Development Associate

About the Illinois Policy Institute

The Illinois Policy Institute is one of the nation’s leading free‑market public policy organizations. We advance policies that promote economic freedom, personal liberty, and good governance, working to ensure Illinois is a state where families, businesses, and communities can thrive.

Through rigorous policy research, strategic litigation, and public education, Illinois Policy Institute plays a central role in shaping policy debates in Illinois and beyond. Our work is fast‑paced, consequential, and grounded in a belief that principled ideas—paired with disciplined execution—can drive real reform.

The Illinois Policy Institute is hiring a Development Associate to support a growing and high‑performing fundraising operation. This role is ideal for an early‑career professional who is eager to learn the fundamentals of nonprofit development while contributing meaningfully to donor engagement, stewardship, and revenue growth.

The Development Associate supports day‑to‑day fundraising activities, including proposal and report drafting, prospect research, donor communications, event support, and data management. This role is an important entry point into institutional fundraising and provides hands‑on exposure to major gifts, foundations, and strategic donor relationships.

The Associate will report to the Vice President of Development and work closely with senior members of the development team, including major gifts staff, gaining direct mentorship and insight into how a best‑in‑class development shop operates.

This role is ideally based in Chicago (hybrid; minimum three days per week in office).

• Draft and edit donor proposals, impact reports, and stewardship communications
• Maintain and update institutional boilerplate, program summaries, and funding materials

• Conduct research on prospective donors, foundations, and partners
• Summarize findings and track cultivation activity within the organization’s CRM

• Coordinate with Finance and Operations to record gifts, pledges, and donor interactions
• Support reconciliation processes to ensure accurate and timely reporting

• Assist with drafting thank‑you letters and donor acknowledgments
• Support donor club materials and ensure prompt, professional follow‑up
• Assist with meeting coordination, briefing preparation, and personalized donor outreach
• Support senior staff in preparing for donor meetings and calls

• Assist with donor receptions, briefings, and institute events
• Support logistics, guest coordination, and post‑event follow‑up

• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Highly organized, detail‑oriented, and dependable
• Interest in fundraising, philanthropy, communications, or public policy
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office or Google Workspace; CRM experience a plus (training provided)
• Ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines in a fast‑paced environment
• Willingness to occasionally support events outside standard business hours (up to 10%)

• How to write effective donor proposals and impact reports
• How to use a modern CRM to track fundraising activity and donor engagement
• How donor meetings and events are planned and executed
• How a professional development team supports revenue growth and long‑term donor relationships

This role is designed as a foundation for a long‑term career in nonprofit development. As the Associate grows in experience and skill, they will take on greater responsibility across donor stewardship, grant management, and prospect support.

Strong performers may advance into more senior development roles, gaining increasing ownership over donor relationships, strategy execution, and institutional impact.

The Illinois Policy Institute’s development team is collaborative, disciplined, and results‑driven. We are building a fundraising operation that matches the seriousness and scale of our policy work.

We are seeking a teammate who believes in free‑market solutions, limited government, and the importance of…