Major Gifts Seasonal Assistant
Ravinia Festival, Highland Park, Illinois, United States, 60035
At Ravinia, we believe in the transformative power of shared, live‑music moments and their ability to inspire individuals, strengthen communities, and foster a more connected world.
Beyond presenting outstanding performances by the world’s greatest musicians, our mission as a not‑for‑profit organization is to develop broader, more diverse audiences and performers in the music industry with our Reach Teach Play® community engagement and education programs, our Steans Institute’s collaborative and experiential artistic training programs, and more. Together, Ravinia’s initiatives serve tens of thousands of students, families, and emerging professional musicians.
Our 36‑acre park is home to North America’s longest‑running outdoor music festival and its most artistically diverse lineup. Over 100 different events, featuring a mix of classical, rock, pop, jazz, R&B, indie, and country performers, make up a typical summer season across our open‑air and indoor stages, including the annual residency of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
Job Description Position Summary The Development Seasonal Assistant supports Ravinia’s Development Department as an integral member of the Major Gifts team, supporting meaningful relationships with Ravinia’s most generous supporters. With a strong focus on donor care and engagement, this role helps deliver thoughtful, professional, and personalized experiences through a range of administrative tasks. During the summer season, the position helps with the planning and execution of major donor stewardship and sponsorship events, and assignments that keep the Major Gifts team on track and help ensure Ravinia’s donors feel welcomed, valued, and connected to the organization’s mission. This role offers a unique opportunity to gain hands‑on experience in major‑gift fundraising and special projects for North America’s oldest outdoor music festival and a leading not‑for‑profit arts organization.
Key Responsibilities
Serve as a primary point of contact for major gift donors, providing a high level of customer service when handling major donors’ events, ticketing, parking, dining or other requests.
Learn and utilize Ravinia’s software platforms to reserve, sell, and exchange tickets; place dining reservation requests; process donations; manage waitlists; and accurately log donor interactions.
Draft donor correspondence and prepare mailing materials, including mail merges from existing files, format and print letters, envelopes and mailing labels.
Assist in the execution of meaningful and customized stewardship opportunities for Ravinia’s major gift, planned giving, and Silver Circle (25+ years of giving) donors.
Develop creative materials, generate correspondence, and track guest attendance for donor and sponsor stewardship opportunities.
Support donor benefits fulfillment and assist with timely gift acknowledgment processes.
Act as an onsite donor resource at Ravinia’s private dining venues, and other Ravinia restaurants during concert evenings throughout the summer season.
Assist in sponsor recognition tracking, ensuring accuracy of sponsor listings in the Ravinia program magazine and on park signage. Maintain and organize event photos and documentation in Google Drive.
Provide support for Development events including, but not limited to:
Music Matters – Saturday, May 9, 2026
Campaign Events – ongoing & Opening weekend – Friday, July 10, 2026
Women’s Board Gala Benefit – Saturday, July 11, 2026
Special projects and other duties as assigned, including providing administrative support for the Development department, auxiliary groups, and donor concierge services.
Provide front desk/reception support as needed.
Qualifications
Demonstrated excellence in customer service with a focus on delivering personalized experiences.
Skilled in prioritizing and managing multiple projects in fast‑paced environments.
Strong active listening and interpersonal communication abilities.
Exceptional attention to detail with a commitment to accuracy and quality.
Proven ability to build and maintain professional relationships.
Quick and effective problem solver in dynamic or challenging situations.
Collaborative team player with a positive and adaptable attitude.
Proficient in Google Workspace and Microsoft Office.
Experience with or agility to learn new systems such as AudienceView, Monday.com, or similar preferred platforms.
Preferred Qualifications
At least two years of college, or college graduate preferred.
Experience in events, administrative support, or customer service preferred.
Work Environment
This is a seasonal, full‑time position designed for individuals excited to immerse themselves in Ravinia’s vibrant summer season and contribute to the success of the Major Gifts team.
Availability to work many evenings and weekends throughout the late spring and summer concert season is required.
Ideal availability is from February through September 2026, allowing for involvement in both advance planning and peak summer operations.
This role offers a distinctive professional experience at a world‑class cultural institution at an exciting time in the organization’s history.
Compensation and Benefits Wage: $16.75/hourly
Benefits: Eligible for Illinois Paid Leave Plan
Qualified candidates must upload both a cover letter and resume to be considered.
Ravinia is an Equal Opportunity Employer. As an equal opportunity employer, Ravinia strongly believes that diversity of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives is essential to our success. We strive to create and sustain an equitable and inclusive environment for all our employees. Ravinia does not discriminate on the basis of any protected status under federal, state, or local law. We encourage individuals of all identities and abilities to apply.
