Lion Heart Recruit LLC
Director of Development
Type of Work : Full-time salaried
Salary range:
$70K to $85K Work
Location:
Hybrid remote in Schaumburg, IL
Reports to:
Executive Director Benefits: unlimited paid time off, telecommuting, medical/dental/vision insurance, 401(k) with match, flexible work environment.
About the job
The mission of Chicago Voyagers is to empower youth through adventure therapy programs that foster healthy relationships and skills for life success. Founded in 2008, Chicago Voyagers provides adventure therapy services for youth from underserved neighborhoods.
Chicago Voyagers is a nonprofit dedicated to empowering under-resourced youth through outdoor adventure therapy and experiential learning. Through activities like canoeing, rock climbing, camping, and hiking, we help young people build confidence, resilience, and leadership skills that last a lifetime. Most of the teens we serve have experienced significant childhood trauma and adversity. As such, our year-round programs are delivered in partnership with schools and community organizations, ensuring students receive consistent support and mentorship.
THE OPPORTUNITY
Chicago Voyagers (CV) seeks a highly-motivated, versatile and socially conscious Director of Development to join our team. This person is passionate about the mission of empowering youth to grow into their potential. The Director of Development will bring fundraising expertise to the table in discussions of the organization's strategic direction. This role will lead our individual and foundation stewardship, oversee grant writing, prospect new funding opportunities and support the Executive Director with overall fundraising goals. Using strengths in strategy, leadership, relationship-building, communications, and development execution, our Director of Development will build and actualize a robust fundraising program to take Chicago Voyagers to the next level. This role is ideal for a development professional who has developed his/her basic fundraising competencies and is looking for an entrepreneurial role that includes strategy development, leadership responsibility and growth opportunities.
RESPONSIBILITIES
As a member of Chicago Voyagers' leadership team, the Director of Development will work in partnership with the Executive Director, the Board of Directors, and the administrative team to develop, implement, and monitor fundraising systems and marketing and communication efforts that sustain operational goals.
Responsibilities include:
Development and operational strategy • In partnership with the Executive Director, leverage and enhance CV's existing development plan to implement a strategic and diversified fundraising plan from individual, corporate and institutional donors. • Cultivate, solicit and close annual, major gift and multi-year contributions. • Report to the Board of Directors on progress towards annual fundraising goals. • Fuel CV's fundraising pipeline as primary prospect researcher. • Keep apprised of landscape and relevant news/changes in corporate, foundation, and individual giving communities. • Serve as an external-facing member of leadership. Support events strategies, including sponsorship and ticket sales.
Lead and manage individual and corporate giving • Manage and grow a portfolio of major gift donors/prospects and manage the fundraising strategy for these donors with primary responsibility for cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. • Build and manage a portfolio of donors and prospects with $10,000+ capacity for giving, and a focus on prospects capable of giving over $25,000+. • Build relationships with our supporters, including our Board of Directors, to create lifelong advocates for our mission. • Implement a high-quality stewardship program that engages, recognizes, and thanks supporters to strengthen their relationship with CV.
Lead and manage fundraising events • Maintain knowledge of current event industry trends and best practices to ensure all events support our mission and meet the needs of our sponsors, attendees, and other stakeholders. • Plan and execute major fundraising events, including annual Gala. Lead and manage development team • Oversee the grant funding pipeline, including the work of our grant writing consultants. Provide support for relationship-building with funders and oversee funding communications and grant reporting. • Manage all donor data from event software to ensure accuracy. • Support the Board of Directors in cultivating their fundraising abilities, and in recruiting new members to accomplish core development and operational objectives. • Oversee and grow an established pipeline of grants and prospects. • Manage all donor data from event software to ensure accuracy. • Work collaboratively with the leadership team to shape culture, team mentality and staff professional development. • Foster a positive and collaborative team environment • Promote and foster a culture of giving and appreciation with staff, Board of Directors, volunteers, and the broader community • Actively contribute as a leadership team member and support our ongoing DEIB work
Communications • Execute creative and compelling individual giving campaigns, including annual appeals and major gift initiatives. • Implement effective corporate giving strategies to secure sponsorships and other high-level donations. • Oversee creation and execution of press releases, social media editorial calendar and communications and marketing collateral for various events. • Create customized pitch decks and other presentation materials.
QUALIFICATIONS • Passion for youth development programs and the ideals expressed in our mission statement. • Associate degree required; College degree preferred • 3-5 years of relevant professional experience preferred • Proven track record of fundraising at the mid-size nonprofit level with targets of $400K or more per year. • History of success in: • managing individual giving programs • securing major gifts • raising funds from corporations through corporate giving and sponsorships • managing successful fundraising events • Experience with and demonstrated ability to cultivate strong, sustained relationships with a wide range of donors, institutional funders, and community partners. • Self-driven, with the ability to anticipate organizational needs and challenges, and take the initiative to problem solve both independently and in collaboration with org-wide staff. • Expert written and verbal communication skills with the ability to articulate compelling strengths-based narratives from a DEI lens. • High level of planning, organizational and project management skills. • Successful experience in supervising staff, volunteers, and contractors. • Availability for occasional weekend or evening work as needed. • Grants, marketing, and public relations skills a plus.
