Director of Mission

• Industry Nonprofit Charitable Organizations
• Country United States

Director of Mission Advancement Job Description

Status: Exempt

Reports To: Executive Director

Salary Level: $85,000 - $95,000

About Chum:

Chum is a non-profit 501 (C)3 organization that serves about 8,000 low-income, homeless, hungry, isolated, and otherwise marginalized community members each year. More than 40 faith-based congregations in Duluth are part of Chum and support our core mission: people of faith working together to provide basic necessities, foster stable lives, and organize for a just and compassionate community.

Chum operates an Emergency Shelter, Family Shelter, a Drop-in Center with a Health and Wellness Clinic, Winter Warming Center, Food Shelf, as well as offers Street Outreach, and supportive services for people living at the Steve O’Neil Apartments and the St. Francis Apartments who were previously homeless. Chum’s advocacy focuses on policy and systems changes to help improve the lives of people who turn to Chum for services.

Chum also provides leadership to Stepping On Up (a collaboration of service agencies) that is working to change Duluth’s response to homelessness. We are committed to providing services in a manner that is informed by historic and contemporary forms of marginalization (such as racism, homophobia, and patriarchy) and relevant to the current issues of increasing mental illness and substance misuse.

The Director of Mission Advancement must be attuned to these struggles and able to understand, articulate, and synthesize Chum’s response to these issues.

Position Summary:

The Director of Mission Advancement provides strategic leadership for Chum’s fundraising, donor engagement, communications, advocacy, and congregational outreach efforts. This role supports Chum’s mission by strengthening relationships, advancing philanthropic support, and ensuring consistent, values-driven communication with donors, partners, and the broader community.

This position reports directly to and works with the Executive Director and works closely with the Board of Directors to develop and implement the organization’s annual advancement plan. The Director serves as a key member of Chum’s leadership team and provides oversight and direction to the Mission Advancement Team, ensuring alignment with Chum’s strategic priorities and long-term sustainability.

This position is ideal for an experienced development professional with strong relationship-building and communication skills, a collaborative leadership style, and a deep commitment to equity, justice, and serving marginalized populations. The successful candidate will be able to clearly articulate Chum’s mission, vision, and impact while fostering a culture of generosity, professionalism, and accountability across staff, board members, and supporters.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership & Planning

• Develops, implements, and evaluates Chum’s Board-approved annual mission
  advancement plan to support organizational sustainability, budget goals, and the Strategic Plan.
• Works closely with the Executive Director and Board of Directors to align fundraising, communications, and engagement strategies with Chum’s mission, vision, and values.
• Establishes clear priorities, measurable goals, and accountability structures to guide advancement initiatives and assess progress.
• Leads comprehensive fundraising efforts including annual giving, major gifts, grants, special events, planned giving, and capital campaigns.
• Identifies, researches, cultivates, solicits, and stewards individual donors, foundations, congregations, and community partners.
• Maintains and actively manages a portfolio of major donors, ensuring meaningful engagement, stewardship,…