Senior Director, Development

Position Overview

City Year Chicago is seeking a dynamic Senior Director of Development who will lead efforts to secure financial support from individuals and foundations in the metro Chicago area. Reporting to the Managing Director of Development and working closely with other members of the development team, senior leaders, volunteers, and board members, the Senior Director of Development is responsible for meeting quarterly and annual goals by identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding a diverse base of individual donors and foundations.

This position will play a critical role by assisting the Managing Director of Development in the successful execution of a substantial and sustainable individual giving program, the Red Jacket Society, and the management of our partners at HQ in creating and submitting successful grant applications, renewals and reports. This individual will work in close partnership with other members of the Development team.

The Senior Director of Development will also work closely with City Year Chicago’s Marketing & Communications team to fully leverage the site’s outreach activities and events to meaningfully engage prospective and current donors and alumni. The Development Department is responsible for securing more than $3.5M in annual support from individual, corporate, and foundation sources.

$90,000 - $100,000

• Develop and implement an individual giving strategy to increase the funding for City Year Chicago and position the organization as a premier education leader in the community ultimately meeting a fundraising goal of $2 million
• Develop and manage new creative solicitation campaigns and initiatives to engage a diverse group of individuals within the Chicago community
• Partner with national team Grant Writers to deliver grant proposals and reports for family and foundation funders
• Ensure the successful stewardship of current foundation and individual donor relationships by managing appropriate frequency of outreach, communication, appreciation and involvement
• Collaborate with the Executive Director, Managing Director of Development and Director, Corporate Partnerships to create strategies to identify and secure new supporters, fully leverage existing relationships, and increase multi-year commitments
• Collaborate with the Communications team to create and implement donor communications and acknowledgements related to cultivation and stewardship of donors and prospects using asset‑based language in all communications.
• Work with the Development staff and volunteers to develop, execute and evaluate strategies to engage a diverse group of individual donors through outreach, education, invitations to special events, and personal contacts.
• Ensure that asset‑based language is used in all communications and stories being told center our students
• Work to broaden donor base by prospecting, identifying, and cultivating new donors; ensuring diversity and sustainability of site donor base.
• Build a Red Jacket Society Ambassador team that reflects the diversity of our students and ACMs
• Manage a portfolio of 150 foundations, leadership donors, and prospects for whom they will be directly responsible to cultivate, solicit, and steward, with hopes to have these donors increase their giving level
• Engage through emails, calls, and visits to homes, offices, and events in the Chicago area
• Work closely with the Development team and Site Board to build a prospect portfolio and ensure the flow of prospects into the giving pipeline, from identification through stewardship.
• Support the efforts of volunteer committees to identify and solicit prospects, with a specific focus on the annual gala and specialty market events.
• Document and maintain clear and timely records and call reports to track contacts, donor giving, notes, and assist in the maintenance of an accurate database.
• Lead overall efforts to build a robust Red Jacket Society, inviting donors to personally invest $10,000+ in City Year Chicago.
• Work closely with the Board, Development team, HQ prospect research, and site leadership, to identify, engage, and cultivate a pipeline of prospects that can make annual…