Director, Foundations and Grants

City Year; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 75,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

401(k) plan

Job summary

City Year Chicago seeks a Director of Foundations & Grants to lead stewardship of current donors, secure new foundation partners, and expand revenue through foundation partnerships. The role reports to the Managing Director of Development and focuses on growing a $1.4M+ funding portfolio while pursuing a $100,000 increase within 12 months.

This on-site position begins Summer 2026. The successful candidate will write compelling grant proposals, develop foundation strategies, and collaborate with

Qualifications

• 5+ years of nonprofit or educational fundraising experience.
• Strong knowledge of fundraising, especially donor programs.
• Experience identifying prospects, writing grant proposals, and managing foundations.
• Proficiency with donor/relationship management software (Salesforce preferred).

Responsibilities

• Oversee a portfolio of foundations to maintain $1.4M+ annual funding with a target increase of $100,000 within 12 months.
• Write high-quality grant proposals with an 85% success rate, collaborating with the national foundation team.
• Develop and implement prospecting strategies, research and prioritize new foundation funders aligned with City Year Chicago’s initiatives.
• Provide timely reports, letters of intent, and stewardship materials to secure ongoing funding.
• Lead revenue strategy for foundations, including goal-setting, forecasting, performance tracking, and multi-year planning.
• Align foundation strategy with organizational priorities, articulating strategic revenue plans to senior leaders and the Board.
• Manage stewardship of current foundation donors, coordinating outreach, communication, appreciation events, and program support.
• Collaborate with Marketing & Communications to produce acknowledgments and stewardship communications.
• Track and report institutional gifts using Salesforce, coordinate prospecting, pipeline, and revenue forecasting meetings.
• Partner with the Development team on events such as Ripples of Hope, school beautification projects, and donor visits.
• Represent City Year at external functions to deepen relationships with potential and current donors.

Skills

Fundraising

Grant writing

Donor relations

Proposal writing

Education

Bachelor's degree (preferred)

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

Position Overview

Reporting to the Managing Director of Development, the Director of Foundations & Grants will lead stewardship of current donors, identify and secure new foundation partners, and expand City Year Chicago’s revenue base with foundation partners.

Compensation: $75,000 - $85,000 annually, commensurate with experience and location.
Work Location: 100% On‑Site (primarily in‑person with occasional remote work).
Number of Positions: 1.
Anticipated Start Date: Summer 2026.

Responsibilities

• Oversee a portfolio of foundations to maintain $1.4M+ annual funding with a target increase of $100,000 within 12 months.
• Write high‑quality grant proposals with an 85% success rate, collaborating with the national foundation team.
• Develop and implement prospecting strategies, research and prioritize new foundation funders aligned with City Year Chicago’s initiatives.
• Provide timely reports, letters of intent, and stewardship materials to secure ongoing funding.
• Lead overall revenue strategy for foundations, including goal‑setting, forecasting, performance tracking, and multi‑year planning.
• Align foundation strategy with organizational priorities, articulating strategic revenue plans to senior leaders and the Board.
• Manage stewardship of current foundation donors, coordinating outreach, communication, appreciation events, and program support.
• Collaborate with Marketing & Communications to produce acknowledgments and stewardship communications.
• Track and report institutional gifts using Salesforce, coordinate prospecting, pipeline, and revenue forecasting meetings.
• Partner with the Development team on events such as Ripples of Hope, school beautification projects, and donor visits.
• Represent City Year at external functions to deepen relationships with potential and current donors.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred; 5+ years of relevant experience in nonprofit or educational fundraising.
• Strong knowledge of fundraising, especially individual giving programs.
• Experience identifying prospects, writing grant proposals, and managing foundations.
• Proficiency with donor/relationship management software (Salesforce preferred).
• Authorized documentation to work in the United States.

Preferred Qualifications

• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, ability to engage diverse audiences.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to handle multiple tasks.
• Passion for and understanding of City Year’s mission and the national service movement.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office.
• Project management competency and strong ethical standards.
• Independent leadership and team collaboration skills.

Competencies

• Communication: delivers convincing, well‑organized presentations tailored to audiences.
• Team Leadership: leads diverse teams, sets priorities, delegates, and holds staff accountable.
• Decision Making & Judgment: oversees organizational decision-making, integrates across departments.
• Project Management: organizes, prioritizes, tracks, and manages workflow and resources.
• Strategic Thinking & Planning: translates strategies into objectives and measurable action plans.
• External Relationship Development: establishes new partnerships and secures commitments.

Working Conditions

• Local travel to partner schools, events, and City Year sites; occasional travel to national conferences.
• Reliable transportation required; ability to navigate public transit.
• Occasional lifting up to ~20 lbs.
• Hybrid schedule: 3–4 days in‑person, with longer in‑person commitments as needed.
• Must have reliable internet for virtual meetings and trainings.

Required Application Documents

• Cover letter and résumé.
• Resume to include specific, quantitative results where applicable.

Benefits

• Eligible for full‑time employee benefits: vacation, sick days, holidays, medical, dental, vision, life, accidental death & dismemberment, disability, FSA, and 401(k) plan.
• Benefits governed by plan provisions and conditions.

Employment Status

Employment is at‑will. City Year does not sponsor work authorization visas.

Equal Opportunity

City Year is an equal‑opportunity employer and encourages applications from diverse backgrounds. Employment is not based on race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, parental status, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic.