Organization Overview
Girls Inc. inspires all girls to be strong, smart, and bold. Our comprehensive approach to whole girl development equips girls to navigate gender, economic, and social barriers and grow up healthy, educated, and independent. These positive outcomes are achieved through three core elements: people – trained staff and volunteers who build lasting mentoring relationships; environment – girls-only, physically and emotionally safe spaces where there is a sisterhood of support, high expectations, and mutual respect; and programming – research-based, hands-on and minds-on, age-appropriate programs that meet the needs of today’s girls.
Informed by girls and their families, Girls Inc. of Chicago also advocates for legislation and policies to increase opportunities for all girls and address the systemic barriers that impede girls’ success, particularly girls in low-income communities and girls of color.
Girls Inc. of Chicago, incorporated in November 2016, is one of the newest affiliates of Girls Inc., joining more than 80 affiliates across the United States and Canada with the shared mission to inspire girls to be strong, smart and bold. Girls Inc. of Chicago serves 800 Kindergarten – 12th grade girls each year at seven sites across the city.
Position Overview
Girls Inc. of Chicago is seeking a dynamic fundraising professional who recognizes today’s economic, civic and public health uncertainties while remaining steadfast in their belief in Chicago girls’ potential and power.
Reporting to the CEO, the Girls Inc. of Chicago Senior Development and Communications Manager will be responsible for the organization’s fundraising and communications initiatives. As the leader of the Development and Communications Department, this individual will supervise and manage all department staff, interns, and volunteers and collaborate with the Board of Directors.
The Senior Development and Communications Manager will develop and execute a comprehensive fundraising plan that encompasses foundation and corporate relations, special events, and individual donor cultivation and stewardship.
Primary Responsibilities
Foundation & Corporate Relations and Grants Management:
Maintain a portfolio of 75-100 mid-level corporate and foundation donors and prospects
Oversee all stages of the fundraising cycle including identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship
Personally manage and proactively build relationships and secure meetings with foundation program officers, corporate social responsibility representatives, and other stakeholders from potential funding sources
Lead the organization’s comprehensive grant application process and grant portfolio, including prospect research, submitting LOIs and full proposals, and timely submission of annual and periodic reports, with the aim of submitting a minimum of 27 proposals annually; collaborate with internal staff as applicable
Develop and execute a fund development plan that is designed to maintain and increase financial support from foundations, corporations, individuals and special events
Communications, External Relations & Special Events:
Based on the strategies identified in the fund development plan, create a stakeholder/donor communications calendar that coordinates email, social media, and events
Ensure all communications align with Chicago and Girls Inc. National branding, values, and standards
Lead the execution of digital (and snail mail as appropriate) fundraising appeals throughout the year including but not limited to Giving Tuesday and calendar year end
Take the leading role in the organization and execution of fundraising initiatives, including the annual Strong Smart Bold Awards Gala and secure corporate sponsorships for smaller fundraisers throughout the year including the She Shines Women’s History Month Event and other fundraising opportunities (e.g. Bold Expressions Fest)
Lead the organization’s corporate volunteer strategy to secure corporate sponsorships
Serve as a visible and effective spokesperson for the organization by attending regular networking events and proactively introducing the organization to new stakeholders, public officials and prospective influencers
Lead the creation and maintenance of accurate external communications, including, but not limited to, “About Girls Inc” brochures, slide decks, annual reports, and the organization website
Oversee the implementation of social media strategies that support the attraction and retention of institutional and individual donors
Individual Donor Cultivation and Stewardship:
Support the CEO in preparing bimonthly reports for and attending board of directors’ meetings, including fundraising status updates, requested action items, and additional metrics as requested
Collaborate closely with the Board of Directors as an aggregate group, with relevant committees, and with individual members
Maintain robust current and prospective individual donor portfolios for self, CEO, and individual board members as applicable; ensure key stakeholders receive regular, authentic and personalized communications year-round
Support the CEO in preparing for donor meetings, including comprehensive donor research and collaboration with program staff, as applicable
Development Logistics and Department Management:
Work collaboratively with applicable departments (development/communications and finance) to ensure that gifts are processed and meaningfully acknowledged in a timely manner and maintain accurate gift records for reporting and auditing purposes
Maintain an accurate DonorPerfect database; responsible for weekly and monthly data entry, reporting, and cleaning
Manage all development/communications department logistics, including budget management
Supervise development/communications team members including interns and full time and part time employees
Other:
Maintain a curious stance; regularly research prospective individual, corporate, foundation and public official supporters and consistently engage in proactive outreach and relationship building, in partnership with CEO
Regularly participate in site-based programming to promote positive peer relationships and build an authentic understanding of the Girls Inc. of Chicago program and impact
Actively participate in professional development and ongoing learning; stay abreast of and share developing trends and current events that impact this work
Skills & Experience
Required
5+ years demonstrated success in corporate and foundation relations, nonprofit communications, and/or a related role
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work/educational experience
Excellent attention to detail
Top-tier written and verbal communications skills
Superb interpersonal and relationship-building skills
Comfort toggling between taking initiative, taking direction and collaborating as a team, as the situation demands.
Familiarity with DonorPerfect or similar fundraising software
Previous experience in a supervisory role
Highly Preferred
Proficiency in Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, and/or other online design software (e.g. Canva, Poster My Wall)
7+ years demonstrated success in corporate and foundation relations, nonprofit communications, and/or a related role
5+ years’ experience living and/or working in/with historically underserved communities
Girls Inc. of Chicago has a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy.
GIRLS INC. IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
