Chief Executive Officer

Equality Illinois; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 175,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Equality Illinois seeks a Chief Executive Officer to lead its mission of advancing equal treatment and social justice for the LGBTQ+ community. The CEO will drive strategic initiatives, engage stakeholders, and manage fundraising efforts to ensure the organization's growth and impact in Illinois. This role offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of LGBTQ+ advocacy in a supportive environment.

Benefits

Health and dental insurance

Vision, life, and disability insurance

SIMPLE IRA plan with 3% match

Generous PTO and sabbatical leave

Qualifications

• Expertise in policy/advocacy, lobbying, electoral politics.
• Strong team management skills and strategic visioning.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the organization’s strategic vision.
• Engage and mobilize supporters and policymakers.
• Oversee fundraising and fiscal management.

Skills

Leadership

Advocacy

Fundraising

Communication

Education

Experience in non-profit management

Knowledge of LGBTQ+ issues

Job description

Join to apply for the Chief Executive Officer role at Equality Illinois

Join to apply for the Chief Executive Officer role at Equality Illinois

Direct message the job poster from Equality Illinois

Equality Illinois builds a better Illinois by advancing equal treatment and social justice through education, advocacy, and protection of the rights of the LGBTQ+ community.

Organizational Highlights

Founded: 1991

Combined Annual Operating Budgets: $1,455,528

Board of Directors: 20

Staff: 8

Headquarters: Chicago, IL

The Position

Reporting to the Equality Illinois, Equality Illinois Institute, and the Equality Illinois PAC Boards of Directors, the CEO will develop, refine, and execute the organization’s long-term strategic vision, goals, and direction, ensuring alignment with Equality Illinois’ mission and values. The CEO will be a values-driven leader who is able to respond to current threats while implementing a clear long-term vision. Essential responsibilities include:

Strategic Leadership

• Leverage strategic systemic thinking to assess the local, statewide, and national landscapes, identify threats and opportunities, and develop strategies to advance goals;
• Adapt the organization’s multi-year strategic framework to focus policy initiatives and build intersectional coalitions;
• Lead with an intentional and intersectional lens across each organizational pillar of work: education and outreach, lobbying and advocacy, and elections and campaigns;
• Authentically engage and motivate statewide and community partners, elected officials, donors, and community members;
• Inspire, center, and lift a high-performing team, maintaining a culture of trust and excellence, and effectively managing through a period of organizational transition;
• Cultivate strong and productive working relationships with the Boards to achieve fundraising, program, and strategic goals.

Policy and Advocacy

• Proactively engage and mobilize supporters and policymakers to advance the organization’s mission;
• Build relationships and foster collaborations with organizations advancing social justice and defending the rights of allied communities, ensuring Equality Illinois remains a strong and trusted partner in broader movements;
• Strengthen the ecosystem of queer-led/serving organizations throughout the state by educating funders and decision makers to increase private and state support;
• Leverage political prowess and an understanding of political dynamics to build power and advance goals.

Fundraising and Fiscal Management

• Develop and sustain quality, authentic relationships with individual donors, event sponsors, and corporate and private philanthropy funders;
• Oversee the development and implementation of a strategic fundraising plan to diversify current revenue streams by cultivating individual gifts and legacy giving, and developing a successful strategy to increase corporate and philanthropic support;
• Create and manage the organization’s budget; ensure revenue generation meets or exceeds operating needs, and manage and grow operating reserve funds;
• Implement best-in-class financial and operational practices, ensuring fiscal responsibility and transparency.

Communications and Community Engagement

• Serve as a key convener and relationship builder with donors, elected and public officials, community partners, and local, regional, and national LGBTQ+ and allied organizations;
• Represent Equality Illinois, serving as an effective and inspiring communicator and thought leader for the organization and the LGBTQ+ community in the media and various public settings;
• Oversee the development and dissemination of engaging and effective multi-channel communications to reach and connect broader communities.