Type of Work : Full-time salaried
Salary range:
$70K to $85K Work
Location:
Hybrid remote in Schaumburg, IL
Reports to:
Executive Director Benefits: unlimited paid time off, telecommuting, medical/dental/vision insurance, 401(k) with match, flexible work environment.
About the job
The mission of Chicago Voyagers is to empower youth through adventure therapy programs that foster healthy relationships and skills for life success. Founded in 2008, Chicago Voyagers provides adventure therapy services for youth from underserved neighborhoods.
Chicago Voyagers is a nonprofit dedicated to empowering under-resourced youth through outdoor adventure therapy and experiential learning. Through activities like canoeing, rock climbing, camping, and hiking, we help young people build confidence, resilience, and leadership skills that last a lifetime. Most of the teens we serve have experienced significant childhood trauma and adversity. As such, our year-round programs are delivered in partnership with schools and community organizations, ensuring students receive consistent support and mentorship.
THE OPPORTUNITY
Chicago Voyagers (CV) seeks a highly-motivated, versatile and socially conscious Director of Development to join our team. This person is passionate about the mission of empowering youth to grow into their potential. The Director of Development will bring fundraising expertise to the table in discussions of the organization's strategic direction. This role will lead our individual and foundation stewardship, oversee grant writing, prospect new funding opportunities and support the Executive Director with overall fundraising goals. Using strengths in strategy, leadership, relationship-building, communications, and development execution, our Director of Development will build and actualize a robust fundraising program to take Chicago Voyagers to the next level. This role is ideal for a development professional who has developed his/her basic fundraising competencies and is looking for an entrepreneurial role that includes strategy development, leadership responsibility and growth opportunities.
RESPONSIBILITIES
As a member of Chicago Voyagers' leadership team, the Director of Development will work in partnership with the Executive Director, the Board of Directors, and the administrative team to develop, implement, and monitor fundraising systems and marketing and communication efforts that sustain operational goals.
Responsibilities include:
Development and operational strategy • In partnership with the Executive Director, leverage and enhance CV's existing development plan to implement a strategic and diversified fundraising plan from individual, corporate and institutional donors. • Cultivate, solicit and close annual, major gift and multi-year contributions. • Report to the Board of Directors on progress towards annual fundraising goals. • Fuel CV's fundraising pipeline as primary prospect researcher. • Keep apprised of landscape and relevant news/changes in corporate, foundation, and individual giving communities. • Serve as an external-facing member of leadership. Support events strategies, including sponsorship and ticket sales.
Lead and manage individual and corporate giving • Manage and grow a portfolio of major gift donors/prospects and manage the fundraising strategy for these donors with primary responsibility for cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. • Build and manage a portfolio of donors and prospects with $10,000+ capacity for giving, and a focus on prospects capable of giving over $25,000+. • Build relationships with our supporters, including our Board of Directors, to create lifelong advocates for our mission. • Implement a high-quality stewardship program that engages, recognizes, and thanks supporters to strengthen their relationship with CV.
Lead and manage fundraising events • Maintain knowledge of current event industry trends and best practices to ensure all events support our mission and meet the needs of our sponsors, attendees, and other stakeholders. • Plan and execute major fundraising events, including annual Gala. Lead and manage development team • Oversee the grant funding pipeline, including the work of our grant writing consultants. Provide support for relationship-building with funders and oversee funding communications and grant reporting. • Manage all donor data from event software to ensure accuracy. • Support the Board of Directors in cultivating their fundraising abilities, and in recruiting new members to accomplish core development and operational objectives. • Oversee and grow an established pipeline of grants and prospects. • Manage all donor data from event software to ensure accuracy. • Work collaboratively with the leadership team to shape culture, team mentality and staff professional development. • Foster a positive and collaborative team environment • Promote and foster a culture of giving and appreciation with staff, Board of Directors, volunteers, and the broader community • Actively contribute as a leadership team member and support our ongoing DEIB work
Communications • Execute creative and compelling individual giving campaigns, including annual appeals and major gift initiatives. • Implement effective corporate giving strategies to secure sponsorships and other high-level donations. • Oversee creation and execution of press releases, social media editorial calendar and communications and marketing collateral for various events. • Create customized pitch decks and other presentation materials.
QUALIFICATIONS • Passion for youth development programs and the ideals expressed in our mission statement. • Associate degree required; College degree preferred • 3-5 years of relevant professional experience preferred • Proven track record of fundraising at the mid-size nonprofit level with targets of $400K or more per year. • History of success in: • managing individual giving programs • securing major gifts • raising funds from corporations through corporate giving and sponsorships • managing successful fundraising events • Experience with and demonstrated ability to cultivate strong, sustained relationships with a wide range of donors, institutional funders, and community partners. • Self-driven, with the ability to anticipate organizational needs and challenges, and take the initiative to problem solve both independently and in collaboration with org-wide staff. • Expert written and verbal communication skills with the ability to articulate compelling strengths-based narratives from a DEI lens. • High level of planning, organizational and project management skills. • Successful experience in supervising staff, volunteers, and contractors. • Availability for occasional weekend or evening work as needed. • Grants, marketing, and public relations skills a plus.