All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Beyond presenting outstanding performances by the world’s greatest musicians, our mission as a not‑for‑profit organization is to develop broader, more diverse audiences and performers in the music industry with our Reach Teach Play® community engagement and education programs, our Steans Institute’s collaborative and experiential artistic training programs, and more. Together, Ravinia’s initiatives serve tens of thousands of students, families, and emerging professional musicians.
Our 36‑acre park is home to North America’s longest‑running outdoor music festival and its most artistically diverse lineup. Over 100 different events, featuring a mix of classical, rock, pop, jazz, R&B, indie, and country performers, make up a typical summer season across our open‑air and indoor stages, including the annual residency of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
Job Description Position Summary The Development Seasonal Assistant supports Ravinia’s Development Department as an integral member of the Major Gifts team, supporting meaningful relationships with Ravinia’s most generous supporters. With a strong focus on donor care and engagement, this role helps deliver thoughtful, professional, and personalized experiences through a range of administrative tasks. During the summer season, the position helps with the planning and execution of major donor stewardship and sponsorship events, and assignments that keep the Major Gifts team on track and help ensure Ravinia’s donors feel welcomed, valued, and connected to the organization’s mission. This role offers a unique opportunity to gain hands‑on experience in major‑gift fundraising and special projects for North America’s oldest outdoor music festival and a leading not‑for‑profit arts organization.
Key Responsibilities
Serve as a primary point of contact for major gift donors, providing a high level of customer service when handling major donors’ events, ticketing, parking, dining or other requests.
Learn and utilize Ravinia’s software platforms to reserve, sell, and exchange tickets; place dining reservation requests; process donations; manage waitlists; and accurately log donor interactions.
Draft donor correspondence and prepare mailing materials, including mail merges from existing files, format and print letters, envelopes and mailing labels.
Assist in the execution of meaningful and customized stewardship opportunities for Ravinia’s major gift, planned giving, and Silver Circle (25+ years of giving) donors.
Develop creative materials, generate correspondence, and track guest attendance for donor and sponsor stewardship opportunities.
Support donor benefits fulfillment and assist with timely gift acknowledgment processes.
Act as an onsite donor resource at Ravinia’s private dining venues, and other Ravinia restaurants during concert evenings throughout the summer season.
Assist in sponsor recognition tracking, ensuring accuracy of sponsor listings in the Ravinia program magazine and on park signage. Maintain and organize event photos and documentation in Google Drive.
Provide support for Development events including, but not limited to:
Music Matters – Saturday, May 9, 2026
Campaign Events – ongoing & Opening weekend – Friday, July 10, 2026
Women’s Board Gala Benefit – Saturday, July 11, 2026
Special projects and other duties as assigned, including providing administrative support for the Development department, auxiliary groups, and donor concierge services.
Provide front desk/reception support as needed.
Qualifications
Demonstrated excellence in customer service with a focus on delivering personalized experiences.
Skilled in prioritizing and managing multiple projects in fast‑paced environments.
Strong active listening and interpersonal communication abilities.
Exceptional attention to detail with a commitment to accuracy and quality.
Proven ability to build and maintain professional relationships.
Quick and effective problem solver in dynamic or challenging situations.
Collaborative team player with a positive and adaptable attitude.
Proficient in Google Workspace and Microsoft Office.
Experience with or agility to learn new systems such as AudienceView, Monday.com, or similar preferred platforms.
Preferred Qualifications
At least two years of college, or college graduate preferred.
Experience in events, administrative support, or customer service preferred.
Work Environment
This is a seasonal, full‑time position designed for individuals excited to immerse themselves in Ravinia’s vibrant summer season and contribute to the success of the Major Gifts team.
Availability to work many evenings and weekends throughout the late spring and summer concert season is required.
Ideal availability is from February through September 2026, allowing for involvement in both advance planning and peak summer operations.
This role offers a distinctive professional experience at a world‑class cultural institution at an exciting time in the organization’s history.
Compensation and Benefits Wage: $16.75/hourly
Benefits: Eligible for Illinois Paid Leave Plan
Qualified candidates must upload both a cover letter and resume to be considered.
Ravinia is an Equal Opportunity Employer. As an equal opportunity employer, Ravinia strongly believes that diversity of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives is essential to our success. We strive to create and sustain an equitable and inclusive environment for all our employees. Ravinia does not discriminate on the basis of any protected status under federal, state, or local law. We encourage individuals of all identities and abilities to apply.
All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.
#J-18808-Ljbffr