The Opportunity

At a time of growing threats against the LGBTQ+ community, in one of the few states where progress continues to be possible, this is an extraordinary opportunity for a bold leader to fiercely defend existing protections while driving transformative change and forging a pathway for Illinois to be the safest and most affirming place for LGBTQ+ people in the United States.

Position Overview

The CEO

Reports to: Equality Illinois, Equality Illinois Institute, and Equality Illinois PAC Boards of Directors

Leads: A team of 7 staff

Oversees: Director of Strategic Operations, Director of Public Policy, Director of Operations, Director of Civic Engagement, Director of Development, Director of Communications, Director of Leadership Development & Capacity Building

Location: Ideally, lives in Chicago

Professional Requirements

The CEO will be a strategic and visionary leader with the drive and expertise to build a connected statewide ecosystem across a socially and politically diverse state. They will be politically astute and skilled at driving legislation and influencing decision-makers. The new CEO will have outstanding interpersonal skills and will be a passionate ambassador capable of building grassroots power to advance full equality for LGBTQ+ people. The ideal candidate will have:

• Expertise in policy/advocacy, lobbying, electoral politics, capacity building, and/or community organizing. Prior experience in a 501c3/501c4/PAC structure is valued;
• A deep understanding of LGBTQ+ history and issues. Knowledge of Illinois’ activist communities and political landscape is ideal;
• Excellent team management skills characterized by a participatory approach to leadership and team building;
• Exceptional long-term strategic visioning and planning skills to advance systemic transformation for LGBTQ+ people;
• Prior experience in developing and implementing budgets, financial growth plans, and staffing plans to advance strategic goals;
• A track record of success in raising and diversifying revenue, including experience cultivating and soliciting individual gifts;
• Awareness of the power of intersectional coalition building and the critical importance of strengthening ecosystems;
• Exceptional communications skills (including digital and social media proficiency), public speaking and media relations experience;
• Board development and governance knowledge, including experience leveraging board expertise to realize organizational goals.

The new CEO will be a proactive and collaborative bridge-builder grounded in intersectional justice and centered in the diverse and lived realities of LGBTQ+ Illinoisans, without regard to sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status.

Personal Characteristics

The CEO will be a resilient leader and fierce defender of the civil rights of LGBTQ+ Illinoisans. They will enjoy Socratic spaces and will be motivated to build and leverage power across the state. In addition to being passionate about creating a world that is healthy, just, and fully equal for all LGBTQ+ people, the ideal candidate will bring the following qualities:

• An approachable leadership style characterized by transparency, accountability, and emotional intelligence;
• Cultural competency with the ability to authentically connect with and engage people at all levels of power, privilege, ability, socio-economic status, and political ideologies;
• A relational approach to building coalitions, engaging community partners, and collaborating across social justice networks;
• Exceptional communication skills, including active listening, valuing the feedback and input of others, and inspirational public speaking ability;
• Dynamic interpersonal skills with the ability to create connections, forge partnerships, and bridge differences;
• Humility to share power and to lift the voices and increase the visibility of allies and partners;
• The ability to comfortably and effectively navigate, defuse, and leverage conflict;
• An unwavering commitment to upholding the values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in all decisions and relations;
• Ability to travel and work effectively in a variety of geographic, political, and cultural settings.

Compensation

The target salary for this position is $175,000 annually. Equality Illinois’ comprehensive benefits program includes competitive coverage for health and dental insurance and 100% coverage for vision, life, and disability insurance. The organization supports a SIMPLE IRA plan, with a 3% match. In addition to generous PTO, the organization offers paid sabbatical and family leave.

Location

Equality Illinois has a flexible, hybrid, remote/office schedule. On Mondays and Thursdays, most staff work on-site in the organization’s Chicago office.

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Executive

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Management

• Industries

  Non-profit Organizations and Public Policy Offices

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Inferred from the description for this job

Medical insurance

Vision insurance

401(k)

Disability insurance

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