Director of Development & Community Relations

EveryChild; Illinois; On-site; USD 55,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Supplemental insurance

Retirement plan

Job summary

EveryChild in Illinois is seeking a Director of Development and Community Relations to lead donor acquisition, retention, and engagement, while guiding grant writing and stewardship efforts. This role blends data-driven fundraising with hands-on donor relationship management and event oversight.

You will manage campaigns, analyze donor data, write compelling proposals, and collaborate with leadership to grow philanthropic support and community impact.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, fundraising, business, or related field; 3–5 years in fundraising.
• Proficiency with CRM systems (Bloomerang, Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce, DonorPerfect) and MS Office/Google Workspace.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; ability to craft donor-centric messaging.
• Salary: $55,000 - $65,000, depending on experience.

Responsibilities

• Plan and manage the annual fundraising calendar, including spring/year-end appeals, Giving Tuesday, Birdies, and digital campaigns.
• Manage donor acquisition, retention, and engagement strategies to raise participation and upgrade donors.
• Lead the preparation, writing, and submission of grant proposals, letters of inquiry, and supporting materials.
• Ensure gift input and acknowledgements are completed in a timely manner; oversee donor database integrity and reporting on fundraising ROI.
• Coordinate donor events, logistics, vendor negotiations, sponsorships, and on-site management for galas and community events.

Skills

Donor communications

Project management

Data-driven fundraising

CRM analytics

Education

Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management

Tools

Bloomerang

Raiser’s Edge

Salesforce

DonorPerfect

Canva

Job description

Title

Director of Development & Community Relations

Job Classification

Regular, full-time, exempt FTE:1.0 FTE

Supervisor

VP of Development

Position Summary

The Director of Development and Community Relations is responsible for developing and executing strategies to drive donor acquisition, retention, and engagement. This position serves as a key team member focused on increasing philanthropic support through direct solicitation, annual giving, grant writing, event planning, and donor stewardship. This role combines data-driven fundraising with relationship-focused donor engagement and event management.

Core Responsibilities

• Campaign Execution: Plan and manage the annual fundraising calendar, including spring/year-end appeals, Giving Tuesday, Birdies, and digital campaigns.
• Donor Acquisition/Retention: Manage a portfolio of annual giving donors and implement strategies to increase donor participation rates, renew lapsed donors, and upgrade midlevel donors.
• Solicitation: Write and manage appeal letters, grant proposals, stewardship communications, and digital fundraising materials.
• Stewardship: Ensure gift input and acknowledgements are completed in a timely manner. Event Management
• Planning & Execution: Lead logistics, vendor negotiations, sponsorship fulfillment, and on-site management for donor cultivation events, major fundraising gala or event, and community events.
• Engagement: Create meaningful donor experiences and stewardship touchpoints to deepen donor loyalty.
• Event Committee: Manage and coordinate volunteer committees focused on development and events.

Grants & Foundation Relations

• Grant Research & Strategy: Identify and evaluate foundation, corporate, and other grant opportunities that align with EveryChild’s programs and funding priorities.
• Proposal Development: Lead the preparation, writing, and submission of compelling grant proposals, letters of inquiry, and supporting materials in collaboration with leadership and program staff.
• Grant Reporting & Stewardship: Track grant requirements and deadlines; coordinate timely, accurate progress and final reports; and maintain relationships with grant funders.

Database Management & Analytics

• Database Management: Ensure the integrity of the donor database (e.g., CRM/Bloomerang) and oversee gift processing/acknowledgement systems; maintain accurate donor records, track giving history, and generate analytical reports on fundraising effectiveness, ROI, and participation metrics.
• Segmentation: Utilize CRM data to segment donor audiences for targeted outreach. Leadership
• Board Partnership: Work closely with the VP of Development, providing regular updates on progress towards goals.
• Budgeting: Collaborate on the development of the development budget and monitor expenses within approved plans.

Qualifications & Skills

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, fundraising, business, or a related field preferred. Experience: 3–5 years of experience in fundraising, annual giving, or related roles.
• Technical Skills: Proficiency in CRM software (e.g., Bloomerang, Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce, DonorPerfect) and Microsoft Office Suite/Google Workspace. Experience with Canva, preferred but not required.
• Communication: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with ability to craft persuasive, donor-centric messaging. Project Management: Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects, events, and deadlines simultaneously.
• Salary: $55,000 - $65,000, depending on experience
• Health, dental, vision, life and supplemental insurance benefits offered
• Retirement plan available after six (6) months of employment
• 11 paid holidays plus 17 vacation days offered per year