Development Director - Uptown 's Law Center

Uptown People's Law Center
4750 N Sheridan Suite 500
Chicago , IL 60640
United States

Flex time and remote work options are available. This is a full-time, exempt position. Non-traditional hours—weekends and evenings—may be required on occasion.

Position

Purpose:

The Development Director will lead and implement a comprehensive fundraising and communications strategy to support and sustain Uptown People’s Law Center’s (UPLC) mission. This role is responsible for securing and growing funding from individuals, foundations, and law firms; crafting compelling donor communications; managing public messaging; and maintaining data systems that support donor cultivation and stewardship.

This is a leadership role requiring both strategic thinking and hands-on execution.

Position Responsibilities:This position will report to the Executive Director. The Development Director will supervise the Development Assistant/Comms Assistant and take ownership of the grants program overall, providing strategic direction and quality control while overseeing the day-to-day execution of grant applications, reports, and funder communications.

Specific

Responsibilities include:

• Develop and implement an annual fundraising plan in coordination with the Executive Director.
• Lead all donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies, including individual, institutional, and law firm supporters.
• Monitor progress toward fundraising goals and adjust strategies as needed to ensure sustainability and growth.
• Prepare internal and external fundraising reports in collaboration with the Executive Director and Director of Operations.
• Supervise the Development Assistant, ensuring alignment with departmental goals and providing mentorship and feedback.

Individual Giving

• Manage all aspects of individual giving, including donor engagement campaigns, acknowledgments, and stewardship.
• Develop and maintain donor journeys for recurring, mid-level, and major donors, using data-driven insights.
• Oversee appeals (email and print) and coordinate with staff and board on donor communications and outreach.
• Develop and expand ways to communicate with the public.

Institutional Giving & Grants Management

• Take ownership of the grants program, ensuring timely submission of compelling proposals and reports.
• Oversee the Development Assistant’s work on grants, including maintaining the grants calendar, gathering program data, and drafting application materials.
• Build and steward relationships with new and existing institutional funders.
• Collaborate with legal, outreach, and administrative teams to ensure grants reflect programmatic priorities and outcomes.

Communications & Public Messaging

• Develop and implement fundraising-related communications strategies that complement and align with UPLC’s broader organizational messaging goals.
• Collaborate with the Executive Director and communications consultant to shape and contribute fundraising-focused content for newsletters, donor updates, the annual report, social media, and the website.
• Ensure that fundraising messaging clearly conveys UPLC’s mission, values, and impact in a compelling and consistent manner.

Website Maintenance

• Maintain and regularly update the organization’s website to ensure timely and accurate presentation of programmatic and fundraising-related content.
• Coordinate with the Executive Director and communications consultant to align website updates with ongoing fundraising and communications efforts.
• Note:
  
  This responsibility focuses on content updates and basic maintenance and does not involve website design or redevelopment.

Event Planning

• Lead the planning and execution of annual fundraising and cultivation events.
• Ensure events center UPLC’s mission and create meaningful connections…