John Wallgren
About John Wallgren
John Wallgren serves as the Sr. Major Gifts & Planned Giving Officer at the Greater Chicago Food Depository, where he has worked since 2019. He has extensive experience in fundraising and donor cultivation across various non-profit sectors, including academic and healthcare institutions.
Work at Greater Chicago Food Depository
John Wallgren serves as the Sr. Major Gifts & Planned Giving Officer at the Greater Chicago Food Depository, a position he has held since 2019. In this role, he has been instrumental in developing executive fundraising strategies aimed at enhancing the organization's capacity to serve the community. His focus on major and planned giving has contributed to the organization's fundraising efforts, enabling it to address food insecurity in the Chicago area.
Previous Experience in Fundraising
Prior to his current role, John Wallgren held several positions in the fundraising sector. He worked as the Senior Director of Planned and Major Giving at Lake Forest College from 2002 to 2004. He also served as the Director of Legacy Giving at Covenant Retirement Communities from 2005 to 2018. His extensive experience includes roles at Northwestern University, where he was the Associate Director for both the Campaign for Engineering and the Physical Sciences and Planned and Major Gifts.
Education and Expertise
John Wallgren earned a Bachelor's degree in Business/Managerial Economics from North Park University. His educational background supports his expertise in fundraising, particularly in donor cultivation and solicitation. He has developed a strong talent for engaging major and planned gift donors, which has been a significant aspect of his career in both academic and healthcare non-profit sectors.
Career Timeline and Roles
John Wallgren's career spans several decades, beginning with his role as an Admissions Representative at North Park University from 1984 to 1985. He progressed to become the Director of Major Gifts at the same institution from 1988 to 1990. His career includes positions at Illinois Institute of Technology as Director of Planned Giving and Performance Graphics as Account Executive. His diverse roles have provided him with a comprehensive understanding of fundraising strategies.