Associate Director of Development & Communications

Institute for Nonviolence Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 70,200 - 85,800; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Life insurance

401K plan

Job summary

The Institute for Nonviolence Chicago is seeking an Associate Director of Development & Communications. This role involves leading the integration of fundraising strategies and communications, ensuring that outreach aligns with revenue goals.

Key responsibilities include developing a comprehensive communication strategy, overseeing the donor pipeline, and serving as the lead writer for all donor-focused materials. A strong background in development and a passion for the organization’s mission is essential. Competitive benefits are offered along with a salary of up to $78,000.

Qualifications

• 5–8 years of progressive experience in development, communications, or nonprofit leadership.
• Demonstrated success linking communications strategy to revenue growth.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead integrated development and communications strategy.
• Oversee appeals calendar and donor pipeline.
• Serve as lead writer for donor appeals and stewardship reports.
• Establish KPIs linking communications performance to revenue outcomes.
• Collaborate with program leadership and data team.

Skills

Exceptional writing and storytelling skills

Experience managing analytics dashboards

Passion for Nonviolence Chicago’s mission

Common social media management tools

Email Marketing platforms

Video and Photography shooting/editing

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

MailChimp

Little Green Light or other CRM

Job description

Associate Director of Development & Communications

The Associate Director of Development & Communications leads the integration of fundraising strategy and communications at Nonviolence Chicago. This role owns the fundraising and communications pipeline at a systems level, ensuring that donor engagement, campaigns, stewardship, and messaging are coordinated, measured, and aligned to revenue goals. This role ensures that marketing, storytelling, engagement campaigns, and donor communications operate as direct functions of development strategy. The Director translates programmatic impact into compelling narratives that drive revenue growth, strengthen donor retention, and expand Nonviolence Chicago’s philanthropic base.

Working cross-functionally with program leadership, finance, and data teams, the Associate Director aligns messaging, metrics, and engagement tactics with organizational fundraising priorities. This position is primarily “behind the scenes” internal-facing, focused on building systems, strengthening collaboration, and ensuring development-centric decision making across communications channels.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/RESPONSIBILITIES

Integrated Development & Communications Strategy

• Develop and lead an integrated annual development and communications strategy aligned with revenue goals.
• Oversee appeals calendar (major gifts, lapsed, acquisition, stewardship).
• Maintain visibility across the donor pipeline and ensure timely coordination of cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities in partnership with development staff.
• Ensure external messaging reinforces donor cultivation and fundraising objectives.
• Guide brand positioning to support philanthropic growth.
• Ensure site visits, convenings, events, and stewardship experiences are aligned with cultivation and solicitation objectives.

Revenue-Focused Communications Leadership

• Serve as lead writer for donor appeals, stewardship reports, and campaign messaging.
• Translate impact data into donor-centered narratives.
• Oversee creative direction of marketing materials with a fundraising lens.
• Ensure alignment between grant messaging and individual donor communications.

Metrics, Analytics & Data-Informed Decision Making

• Establish KPIs linking communications performance to revenue outcomes.
• Oversee reporting dashboards tracking engagement and retention trends on communications channels.
• Analyze campaign performance and recommend strategic adjustments.
• Partner with Development Officer on CRM and Comms channel optimization and segmentation strategy.

Internal Partnership & Strategic Alignment

• Build strong relationships with program leadership to surface compelling impact stories.
• Collaborate with data team to ensure accurate reporting.
• Support leadership in advancing strategic priorities through donor communications.
• Serve as thought partner to Vice President of Development & Communications.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience required; Master’s preferred.

5–8 years of progressive experience in development, communications, or nonprofit leadership.

Demonstrated success linking communications strategy to revenue growth.

Exceptional writing and storytelling skills.

Experience managing analytics dashboards and campaign reporting.

Passion for Nonviolence Chicago’s mission.

Microsoft Office Suite.

Common social media management tools: Hootsuite, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, SnapChat, bit.ly , TikTok.

Email Marketing platforms, i.e. MailChimp.

Experience with Little Green Light or other CRM, preferred.

Video and Photography shooting and editing; a plus: YouTube, Vimeo.

Salary & Benefits

Compensation is commensurate with years of related experience, position requirements, and candidate qualifications. The average salary for the position is up to $78,000.

Competitive benefits package available, including Health, Life, and 401K.

Institute for Nonviolence Chicago – EEO Statement

Institute for Nonviolence Chicago provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, the Institute for Nonviolence Chicago complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the organization has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.