Overview
Director of Development Jobs in Chicago, USA at Chicago Jesuit Academy
Compensation is based on experience and the posted range includes both base salary and a bonus opportunity.
Reporting to the Vice President of Development, the Director of Development plays a critical role in the strength, effectiveness, and sustainability of the organization’s fundraising efforts with a strong emphasis on managing and developing the team. They are a strong leader who understands and is passionate about the mission of Chicago Jesuit Academy and is willing to creatively ideate and collaborate to grow the level of support currently in place across the CJA community.
They partner with the Vice President of Development, President and other leadership to cultivate and accompany team members to raise over $14 million annually through stewardship, new business development, communications, events and operations, while also contributing to strategic planning and creative initiatives to ensure effectiveness of the Development team.
Essential Functions
- Lead, manage, and develop a team of Major Gift Officers, supporting their effectiveness in cultivation and stewardship strategies to sustain and grow meaningful benefactor relationships, generate new business, and consistently meet or exceed annual fundraising goals
- Support VP of Development and President in strategic planning to meet annual goals and shape long-term progress of the department, proactively identifying and implementing improvements to strategy and practice
- Support team best practices for efficient and effective use of database and team-wide project management in partnership with Development Operations Manager
- Guide strategy and execution of donor cultivation through annual communications and events, ensuring alignment to fundraising goals and centering of a personalized, thoughtful donor experience
- Lead and formalize Development Team fundraising roles, responsibilities, and processes, including onboarding plans, performance evaluation, and ongoing professional development to strengthen team effectiveness
- Collaborate with the VP of Development to recruit, hire, and retain top talent, ensuring a focus on thoughtfully shaping and evolving the team to best support our work and long-term growth
- Cultivate and steward a portfolio of major donors, building meaningful relationships, identifying new prospects, and driving institutional support toward achieving annual fundraising goals
- Serve as a senior leader and culture bearer for the Development Team, modeling and reinforcing the highest values, standards, and expectations of the fundraising function of the organization as well as the broader CJA community
The ideal candidate should
- Have a sincere commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion with a belief that all children deserve equitable access to a high‑quality education
- Possess impeccable attention to detail and accuracy and strong organizational and project management skills
- Exhibit credibility and professionalism when presenting materials to external audiences and demonstrate experience and confidence in stewarding donor relationships and resources
- Possess strong written and oral communication skills including the ability to support team communication to donors in a clear and concise manner
- Possess strong relationship‑building skills including the ability to navigate challenging conversations across lines of difference and to listen sincerely and effectively
- Have a strong understanding of data utilization and management for strategic fundraising operations and decision making
- Possess a professional and resourceful style including an ability to work independently and as a team player, to take initiative and to manage multiple tasks and projects at a time
- Actively engage in the life of the school and larger CJA community
- Climb over, dig under or go through obstacles that would otherwise keep CJA students, alumni and families from having the resources they need to navigate a path out of material poverty
- Expect to execute other duties as assigned. This position occasionally requires non‑traditional work hours to run evening or weekend events and best support our team’s success
Requirements
- 5+ years professional experience and demonstrated…
Title: Director of Development
Company: Chicago Jesuit Academy
Location: Chicago, USA
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