Posted on August 27, 2012

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Development Director

Communities In Schools of Chicago (CISC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to working in partnership with the Chicago Public Schools and community organizations to improve student success. During the 2010-2011 school year, CISC connected more than 1,400 services and programs to 71,000 students and families. Connected services include health services and education, violence-prevention and arts and academic enrichment programs. CISC links existing health, human and other support services to 171 Chicago public schools. CISC also partners with more than 170 community organizations across the city that provide their programming in the schools at no cost to the student or school. CISC is an affiliate of Communities In Schools, Inc., a national nonprofit organization with offices in 200 different cities and communities.

The Director of Development will be responsible for organizing, planning and implementing all fundraising strategies, programs and initiatives, including major gifts, annual campaigns, donor relations, grant writing, events, and special initiatives. The Director of Development will work closely with the Executive Director and the Board of Directors in implementing CISC’s fundraising strategy. The Director is responsible for leading a team that includes a development manager and a communications manager and for meeting organizational goals of increasing individual giving by 30 percent during a three-year period.

Responsibilities:

The Director will:

• Oversee and continue to develop a comprehensive fundraising program to meet the short- and long-term needs of CISC, including gifts from individuals, foundations, and corporations to support annual unrestricted needs, as well as supporting government grants and overseeing fundraising and cultivation events.
• Develop an annual comprehensive fund development plan; identify annual revenue goals, and analyze progress toward those goals.
• Develop and implement strategies for cultivating and soliciting major gift individual donors.
• Maintain strategic relationships with members of the funding community.
• Create standardized processes for ongoing cultivation of existing and prospective donors, preparing and managing the Executive Director and Board of Directors’ participation.
• Participate in solicitations, as appropriate.
• Ensure that ongoing prospect identification and research is occurring. Manage development of case statement and collateral materials to be used in fundraising.
• Oversee the creation and development of all fund raising materials – board solicitations, annual fund appeals, annual report, letters of intent, proposals, reports to donors, major donor cultivation strategies and materials, and donor acknowledgements.
• Devise multi-year plan for building the organization’s development events calendar with goals for funding, participation and awareness-building.
• Oversee special events, both fundraisers and friendraisers, designed to strengthen relationships and secure funding from existing donors, prospective donors and friends of CISC.
• Hire, supervise, and evaluate development staff members and consultants.
• Oversee the modification and management of the fund development database.
• Serve as staff liaison to the resource and governance board committees; work with executive director and board members on board member cultivation and retention, fundraising and communications.
• Serve as a member of the senior management team of CISC.
• Represent CISC at selected events.

Desired skills and attributes:

• Enthusiasm for mission-driven work;
• An interest in education and human service issues;
• Demonstrated ability to set and achieve goals;
• Excellence in communicating professionally with diverse audiences;
• Ability to work collaboratively and independently; and
• Ability to multi-task and meet multiple deadlines.

Qualifications:

Candidate will:

• Have a minimum of ten years experience in a fundraising position with a proven record that includes securing major gifts, foundation and corporate solicitation, career advancement, and management.
• Have superior writing, organization and communication skills, function with ease around donors and board members, and excel in pressured situations.
• Be able to effectively communicate the mission, goals, strengths and potential of the organization.
• Have personal contacts in, and knowledge of, the funding community to bring to this organization.
• Strong computer skills required: proficiency in database, spreadsheet and word processing programs as well as familiarity with prospect management systems is essential.
• Experience with management is a plus including the ability to deal effectively with many different types of people.
• An outgoing, creative, hardworking and flexible person with an interest in education issues will enjoy working at Communities In Schools of Chicago.

Reports to: Executive Director
Start date: September 2012 (negotiable)
Starting Salary: Dependent upon qualifications

Application Instructions

Please write "Director of Development" in the subject line to ensure that your materials are directed appropriately.

No faxes or phone calls please

Letters may be addressed to:

Executive Director
Communities In Schools of Chicago
815 W. Van Buren St.
Suite 300
Chicago, IL 60607