Director of Development

Japanese American Service Committee (JASC); Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Japanese American Service Committee in Chicago, IL seeks a Director of Development to lead all fundraising, donor engagement, and development communications.

Reports to CEO; oversees staff and development operations; drives annual fundraising plans, donor stewardship, and campaigns with a focus on building long-term sustainability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 7+ years nonprofit fundraising experience.
• Leadership or management experience required.

Responsibilities

• Set fundraising goals, strategies, budgets, and metrics.
• Lead major gifts, corporate partnerships, grants, and donor stewardship.
• Oversee development operations, data, and reporting to CEO and Board.

Skills

Fundraising leadership

Donor engagement

Strategic planning

Relationship management

Budget management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree / CFRE preferred

Tools

CRM software

Grant writing software

Job description

Founded in 1946, JASC (Japanese American Service Committee) empowers individuals, families, and communities through culturally responsive social services, arts and cultural programming, and educational opportunities. JASC serves thousands of people annually while preserving Japanese American history and building bridges across generations and cultures. The Director of Development will play a critical leadership role in ensuring JASC's continued growth and long-term sustainability through philanthropic partnerships and community engagement.

JOB SUMMARY

The Director of Development is a key member of JASC's Leadership Team and is responsible for providing strategic leadership, direction, and oversight of all fundraising, donor engagement, and development communications activities. Working in close partnership with the Chief Executive Officer and Board of Directors, the Director of Development develops and executes comprehensive annual fundraising strategies that generate sustainable philanthropic support for JASC's mission.

The Director of Development leads all aspects of individual giving, major gifts, institutional giving, corporate partnerships, planned giving, special events, donor stewardship, fundraising communications, and development operations. This position also oversees the development department staff, manages fundraising systems and processes, and helps foster a culture of philanthropy throughout the organization.

The Development Department at JASC consists of the Director of Development and a part-time Admin who manages gift processing and data entry. The Director of Development reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer.

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer

Location: Chicago, IL

Employment Type: Full Time Exempt

Salary: $70,000 - $100,000 (commensurate with experience)

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership

• Serve as a member of JASC's Leadership Team, contributing to organizational strategy, planning, and decision-making.
• Collaborate with the CEO and senior leadership to advance JASC's mission, strategic priorities, and long-term sustainability.
• Develop annual fundraising goals, strategies, budgets, and performance metrics aligned with the agency's strategic plan.
• Foster a culture of philanthropy across the organization by engaging staff, volunteers, and Board Members in fundraising activities.
• Prepare regular fundraising reports and analyses for the CEO and Board of Directors.
• Staff and support the Board Committees related to fundraising and assist Board Members in fulfilling their fundraising responsibilities.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive annual development plan that includes:
• Major Gifts
• Annual Giving
• Corporate Partnerships
• Foundation Grants
• Government Grants (as appropriate)
• Planned Giving
• Special Events
• Donor Stewardship
• Prospect Research
• Capital and Endowment Campaigns, when applicable

Specific responsibilities include:

• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major donors and prospective supporters.
• Manage a portfolio of major gift prospects through all stages of the donor lifecycle.
• Develop personalized cultivation and stewardship strategies for high-capacity donors.
• Partner with the CEO and Board Members on major gift solicitations.
• Oversee annual fundraising campaigns, including direct mail, online giving, and year-end appeals.
• Develop strategies to increase donor retention, acquisition, and annual giving.
• Lead corporate sponsorship and partnership efforts.
• Oversee foundation and corporate grant strategy, proposal development, reporting, and stewardship.
• Support the Legacy Center Director with grant research and writing.
• Collaborate with external consultants, campaign counsel, and grant writers as needed.
• Identify emerging philanthropic opportunities and funding sources.

Communications & Donor Engagement

• Oversee development-related communications in collaboration with marketing staff and CEO.
• Work with marketing staff to ensure consistent messaging that reflects JASC's mission, impact, and strategic priorities.
• Direct donor recognition and stewardship efforts, including acknowledgments, impact reports, recognition events, and naming opportunities.
• Assist in the development of annual reports, newsletters, campaign materials (as needed), and fundraising collateral.
• Support public awareness efforts that strengthen community engagement and philanthropic investment.

Special Events

• Provide strategic leadership for JASC's fundraising events, including Cranes & Cocktails and other donor cultivation activities.
• Develop event fundraising strategies that maximize sponsorships, donor engagement, and net revenue.
• Collaborate with staff, volunteers, committees, and vendors to ensure successful event execution.

Development Operations

• Oversee donor database integrity, gift processing, reporting, and prospect management.
• Utilize fundraising data and analytics to monitor performance and inform strategy.
• Ensure compliance with all donor reporting requirements, gift acceptance policies, and fundraising best practices.
• Develop and monitor the annual development budget.
• Evaluate fundraising effectiveness through measurable outcomes and key performance indicators.
• Supervise, mentor, and evaluate development staff.
• Establish clear goals, expectations, and professional development plans.
• Foster a collaborative, high-performing, and donor-centered team culture.
• Encourage innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Requirements

Education

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Master's degree, Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), or equivalent professional fundraising credentials preferred.

Experience

• Minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible nonprofit fundraising experience.
• At least 3 years of leadership or management experience.
• Demonstrated success securing major gifts and managing relationships with individual, corporate, and foundation donors.
• Experience developing and implementing comprehensive fundraising strategies.
• Experience partnering with executive leadership and volunteer boards.
• Experience managing fundraising events and donor stewardship programs.
• Knowledge of fundraising best practices and donor-centered philanthropy.
• Familiarity with Chicago-area philanthropy and the nonprofit community preferred.
• Local travel throughout the Chicago metropolitan area is expected.