold & Innovative Thinker
The ideal candidate will bring:
- Vision and courage to think boldly about MAWI’s future and to take calculated risks in pursuit of ambitious goals.
- Comfort with ambiguity, paired with an infectious enthusiasm about the opportunity that exists in this moment of significant change for the organization.
- Creativity and entrepreneurial energy to design innovative fundraising and engagement strategies that drive growth.
- A holistic, big-picture perspective combined with the discipline to implement practical, effective strategies.
- The ability to foster a culture of innovation and thoughtful risk-taking—willing to think big, test new approaches, and learn from experimentation.
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
Salary for the role is anticipated to range from $200,000 - $230,000, with additional bonus potential. Final compensation will be competitive and commensurate with experience. MAWI values its employees and offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support their well-being.
PROCESS
With the planned retirements of both the CEO and CDO, Make-A-Wish Illinois is taking a thoughtful and coordinated approach by conducting both searches concurrently. This structure ensures a smooth leadership transition and strong alignment between the two roles. The CDO search process will include opportunities for leading CDO candidates to meet with a small subset of current MAWI team members, and finalist candidates will meet with the incoming CEO later in the process to ensure shared vision, partnership, and commitment to advancing MAWI’s mission.
LOCATION
The successful candidate must be based in or willing to relocate to Chicago, Illinois.
MAWI currently operates on a hybrid schedule: The Development team is expected to be in-person at MAWI’s office (200 W. Monroe, Suite 1801, Chicago) on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays remote.
This role requires a flexible schedule with willingness to regularly attend evening and weekend events. Business needs may dictate occasional need to adjust the hybrid schedule and team members are expected to be able to accommodate the organization’s physical presence needs as part of their hybrid work agreement.