Development Director

The Organization

Friends of the Children-Chicago (Friends-Chicago) is part of a national mentoring organization currently serving more than 40 communities and expanding. Our model is to impact generational change by empowering youth through relationships with professional mentors. We pair kindergartners facing the greatest obstacles with long-term, salaried, professional mentors to support their emotional, social, and academic growth. We walk beside our youth for 12.5 years – No Matter What.

At Friends of the Children, we are a dynamic and lively team. We put children first and mobilize our values to change the way the world treats and views youth facing great barriers. We nurture long-term relationships from a foundation of love, acceptance, and culturally-informed practice.

Friends-Chicago works in communities most impacted by poverty and gun violence. Our administrative office and West Side Clubhouse are in the West Loop. We also have a South Side Clubhouse in Englewood. Friends-Chicago is in a period of exciting growth and expansion. We seek a Development Director to help the organization grow sustainably.

The Development Director (DD) is a frontline fundraising and donor services position, including the direct cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of donors. The DD manages a portfolio of individual and corporate prospects and leads the efforts to meet the fundraising and donor relations goals of Friends of the Children-Chicago. The DD is responsible for the creation and management of a comprehensive fundraising and donor communications plan, supervising a team of three development professionals, and consistently monitoring progress and adjusting work plans to achieve goals.

The DD is a member of the Friends-Chicago leadership team and works with the Executive Director and Board of Directors to ensure the organization has the resources it needs to accomplish strategic objectives.

• Establish development department expense and revenue projections in partnership with Executive Director and Donor Relations Manager
• Oversee the creation and implementation of the Development Plan and calendar, including individual giving, foundation and government grants, events and communications
• Establish and monitor business objectives for the fundraising program and Development staff
• Actively seek new and creative opportunities for funding and sponsorship
• Oversee evaluation of fundraising program and adjust fundraising plans as needed
• Supervise and provide leadership to the development staff, including the Donor Relations Manager, Grants Manager, and Events & Communications Specialist
• Participate as part of the Chicago Leadership Team, including weekly meetings and participation in strategic discussions and activities

• Engage in direct cultivation, solicitation, and personalized stewardship of individual and corporate prospects, including event sponsors (approx. 16 meaningful interactions per month)
• Plan, execute, and evaluate a comprehensive major gift plan, including an ongoing multi-year pledge campaign
• Serve as a public representative and spokesperson at events and other public relations efforts
• Draft personalized correspondence for major donors and prospects
• Support the Executive Director’s donor engagement work, including collaboration on strategy and joint meetings
• Identify new prospective funders
• Oversee strategy and implementation for annual Friends fest gala event
• Oversee outreach meetings and small gatherings for prospects/donors
• Monitor trends in philanthropy and Chicago’s giving community

• Identify ways the board can support fundraising and facilitate their engagement
• Work with individual board members to develop and implement their own personal fundraising plan
• Implement Board Orientation activities
• Offer board training sessions to identify opportunities for board involvement and provide training on fundraising and messaging
• Provide staffing and support to Development Committee and Friends fest Host Committee, including establishing agendas, developing materials, and…